DETROIT - What a week it's been for Morgan Geekie.
On Sunday, March 1, Geekie potted his
first professional hat trick
in a four-point performance that helped the Charlotte Checkers double up the division-leading Hershey Bears, 6-3.
On Monday, March 2, Geekie was named the
American Hockey League's player of the week
after racking up seven points (4g, 3a) in four games, which led all AHL skaters over that stretch.
On Saturday, March 7, Geekie and the Checkers were preparing to host the Utica Comets. Geekie was called into head coach Ryan Warsofsky's office. Geekie assumed he'd be dissecting video. Instead, he left the office to phone his parents and girlfriend and share the news of his first call-up to the National Hockey League. He hopped on a flight out of Charlotte at 8 p.m. and landed in Pittsburgh later that night, hours after the Carolina Hurricanes had already arrived from Long Island.
"It was kind of a whirlwind like that," he said. "Came to the rink, and the show happened."
Did it ever.
Morgan Geekie Thrives in NHL Debut
Geekie tallied two goals, assist in eye-catching first game with the Canes