What I did on my summer vacation: Ray Morris

8/30/2007

WHAT HE DID: Attended the USA Select camp, a national team event, held at Tam O Shanter. The weekend tournament consisted of four games with players from Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. It s full contact with some top players, Morris said. It made me realize how much faster the game is at that level and I know I need to work on my speed. Morris also worked out three to four days per week, lifting weights to improve his upper body. My goal was to put on 10 pounds and I put on 11, he said. On weekends, Morris would run about two or three miles on a bike trail near his house in Whitehouse. On most Tuesdays and Thursdays, Morris would skate in a drop-in adult league at Tam O Shanter for two hours. The scrimmages with about 20 players included full contact. It helps keep you in touch with the game and to stay on top of it, he said. It felt good then to walk out into that heat and sunshine. Morris also played street hockey with his friends. I have two teammates that live within a mile from me, so we d pick up the sticks and shoot for an hour, he said. It was more for fun, but we knew it was beneficial to us. We mainly worked on shooting and where to put a shot. Morris also put in 40-hour work weeks helping rebuild a family home. I d lift dry wall, rip up flooring, he said. It worked my back and shoulders. We rebuilt it over a three-month span.

HOW IT HELPED: I believe the practicing helped out with me becoming a faster, more agile skater. It increased my skating ability. The street hockey helped my shot. The working out made me bigger [175 pounds] and that boosted my confidence to be stronger and to push kids around more. With all that painting and screwing things in, that made my shoulders and forearms a lot bigger and that s great for my shot.

OUTLOOK: Morris was a key contributor in the Titans march to a state championship last March. He led the team in goals (29), assists (32) and points (56). Morris hopes to catch the eye of a Junior A team or college coaches this season. I hope to have a really good year. I hope to get looked at by a Junior A team to get experience. My goal is to play college hockey. I hope to wow some scouts. I just have to keep working hard. The reason I do this is because I completely, absolutely love the game.