Getting To Know: Cam Morrison

Cam Morrison was selected 40th overall in the second round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche. The left-handed forward stands at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds and just completed his freshman season at the University of Notre Dame.
Prior to joining the Fighting Irish, the Aurora, Ontario, native spent the prior year in the United States Hockey League with the Youngstown Phantoms, where he earned league rookie of year honors. This past season, he had 12 goals and 12 assists (24 points) with the Irish. He scored Notre Dame's only goal against the Denver Pioneers in the national semifinals.

He recently talked with ColoradoAvalanche.com at the team's development camp about being drafted and getting ready for the upcoming campaign.
What drove your decision to attend Notre Dame?
"I think the whole student-athlete part of it. They have an incredible academic program along with an athletic program, as we showed last year."
How do you feel your freshman year went?
"I thought it went awesome. It was a great group of guys with a lot of support out there. We started off struggling for the first part of the season, but we all picked it up together and made a good run at the end there."

What are your key strengths as an individual and as a team?
"Individually, I would say my goals coring is probably the strongest part of my game. I feel like in or around the net I can get to the loose pucks and find the back of the net. As a team, I think we are a very fast team that can outskate opposing teams, so that part of our game is to our advantage."
What kind of adjustments did you have to make going from the USHL to the NCAA?
"Yeah, it was definitely an adjustment for me. Last summer, I trained on my skating and getting stronger in the gym. I would say my training over the summer really prepared me for the college level."
How was the Avalanche's development camp?
"It has been great. They really treat us like world-class players. They definitely put us through some tough things, but it's all in good measure because we want to develop as players. I think they know the right path to doing that, and I feel like they really know what they're doing."
What is the top thing you will take from the experience at development camp?
"Some skating advice that I learned with the skating coach out there. [Tracy Tutton] is really good and knows what she is doing. I feel like I will take that back to my college and go from there."

What are your plans for the rest of summer and into next season?
"I am actually in a summer program at Notre Dame right now, and we will do training there on the ice and off the ice as a team. Next year, hopefully we can have a good year again and start off strong."
If you didn't have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
"I would probably watch a couple TV shows on Netflix."
What is a worst habit of one of your teammates?
"A couple of the guys have smelly breath sometimes"
If you played any other professional sport, what would it be and what team?
"Soccer for Real Madrid."
Do you have any hidden talents?
"Not really hidden I feel like. I'm a pretty basic guy, but I used to be pretty good at soccer so I guess I'll say that."