Morgan Ellis Explained

Morgan Ellis
Birth Date:30 April 1992
Birth Place:Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:1
Weight Lb:207
Position:Defence
Shoots:Right
League:DEL
Team:ERC Ingolstadt
Ntl Team:Canada
Former Teams:Montreal Canadiens
Skellefteå AIK
Färjestad BK
Kölner Haie
HC Sochi
Dinamo Riga
Eisbären Berlin
Draft:117th overall
Draft Year:2010
Draft Team:Montreal Canadiens
Career Start:2012

Morgan Ellis (born April 30, 1992) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). He was selected in the fourth round, 117th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Junior

Ellis played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) beginning in 2008,[1] and was recognized for his outstanding performance during his final season of major junior hockey when he was selected as recipient of the Kevin Lowe Trophy as the league's best defensive defenceman,[2] as well as being named to the 2011–12 QMJHL Second All-Star Team.[3] Spending the entirety of his career with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles to date, Ellis was traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes in December 2011,[4] and would help the team capture the 2012 Memorial Cup that following April.[5]

Professional

Originally selected by the Montreal Canadiens in 2010 (117th overall),[6] Ellis was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Canadiens on March 1, 2012.[7] In 2012–13, his first professional season, he was assigned to play in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hamilton Bulldogs, skating in 71 games and registering four goals and four assists for eight points, along with 57 penalty minutes.[8]

On June 1, 2015, Ellis was signed to a one-year, two-way contract extension by the Canadiens.[9] On January 27, 2016, he was named to represent the North Division roster for the AHL All-Star Game while member of the Canadiens newfound AHL affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps.[10]

On February 26, 2016, Ellis was recalled by the Canadiens and played in his first National Hockey League (NHL) game on March 2, 2016,[11] in a 3–2 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center.[12] He would play two additional NHL games before being reassigned to the IceCaps on March 6, 2016.[13]

On July 2, 2016, having left the Canadiens organization as a free agent, Ellis agreed to a one-year, two-way deal with the St. Louis Blues.[14] After competing in the Blues' 2016 training camp, he was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, for the duration of the 2016–17 season.[8]

As an impending unrestricted free agent, Ellis opted to sign his first contract abroad in agreeing to a one-year deal with Swedish club, Skellefteå AIK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), on May 15, 2017.[15] He would ultimately split the 2017–18 season between SAIK and Färjestad BK,[16] posting 10 points in 49 combined games.

Once again a free agent at season's end, Ellis moved to the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), agreeing to a one-year contract with German outfit Kölner Haie on May 9, 2018.[17]

Ellis continued his journeyman European career in 2019–20, signing a one-year contract with Russian club HC Sochi of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) on May 2, 2019.[18] At the conclusion of his contract in Sochi, he remained in the KHL by securing a one-year deal with Latvian-based club Dinamo Riga on August 3, 2020.[19]

In the 2020–21 season, Ellis began the year as an alternate captain with Riga, posting a goal and three points through 17 games. However, on November 30, 2020, Ellis would leave the KHL and return to Germany, signing for the remainder of the DEL season with ERC Ingolstadt.[20]

Beginning in the 2021–22 season, Ellis played with the Eisbären Berlin, agreeing to a two-year contract with the team in May 2021,[21] followed by a one-year extension prior to the 2023–24 season.[22]

Following three seasons with Eisbären Berlin in which he won two league championships, Ellis returned to ERC Ingolstadt in July 2024, inking a one-year contract for the 2024–25 season.[23]

International play

In January 2022, Ellis was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[24] [25] [26]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2008–09Cape Breton Screaming EaglesQMJHL5206645100114
2009–10Cape Breton Screaming EaglesQMJHL604252956510110
2010–11Cape Breton Screaming EaglesQMJHL65828366540008
2011–12Cape Breton Screaming EaglesQMJHL347182518
2011–12Shawinigan CataractesQMJHL2681927381147116
2012–13Hamilton BulldogsAHL7144857
2013–14Hamilton BulldogsAHL59371036
2014–15Hamilton BulldogsAHL2736913
2014–15Wheeling NailersECHL391313262250220
2015–16St. John's IceCapsAHL7316264251
2015–16Montreal CanadiensNHL30002
2016–17Chicago WolvesAHL749213036100110
2017–18Skellefteå AIKSHL3905540
2017–18Färjestad BKSHL94154601127
2018–19Kölner HaieDEL5212223426110444
2019–20HC SochiKHL541161728
2020–21Dinamo RīgaKHL171234
2020–21ERC IngolstadtDEL38419233651128
2021–22Eisbären BerlinDEL502911311202212
2022–23Eisbären BerlinDEL551192064
2023–24Eisbären BerlinDEL5151621411401114
AHL totals304356499193100110
NHL totals30002
KHL totals712182032

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2008Canada AtlanticU178th50004
2009Canada AtlanticU179th51120
2022CanadaOG6th20005
Junior totals101124
Senior totals20005

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
QMJHL
Kevin Lowe Trophy – Best Defensive Defenceman2012[27]
Second All-Star Team2012
CHL
Memorial Cup champion2012
AHL
2016
DEL
Champion (Eisbären Berlin)2022, 2024[28] [29]

