Brian Morenz
Encyclopedia
Brian Morenz is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
player. He played professionally with the New York Raiders and related teams of the World Hockey Association
(WHA). He is a distant cousin of Howie Morenz
, the Montreal Canadiens
great.
of the Ontario Hockey Association
(OHA) from 1965 to 1968. He was drafted by the Chicago Black Hawks 21st overall in the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft. He was a member of the 1966 OHA champion Generals, but he did not play with the team in the Memorial Cup
final as he was recovering from a fractured skull. After junior, he moved on to university, playing with the University of Denver Pioneers
from 1968 until 1972. In 1972, he was drafted by New York Raiders in 1972 WHA Player Selection Draft, then started his pro career with the Raiders in 1972-73. He stayed with the franchise for four seasons, as it became the New York Golden Blades and New Jersey Golden Knights, then moved to San Diego to become the San Diego Mariners
. He sat out the 1976-77 season after the Mariners folded. He returned to hockey for 1997 with the San Diego Sharks and finished his hockey career with the San Diego Hawks of the Pacific Hockey League in 1978-79. He played 223 games in the WHA, scoring 53 goals and 57 assists for 110 points.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. He played professionally with the New York Raiders and related teams of the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
(WHA). He is a distant cousin of Howie Morenz
Howie Morenz
Howard William Morenz was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre for three National Hockey League teams: the Montreal Canadiens , the Chicago Black Hawks, and the New York Rangers...
, the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
great.
Playing career
Morenz played junior hockey with the Oshawa GeneralsOshawa Generals
The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. They are based in Oshawa, Ontario. The team is named for General Motors, an early sponsor which has its Canadian headquarters in Oshawa. The Generals are one of the most successful franchises in Canadian Hockey League...
of the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
(OHA) from 1965 to 1968. He was drafted by the Chicago Black Hawks 21st overall in the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft. He was a member of the 1966 OHA champion Generals, but he did not play with the team in the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
final as he was recovering from a fractured skull. After junior, he moved on to university, playing with the University of Denver Pioneers
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
from 1968 until 1972. In 1972, he was drafted by New York Raiders in 1972 WHA Player Selection Draft, then started his pro career with the Raiders in 1972-73. He stayed with the franchise for four seasons, as it became the New York Golden Blades and New Jersey Golden Knights, then moved to San Diego to become the San Diego Mariners
San Diego Mariners
The San Diego Mariners were an ice hockey team based in San Diego that played in the World Hockey Association. They played from 1974 to 1977. Their home ice was San Diego Sports Arena...
. He sat out the 1976-77 season after the Mariners folded. He returned to hockey for 1997 with the San Diego Sharks and finished his hockey career with the San Diego Hawks of the Pacific Hockey League in 1978-79. He played 223 games in the WHA, scoring 53 goals and 57 assists for 110 points.
Awards
- OHA champion Oshawa Generals, 1966
- NCAA Champion University of Denver Pioneers, 1969
- Brampton Sports Hall of Fame, 1991