Breadcrumb Trail Links
“He is in the same conversation with Makar and Quinn Hughes,” DeMelo said.
Published Nov 30, 2025 • Last updated 39 minutes ago • 3 minute read
You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – FEBRUARY 12: (l-r) Colton Parayko #55, Seth Jarvis #24, Brad Marchand #63 and Josh Morrissey #44 of Team Canada celebrate Marchand’s first period goal against Team Sweden in the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off at Bell Centre on February 12, 2025 in Montreal. Photo by (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /Winnipeg SunArticle content
Surely, Jets rearguard Josh Morrissey is a certifiable lock for inclusion on the Team Canada roster for the upcoming Olympic hockey tournament in Italy.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
Exclusive columns by Ryan Stelter, Paul Friesen, Ted Wyman, Scott Billeck, Lorrie Goldstein, Warren Kinsella and others. Plus newsletters: Gimme Stelter for your beat on the city, The Exit Row for all your Jets news and On the Rocks for curling.Unlimited online access to Winnipeg Sun and 15 news sites with one account.Winnipeg Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
“He is absolutely a lock; he is on that team, but he won’t say it,” defensive partner Dylan DeMelo told The Winnipeg Sun. “He is humble that way.”
Article content
Article content
The Canadian Olympic hockey roster will be announced about a month from now. No definitive date has been released publicly.
Avs defenceman Cale Makar is the only official ‘lock’ to make the team on the back end. Others include forwards Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Brayden Point, Sam Reinhart, and Sidney Crosby.
There are plenty of websites and hockey insiders speculating on the eventual Canadian roster, and Morrissey is included on just about every list, if not all of them.
The impressive list of potential defenders includes Colton Parayko, Even Bouchard, Drew Doughty, Thomas Harley, and Devin Toews among them.
The Winnipeg Sun’s Daily Headline News
Thanks for signing up!
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
When asked, the Calgary native says he wants to be on the team, but he would not share his private thoughts on the debate about his inclusion.
He says he is solely focused on his beloved Jets. That much he did admit.
“I am just trying to bring my best every day and be the best player I can be for the Winnipeg Jets, and hope the rest takes care of itself,” Morrissey said. “I have been happy with my start, and I want to keep building.”
But DeMelo wasn’t through pitching his partner’s bona fides.
“He is in the same conversation with Makar and Quinn Hughes,” DeMelo said. “His skating is fantastic, so his gap is always good. He plays against the top competition every night, and he produces points through all of that. He impacts the game everywhere.”
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Hughes was named to the U.S. roster on June 23.
Morrissey was asked for his personal elevator pitch. If he had 30 seconds alone in a lift with the Team Canada decision makers, what would he say to further solidify his case for belonging.
Firstly, he made it clear he would not ‘beg’ to be on the team, but he did talk about the state of his present game and where he sees it going.
The No. 44 in blue and white is second to Makar in points by a Canadian defenceman with 23 heading into league action on Sunday night.
“I try to be an all-around player and do whatever the team needs me to do,” he said. “I have worked hard on my game, continuing to evolve and get better on the offensive side, defensive side and special teams. I love coming to the rink every day and working hard, trying to find ways to improve by watching the other top players around the league, trying to find things they do to improve my game.”
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
With some of his idle time, Morrissey does fancy playing for Canada at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, saying “it would be impossible not to.”
“It is a team that you want to make the most and something you dream about,” he said. “From the time I was a little kid, the 2002 Olympics (in Salt Lake City) was the first one I remember watching. ”
Canada beat the U.S. 5-2 in the gold medal game two-plus decades ago. Joe Sakic scored twice, including the game-winning goal.
According to NHL Edge stats, Morrissey is in the top 80th percentile or higher in several categories like skating distance, shooting percentage, goals, offensive zone time, shots on goal and speed bursts of 29 to 32 kilometres an hour.
Closer to home, the 30-year-old leads the locals in time on ice at 24:30, nearly two minutes more than second place Neal Pionk, who skates an average of 22:44 per game. Morrissey is tied with Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi for the most power-play points with seven and is alone in third in points per game at .96.
“He does so many things for our group,” DeMelo said. “He is on the team in my books, and I am sure he will be when they announce it.”
Morrissey did play for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February.
Article content
Share this article in your social network