Notes and References

  1. Web site:
    1. 19 MOMENT IN EAGLES HISTORY: THE 2008 QMJHL DRAFT
    . CHL.ca. July 26, 2024.
  2. Web site: Ellis Wins Kevin-Lowe Trophy . Momentum Hockey . 2012-03-24 . 2012-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113347/http://www.momentumhockey.com/en/news/single_post/ellis_wins_kevin_lowe_trophy . March 4, 2016 . dead .
  3. Web site: The Golden Puck Awards: recognition of excellence. CHL.ca. April 4, 2012 . July 25, 2024.
  4. Web site: Screaming Eagles trade Ellis to Cataractes. CHL.ca. December 31, 2011. July 26, 2024.
  5. Web site: Ellis savouring Memorial Cup and looking ahead. Journal Pioneer. McCarthy. Eric. May 30, 2012. July 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304195205/http://www.journalpioneer.com/Sports/2012-05-30/article-2992118/Ellis-savouring-Memorial-Cup-and-looking-ahead/1. March 4, 2016. dead.
  6. Web site: Montreal Canadiens 2010 Draft Class: A Small Class Offers Plenty NHL Experience . Duffett . Nate . . 2024-06-22 . 2024-07-26.
  7. Canadiens sign minor league defenceman Morgan Ellis to three-year deal . . 2012-03-01 . 2012-03-01.
  8. Web site: Morgan Ellis Stats and Player Profile . TheAHL.com. July 26, 2024.
  9. Web site: Canadiens agree to terms on one-year contracts with Gabriel Dumont and Morgan Ellis. Montreal Canadiens . NHL.com . 2015-06-01 . 2015-06-01.
  10. Web site: AHL announces All-Star roster changes. TheAHL.com. 2016-01-26. 2024-07-26.
  11. CanadiensMTL. 705124025886859264. March 2, 2016. Morgan Ellis jouera un 1er match dans la LNH ce soir. // Morgan Ellis will make his NHL debut tonight. #GoHabsGo.
  12. Web site: McGinn scores in debut, Ducks beat Canadiens 3-2 in shootout . ESPN.com . 2016-03-03 . 2024-07-26.
  13. Web site: Montreal Canadiens assign defenceman Morgan Ellis to St. John's. Goffenberg. Daniel. Sportsnet.ca. 2016-03-06. 2016-07-03.
  14. Web site: St. Louis Blues Sign Morgan Ellis to One-Year Deal . Karraker . Patrick . . 2016-07-01 . 2024-07-26.
  15. Web site: Skellefteå AIK . 2017-05-15 . 2017-05-15 . Swedish . KONTRAKT MED KANADENSISK BACK . CONTRACT WITH CANADIAN BACK .
  16. Web site: Skellefteå AIK . 2018-02-06 . 2024-07-26 . Swedish . MORGAN ELLIS LÄMNAR SKELLEFTEÅ AIK . MORGAN ELLIS LEAVES SKELLEFTEÅ AIK .
  17. Web site: HAIE VERPFLICHTEN MORGAN ELLIS . SHARKS COMMIT MORGAN ELLIS . Kölner Haie . 2018-05-09 . 2018-05-09 . de.
  18. Web site: KHL Transfer tracker. May 2019 . KHL.ru . 2019-05-31 . 2024-07-25.
  19. Web site: P.E.I. hockey player Morgan Ellis signs with KHL team in Latvia . . 5 August 2020 . 25 July 2024 . Malloy . Jason.
  20. Web site: ERC HOLT WEITEREN TOP-VERTEIDIGER . ERC BRINGS IN ANOTHER TOP DEFENSEMAN . ERC Ingolstadt . November 30, 2020 . November 30, 2020 . de.
  21. Web site: Morgan Ellis kommt nach Berlin . Morgan Ellis is coming to Berlin . Eisbären Berlin . May 26, 2021 . July 26, 2024 . de.
  22. Web site: Erste Personalentscheidungen . First personnel decisions . Eisbären Berlin . March 16, 2023 . July 26, 2024 . de.
  23. Web site: ELLIS WIEDER EIN PANTHER . ELLIS AGAIN A PANTHER . ERC Ingolstadt . July 10, 2024 . July 26, 2024 . de.
  24. Web site: 2022 Olympic Winter Games (Men). Hockey Canada. July 26, 2024.
  25. Web site: Canada unveils non-NHL Olympic hockey roster with pro experience, young talent. January 25, 2022. CBC Sports. Harrison. Doug. July 26, 2024.
  26. Web site: 'A dream come true' for P.E.I.'s Morgan Ellis at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing . . February 10, 2022 . July 26, 2024 . Simmonds . Jason.
  27. Web site: Cataractes awarded with Robert-Lebel and Kevin Lowe trophies. CHL.ca. March 24, 2012. July 25, 2024.
  28. Web site: DEUTSCHER MEISTER 2022 . GERMAN CHAMPION 2022 . Eisbären Berlin . German . 5 May 2022 . 5 May 2022.
  29. Web site: Die Eisbären Berlin sind Deutscher Meister 2024! . The Berlin Polar Bears are German champions 2024! . Deutsche Eishockey Liga . 26 April 2024 . 26 April 2024 . German .