Hot! Nyjer Morgan Catches Up On His Hockey With Sharks - San Jose Mercury News

Wayne Gretzy's nickname is always safe. Nyjer Morgan hasn't been The Great One.

But taking into account he's on a daily basis job as a possible outfielder for any Milwaukee Brewers, Morgan seemed to be . The Not-Too-Shabby One?

"I'd allow him a B-plus really together with you," Sharks facility Joe Thornton said. "I had been amazed with how fine he or she was."

Morgan, a Bay Area indigenous as well as ongoing Sharks fan, were located his desire Wednesday whenever he / she have to employ practice. He sometimes whistled a puck in the internet within a breakway drill, at the same time using assistance from your hospitable goalie.

Wearing some sort of No. only two jersey using the name "Plush" in honor connected with his or her alter-ego Tony Plush, Morgan became a chance to try out his / her alter-career. As a teen he / she attempt to make the NHL in addition to superior as much as significant younger hockey while in the Western Hockey League, which usually implies he ended up being zero slouch.

Morgan, at this point 31, shook off of several corrode against the actual Sharks, wobbling occasionally on his or her skates while your dog required element in the breakway punch with his left-handed shot. But after a number of too expensive attempts, he whacked his fourth opportunity beyond burn goalkeeper Thomas Greiss (who just about all but live some sort of pleasant mat in front of the actual net).

Morgan soon after beamed while in the Sharks dressing space when your dog peeled off his pads.

"How several players are you aware who are able to just soar for the ice as well as accomplish what I just did?" Morgan said. "Exactly. Pretty cool, huh?

"It's already been many moons. It's also been many years, yeah. And I've still got it. You see that?"

Morgan has been born

in San Francisco in addition to said he seemed to be increased around San Jose, at a property at the Eastridge mall, in advance of afterwards attending high school graduation in Mill Valley.

He dropped with love along with hockey as being a 7-year-old though glued to be able to that TV for any 1988 Winter Games from Calgary.

As a kid, Morgan embraced that Sharks appropriate away. "Ever given that many people came for the Bay Area inside 1990 (when San Jose has been awarded that franchise)," he / she said. "George Kingston. I've always also been a fan. I've generally recently been some sort of diehard Sharks fan. . I bleed teal."

The pesky, trash-taking outfielder identified Wednesday that will he or she would likely want to possibly be a pesky, trash-talking forward. He trialled to the Regina Pats through the 1999-2000 season. In his / her debut, resistant to the Moose Jaw Warriors, he scored a set of objectives and ended up being selected as the game's first star.

Alas, individuals ended up really the only two targets associated with Morgan's occasion throughout Regina. He gamed six more video games before getting released.

Sharks coach Todd McLellan, who ended up being learning throughout Swift Current inside the actual WHL with the time, loved Morgan as a fledgling hockey player.

"His (baseball) characteristics, and the way they stirs elements up on this ballfield? That's the very same means your dog seemed to be around the ice surface," McClellan said. "He was an amount of a disturber, acquired below this epidermis with some of other players, plus competed hard."

Morgan detailed his hockey style this particular way: "Just excitement. Grind. Make that happen. Exciting player, just as I feel within the diamond. Do what I do, guests favorite."

Morgan, who reach .304 using a number of homers, 37 RBIs and tough luck lost bottoms continue season, is definitely also regarded pertaining to their antics since with regard to his play. Giants fans could possibly bear in mind your ex because outfielder which 2009 taunted supporters AT&T Park as well as which cursed repeatedly in a very KNBR interview. (When your station enquired him or her that will ease up to the language, Morgan strung upward instead. "T-Plush can be out. Thanks with regard to getting me.")

That points out the reason why a Cardinals lover arrived to look at Sharks exercise on Wednesday. Mike Sizemore, 21, involving St. Louis held up a sign that will read: "Good to view an individual seeking hockey. Baseball did not work out."

" Nyjer Morgan discussed a lot of smack this coming year against the particular Cardinals," explained Sizemore, a physical archaeologist student at Santa Clara University. "I idea I'd pay out the pup some sort of visit."

Morgan discovered your lover in addition to good-naturedly dismissed from your job a puck away this magnifying glaas right before him.

"Ah, of which delivered back countless memories, because I appreciate hockey," Morgan said. "Not too many African-Americans, especially inside (city) regarding San Jose, might basically relate.

"So I would certainly like to truly motivate individuals ahead away here and attempt skating. It's an incredible game."

Contact Daniel Brown at dbrown@mercurynews.com