Travis Morin Named AHL Player of the Month

Travis Morin (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

Despite a rough few games for the team overall at the end of the month, Travis Morin had a fantastic January and was named as the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for January for his effort. Morin had ten goals and 21 points in just eleven games in the month. He had five games with at least three points.

Morin is on the verge of breaking his AHL career record for points in a season. That record of 66 is also a Texas Stars franchise record and was set during the 2011-12 season. Morin needs just two points to set the new record at 67. He has already shattered his previous goal total of 21 with 26 this season. The franchise record for goals is owned by Matt Fraser at 37. Morin has competition from Colton Sceviour to break that record though; Sceviour has 27.

This is the third monthly award that the Stars have received this season, matching their total for all previous seasons. Morin and Curtis McKenzie were the other honorees this season.

Here's the release:

The Texas Stars, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Dallas Stars, announced today that center Travis Morin has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Month for January.

In 11 games, Morin led all AHL skaters in goals (10) and points (21), including five games of at least three points each.

Morin, who also won this award in October, scored twice in a 5-3 win at Charlotte on Jan. 2 and picked up a goal and two assists in a 4-3 loss to the Checkers the next night. His first career AHL hat trick helped the Stars to a 5-3 win over Utica on Jan. 11, and he established personal bests with four assists and five points in a 7-1 win at Charlotte on Jan. 17. Morin dished out three assists as Texas edged Iowa, 4-3, in a shootout on Jan. 22, and registered a goal and two assists in a 6-4 win over Grand Rapids on Jan. 24. Morin's 21 points came on half of Texas's 42 goals during January.

Morin ranks second in the AHL with 26 goals and leads the league with 39 assists and 65 points in 41 games with Texas this season. The seventh-year pro from Brooklyn Park, Minn., has also appeared in three NHL contests with Dallas in 2013-14, and will represent the Stars at next week's 2014 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Assante Wealth Management. Morin, who was originally drafted by Washington in 2004, has skated in 325 career AHL contests with Texas and Hershey, totaling 93 goals and 180 assists for 273 points. He signed as a free agent with Dallas on July 12, 2010.

In recognition of his achievement, Morin will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Stars home game.

This is the sixth time in club history, and third this season, that a Texas player has received an AHL monthly award. Brent Krahn was chosen as the league's Goalie of the Month for November 2009, Reilly Smith was Rookie of the Month for December 2012, Jamie Oleksiak was Rookie of the Month for January 2013, Morin was Player of the Month for October 2013 and Curtis McKenzie was Rookie of the Month for December 2013.