Morrissey thankful for support from the hockey community

WINNIPEG - Josh Morrissey feels a "bit of a weight" is off his shoulders coming into this season, even as he continues to process the loss of his father, Tom, to cancer in the off-season.
Tom played a huge part in Morrissey's life - on the ice and off it. When Josh and his brother Jake were younger, they participated in the D-Rules camp - ran by Tom - beginning in 2005. The impact it had on Josh's career is evident in every smooth breakout pass or stride the 26-year-old takes in the National Hockey League.
So being back at training camp, playing the game they both loved, is exactly what Morrissey wants to be doing right now.
"In some ways, even some of the conversations I had with my dad down the line throughout the summer, he said 'Once you go back to the season, go have fun and just go play and enjoy it,'" said Morrissey on Friday.
"I know that's what I love to do and that's what he wanted me to do too. It's definitely part of the healing process and the community of everyone around it makes that process easier for me."

Head coach Paul Maurice said he and Morrissey spoke frequently during the 2020-21 season, as the young defenceman tried to navigate the ups and downs of a NHL season like no other while also dealing with his dad's treatments.
That, on top of Covid-19 protocols, made every day a challenge for Winnipeg's alternate captain.
In this month's training camp, Maurice can see a difference in Morrissey.
"You can see it in his face. I know that we've had a conversation or two about it," said Maurice. "He's looking forward to playing hockey and this being a really good place for him to start the healing process. There's excitement here. Nate (Schmidt)'s here, (Brenden) Dillon's here, and we have some new defencemen in that we think are going to make us better. It looks like it's a better time in his life and it would make sense that it is."
The excitement of this season's possibilities puts a smile on Morrissey's face. He liked how the defensive group the last couple seasons bonded together and managed the challenges they faced on the ice, but he's intrigued at what Schmidt and Dillon will add to the line-up.
Morrissey has been alongside Schmidt since the first day of camp. Between the two of them, there are 794 games of NHL experience - and just about 794 words spoken per minute.
"I saw some of his interview the other day, you guys know communication isn't a weakness of his," Morrissey said with a laugh. "Just naturally we complement each other well in personality and style of game - we can kind of play a different style, maybe, than partnerships I've had in the past. I think we're both aggressive defensively and quick."

The feeling is mutual, according to Schmidt. The duo played their first preseason game together on Wednesday - a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers - and Schmidt feels they're only going to get better.
"We talk a lot about tendencies, especially when we're on the ice," said Schmidt. "Each day, it's amazing, I know it sounds crazy but you feel a little more comfortable, a little more comfortable, and we still have a little ways to go but that's something that's going to happen."
Morrissey has had a number of defensive partners since Jacob Trouba was traded to the New York Rangers. One of the aspects of that trade was that Winnipeg received the 20th overall selection in the 2019 NHL Draft, which turned out to be Ville Heinola.
Heinola served as one of Morrissey's defensive partners, as has Tucker Poolman, and Dylan DeMelo, just to name a few.
Now, Maurice is hopeful that Morrissey will have one person on his right side on a more consistent basis.
"Josh had a lot of things he was involved in, on and off the ice. Now there is just less. He's not bringing a young defenceman along, he's dealt with the situation with his father. It may be a simpler time for him," Maurice said. "The really small nuanced things that two defencemen do for each other on the ice to make the game easier are really important."
As easy as things can go in the NHL, anyways.
Speaking of the NHL and the hockey community, Morrissey was thankful for the amount of people who reached out to him in the days and weeks after his father's passing on August 8.
"Obviously from within our own organization - teammates past and present - the support was pretty remarkable," said Morrissey. "Throughout last season as well, even when not really many people knew what was going on.
"Even from outside the organization whether it was old teammates, coaches, or people that I've never met in the NHL that reached out to me - it's a special thing, it's a special community. When somebody is going through a tough time, or a family is going through a tough time, there are a lot of character people that want to be there and support you or let you know they're thinking of you. It meant so much to me and has meant so much to me."