Giving back to the community

Star goalie not just a player — he’s a coach, too

Tim Morison is not your average 18-year-old hockey player.

The star goalie has certainly proven himself on the ice, ending this season with 1.781 goals against average, and a .935 save percentage.

But his commitment to the sport goes above and beyond simply playing the game.

“I like to give back to my community,” said 18-year-old Morison.

And his contribution is great. Morison was a goalie coach for this year’s Pembina Valley Twisters pee-wee 11- and 12-year-olds, who won both the provincial and league championships.

Twisters head coach Gary Rowland said there aren’t a lot of goalie coaches available to work with rural teams, and that he doesn’t know what he would have done without Morison.

“Having a young guy that the kids really looked up to was a real asset,” he said.

Morison said the lack of rural goalie-coaches was a challenge for him as a kid, and he wanted to help out where he could.

“Having a middleman made a big difference,” said Rowland, adding that many of the kids went to Morison when they were too shy to approach the older coaches.

“The kids taught me a lot; they treated me like I’m one of them but at the same time they gave me respect,” Morison said.

Morison is also personal goalie coach for several kids from rural Manitoba, one of whom he has been working with for three years.

Bronson Ammeter, who plays goal for the Twisters, said he’d always been interested in goaltending but Morison really inspired him to concentrate on the position.

“ I learn more (from him); he’s more fun,” said the 12-year-old.

Teammate Mitch Rowland, said Morison is more than just an excellent goalie coach.

“He pumps us up; he makes us a better team ’cause he pep talks us before games,” he said.

Morison has worked for Manitoba Moose goalie coach Rick St. Croix at St. Croix’s goaltending camps for several years now. He participated in the camps as a kid,found the experience extremely valuable, and wanted to get in on the coaching side.

Morison takes a unique approach to coaching — he gets dressed in goalie gear instead of coaching from the sidelines so he can “get in there and show them the skills.

“It’s hands-on learning,” he said.

Somehow Morison also finds time to help out his role model, Starbuck phys. ed. teacher Steve Montgomery, three afternoons a week.

“I want to become a phys. ed, teacher,” he said.

“This way I can start slow and learn the basics.”

Morison, who is in Grade 12, has already been accepted into the University of Winnipeg’s education program.

Morison was also a standout performer for his team, the Macdonald A2 Lightning midgets, who finished their season with a record 21 wins, 3 ties and no losses.

“He’s passionate not just about hockey,” said his mom, Kim. “He’s passionate about goaltending.”

Tim said his biggest challenge is finding a way to balance his two passions — his love for playing the game and his desire to coach.

He has been invited to a junior camp this month, where scouts will be looking for new talent. He said if it comes down to choosing between school and playing, it’s going to be a difficult choice.

“If I play, I miss out on school but if I choose school I miss out on hockey.”