Morton Signs Professional Contract with Calgary Flames Organization
CALGARY, Alberta – Minnesota State senior captain Sam Morton (Lafayette, Colorado) has signed a one-year, two way contract with the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames organization Monday after completing his career with the Mavericks on Saturday. His contract will begin with the 2024-25 season. He will be joining the Wranglers (AHL) on an ATO for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign. Former Maverick Walker Duehr (2017-22) plays on the Flames' current NHL roster. Morton's time in Mankato included 102 games played, 44 goals, 32 assists, 76 points, 292 shots, 17 power-play goals, and six game-winning goals. He logged 32 games for Union College before coming to Minnesota State in 2020-21.
Last week, Morton was honored as First Team All-CCHA and CCHA Forward of the Year. He became the fourth Maverick to win WCHA/CCHA conference player of the year after CJ Suess (2017-18), Marc Michaelis (2019-20) and Dryden McKay (2020-21, 2021-22).
Morton has led the Mavericks as captain with a remarkable season on the ice. In the CCHA, Morton ranked first in goals (24), first in shots (151), first in faceoff wins (433), first in power play goals (nine), second in goals per game (.65), fourth in points (35), sixth in faceoff percentage (.555) and eighth in plus/minus (plus-9). Coming back from a significant injury last year, he opened the Mavericks' CCHA schedule with a five-game point streak (six goals, four assists) and added a six-game streak in January (four goals, two assists).
In the CCHA quarterfinals, Morton posted a pair of goals and one assist over a two-game sweep of Northern Michigan University at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. He also marked five multi-goal games this winter and played in all 37 games.
Last season Morton was named a Krampade All-American Scholar. In 2021-22 he earned All-Tournament honors at the Frozen Four in Boston and scored Minnesota State's lone goal in the national championship game against Denver. He also assisted on David Silye's goal in a 5-1 win over Minnesota in the national semifinal game. Morton served as alternate captain of the Mavericks for two seasons before becoming the captain this fall. He remains a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award given to the top player in Division I college hockey.
"Morty is deserving of the opportunity to take the next step of his career," said Mavericks Head Coach Luke Strand. "We couldn't be more excited for this moment. He is a true pro as a human and as a player. Calgary just made their organization better." Morton earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology and is working toward a master's in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Off the ice he has been involved in the Kiwanis Holiday Lights, Elementary School Reading Program, Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund and Anthony Ford Pond Hockey Tournament.
