Joshua Morrissey Bio
Joshua Morrissey (born March 28, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Jets in the first round, 13th overall, of the 2013 NHL entry draft. Morrissey has developed into one of the NHL’s most reliable two-way defencemen, known for his skating ability, hockey intelligence, and leadership on and off the ice. He signed an eight-year contract extension with Winnipeg in September 2019, solidifying his place as a cornerstone of the franchise’s blueline.
Early Life and Background
Morrissey was born on March 28, 1995, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. As a youth hockey player, he participated in the prestigious Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in 2007, playing with the Calgary Flames minor ice hockey team. His exceptional talent was evident early, and he was recognized as the top bantam defenceman in southern Alberta before advancing to junior hockey.
Path to Professional Hockey
Morrissey’s journey to professional hockey began when the Western Hockey League’s Prince Albert Raiders selected him in the first round, sixth overall, of the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft. Prior to joining the Raiders, he played for the Calgary Royals midget AAA team. He made his WHL debut in 2010, appearing in five games with Prince Albert while spending most of that season with Calgary Royals. During the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Morrissey represented Team Alberta and helped lead the province to a bronze medal. His outstanding performance positioned him as one of the top defensive prospects in Canada heading into his NHL draft-eligible year.
Joshua Morrissey Career
Junior Career (2010–2015)
During the 2012–13 WHL season, Morrissey emerged as one of the league’s top defencemen. He led all Prince Albert blueliners in scoring with 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points, complementing his offensive production with a plus-14 rating and 91 penalty minutes. The Raiders achieved their first winning record since the 2003–04 season, marking a significant turnaround for the franchise.
In the subsequent off-season, Morrissey’s stock continued to rise. The Winnipeg Jets selected him 13th overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft. Before the 2013–14 season began, the Raiders named him team captain, making him one of the youngest players to receive that honor in WHL history. He signed a three-year, two-way contract with the Jets on October 3, 2013, but returned to Prince Albert for the season. Morrissey finished as the WHL’s second-leading scorer among defencemen, recording 28 goals and 45 assists for 73 points in 59 regular season games. The Raiders were swept by the eventual Memorial Cup champion Edmonton Oil Kings in the opening playoff round.
On December 10, 2014, during the 2014–15 season, the Raiders traded Morrissey to the Kelowna Rockets. The move proved significant as he helped lead the Rockets to the WHL championship and a berth in the 2015 Memorial Cup final, where they fell to the Oshawa Generals.
NHL Development (2015–2018)
Morrissey’s transition to professional hockey began during the 2013–14 season when the Jets assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps. He appeared in eight regular season games and notably played 20 games during the 2014 Calder Cup playoffs, gaining valuable postseason experience. The following season, the Jets assigned him to the newly formed Manitoba Moose, their new AHL affiliate.
The Jets called Morrissey up late in the 2015–16 season, and he made his NHL debut in a home game against the Montreal Canadiens on March 5, 2016. His first career NHL goal came on November 15, 2016, during a 4–0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Morrissey completed his first full NHL season with 6 goals and 20 points in 82 games, establishing himself as a regular in Winnipeg’s lineup.
During the 2017–18 season, his second full year with the Jets, Morrissey recorded 26 points in 81 games and helped the team qualify for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. In the first round against the Minnesota Wild, he received a one-game suspension for cross-checking Eric Staal.
Winnipeg Jets Era (2019–Present)
On September 12, 2019, Morrissey signed a lucrative eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the Jets, carrying an annual average value of $6.25 million. This deal reflected the organization’s commitment to building their defence around the homegrown talent. Shortly after, on October 1, 2019, just before the start of the 2019–20 NHL season, the Jets named Morrissey an alternate captain, recognizing his leadership qualities and importance to the franchise.
Morrissey continued to ascend as one of the NHL’s premier defencemen. He became the Winnipeg Jets’ all-time leader in scoring by a defenceman following a game against the Vancouver Canucks on March 7, surpassing the previous record held by Dustin Byfuglien. This milestone cemented his status as the most productive offensive defenceman in franchise history.
Driving Style and Strengths
Morrissey plays a modern, mobile defensive game suited to today’s NHL. His exceptional skating ability allows him to close gaps quickly and recover loose pucks, while his hockey sense enables him to read developing plays and shut down opponents. He possesses a reliable point shot and strong puck-moving skills that contribute to Winnipeg’s transition game. His left-shot skill set complements the right-shot defenders on the Jets’ roster, providing balance on the power play and penalty kill units.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Morrissey has achieved several significant milestones. His selection 13th overall by Winnipeg in 2013 represented the franchise’s highest draft pick for a defenceman to that point. His record-setting performance as the Jets’ all-time leading scorer from the blue line stands as a testament to his consistent offensive production over multiple seasons. His appointment as alternate captain at just 24 years old demonstrated the organization’s confidence in his leadership abilities.
Joshua Morrissey International Career
Morrissey has represented Canada at multiple international tournaments throughout his career. He won gold medals at the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships and the 2015 World Junior Championships. At the 2015 World Junior tournament, he was named to the All-Star First Team after recording four points and a plus-nine rating. Following his rookie NHL season, he made his senior national team debut at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, where Canada earned a silver medal.
Eight years after his last international appearance, Morrissey rejoined the Canadian national team for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, the first NHL-sanctioned international tournament since 2016. He participated in all three round-robin games but missed the championship final against the United States due to illness. He later described his hunger to win gold after being unable to participate in Canada’s victory.
The 2026 Winter Olympics marked the first NHL participation in the Games since 2014. On December 31, 2025, Morrissey was named to Canada’s roster for the tournament in Milan. He exited Canada’s opening game against Czechia due to injury and was unable to participate for the remainder of the competition. Canada advanced to the final but lost to the United States, settling for the silver medal.
Joshua Morrissey Family
Personal Life
Morrissey continues to represent his hometown province at the international level and maintains strong connections to the Calgary community where he grew up. His journey from Calgary minor hockey through the WHL to the NHL has been closely followed by Canadian hockey fans. He is active on social media, maintaining an Instagram account where he shares updates about his career and personal life with fans.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 NHL season represented another strong campaign for Morrissey as a steadying presence on Winnipeg’s blue line. He continued to quarterback the team’s top power-play unit while logging heavy minutes against opponents’ top forwards. His leadership as alternate captain remained vital to the Jets’ room, particularly during the challenges of a grueling 82-game regular season and playoff push. The partnership between Morrissey and his defensive partners provided the Jets with a reliable foundation on the back end. Looking ahead, his participation in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off demonstrated that he remained among Canada’s elite defencemen, and his Olympic selection for 2026 solidified his standing as one of the nation’s top blueliners heading into future international competitions.