Ah ha. For the first time since the days of Mel Angelstad the Giants will be starting with an out-and-out enforcer in the ranks. Sean McMorrow, the self declared new sheriff in town, has been recruited as the latest police man on the Giants squad and going by the size of the man and the penalty minutes he has racked up over a glittering career of pugilism, he could very well be as tough as they come. Suffice to say he racked up a meager 527 penalty minutes in one season alone a few years back.

There have been rumors of McMorrow signing for a few years now but it never came to pass but finally the Giants top brass have got their man. It should spell the end of the rumours of what will happen to Jason Rushton as I seriously cannot see him returning now that McMorrow is in the fold. The guy is loaded with minor league experience from the NHL’s top affiliate league the AHL to the fighting league of Quebec the LNAH. He even cracked the show for a single game on 22 March 2003.

This kind of a signing is sure to split the Giants fanbase: Fight fans v Passivists. It was the hot topic for the last few months of the season, whether the team needed the likes of a Jason Rushton and now the debate has been reopened. Regardless of what we think he is signed now and we’ll just have to wait and see exactly what he brings to the table. If he brings what he says then he should be an excellent fit.

“No team is going to push us around with me on board, I guarantee that. I know that this sport is about winning, but it is also about giving the fans plenty to cheer about, and I promise to make sure that nobody goes home disappointed. I have heard great things about the city of Belfast and the Giants. I know what has been missing the last few years, and I want to be that player. I want everyone to know that I will bring a great deal of character on and off the ice and that nobody will do more in the community than me. I take pride in being a good role model for the kids that come to see us play, that is part of our duty and I will lead the charge with any and all community programs that the Giants take part in. I can’t wait to get to Belfast and get going.”
– BelfastGiants.com, 1 May ’09

All that community talk is bringing back memories of Paxton Schulte, the Giants last and possibly only, hardcore committed community man as well as a tough nut on the ice. I don’t for see McMorrow putting up Schulte kind of numbers going by the career stats below — A handful of points in over 500 career games.

Then again McMorrow does not seem the type to be too worried about individual points. There is probably a good reason for his lack of scoring. It likely starts with ice time and goes as far as playing on lines were you were expected to fight the tough guy across from you and that is about it. In the AHL McMorrow will have been a forth line guy playing a few minutes per night, he would have had very few scoring chances. In the LNAH he would have been on one of the two ‘designated fighting lines’ that league employees were you aren’t meant to play hockey. Over here the guy will see potentially more ice time that he has at any point since Junior hockey and he could well be paired with guys who look to score goals and set them up. Even if he finds himself on the 3rd line surrounded by British triers, he will likely create himself a ton of space through the art of intimidation.

Even if he doesn’t score any points he will still be a huge success if he merely drops the flippers with other toughies in the league, protects his team mates and most importantly of all gives them the freedom, space and security to go about their stuff without being intimidated by opponents. To often last year the Giants were devoid of a big man who could add such protection to the likes of Martin, Deniset and Thornton.

Let’s not discount the ‘entertainment to the fans’ and ‘good-guy in the dressing room’ factors either.

Welcome to Belfast, I just wish I could be there on opening night.

Sean McMorrow
Right Wing
Born Jan 19 1982  -- Vancouver, BC
Height 6.04 -- Weight 225 -- Shoots R

Selected by Buffalo Sabres round 8 #258 overall 2000 NHL Entry Draft

                                           -Regular Season-  --- Playoffs ---
Season   Team                        Lge   GP  G  A Pts PIM  GP  G  A Pts PIM
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1999-00  Sarnia Sting                OHL   31  0  1  1   75  -- -- --  --  --
1999-00  Kitchener Rangers           OHL   31  0  1  1   67   4  0  0   0  12
2000-01  Mississauga IceDogs         OHL   13  0  0  0   34  -- -- --  --  --
2000-01  Kingston Frontenacs         OHL    7  0  1  1   22  -- -- --  --  --
2000-01  London Knights              OHL   29  0  3  3   75   5  0  0   0   0
2001-02  London Knights              OHL   38  0  1  1  107  -- -- --  --  --
2001-02  Oshawa Generals             OHL   27  6  1  7   63   5  1  0   1  12
2002-03  Rochester Americans         AHL   64  0  1  1  315   3  0  0   0  17
2002-03  Buffalo Sabres              NHL    1  0  0  0    0  -- -- --  --  --
2003-04  Rochester Americans         AHL   57  0  0  0  287  14  1  0   1  15
2004-05  Rochester Americans         AHL   59  3  3  6  288   4  0  0   0  16
2005-06  Rochester Americans         AHL   40  1  1  2  130  -- -- --  --  --
2006-07  St. Hyacinthe Top Design    LNAH  20  1  1  2  166  -- -- --  --  --
2007-08  St. Hyacinthe Top Design    LNAH  48  1  4  5  527  -- -- --  --  --
2008-09  Rockford IceHogs            AHL   25  0  0  0  141  -- -- --  --  --
2008-09  Saguenay 98.3-FM*           LNAH  Statistics Unavailable
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
         NHL Totals                         1  0  0  0    0

On the subject: Pugilism, Sean McMorrow | ALL SUBJECTS |

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