CANTON -- St. Lawrence University has appointed former Clarkson University head men's hockey coach Mark Morris to lead the St. Lawrence University Skating Saints.

At a formal announcement this afternoon, SLU Athletic Director Bob Durocher introduced Morris as "the best candidate from a strong pool."

Reflecting on his long, strong connection to St. Lawrence University, Morris spoke about his boyhood and seeing one of his first big-time college games at SLU's Appleton Arena, and about how he was so excited when the Saints scored a goal that he jumped up and hit his head, leaving an impression on him.

“As a student-athlete at Colgate University (’81), I had the honor of playing for the late Terry Slater ’61, head coach and St. Lawrence alumnus, who remained a friend and mentor to me until his untimely passing,” Morris said. “He was instrumental in my decision to pursue coaching as a profession.

“My experience here at St. Lawrence and my roots in the North Country have drawn me back to Saints hockey, college hockey, and the ECAC. I am deeply honored to be selected as the next coach for Saints men’s hockey. ”

Speculation in the hockey-mad North Country had focused on Morris in the run-up to the announcement. He is considered to be the most successful coach in Clarkson hockey history. He amassed a 306-156-42 record overall at Clarkson from 1988 to 2002.

Morris, originally from Massena, was fired from Clarkson in the middle of the 2002-2003 season following an on-ice practice incident in which he allegedly became rough with a player. He landed on his skates with a job on the coaching staff of the Vancouver Canucks, and later with the AHL Manchester Monarchs, the LA Kings and the Florida Panthers along the way.

“He holds the unique distinction of being the only coach to have won 300 college games and over 300 professional games,” SLU’s statement said. “He is the seventh all-time winningest coach in the AHL and has the third highest win total among active AHL coaches. In the NHL, Morris earned two Stanley Cup rings while developing players for the Los Angeles Kings and also served as an assistant coach for the Florida Panthers.

“While coaching in the ECAC, Morris has won five regular season championships and three tournament championships. Morris’ teams had appeared in nine NCAA tournaments including three quarterfinals and one Frozen Four. During that time he coached 12 future NHL players, nine All-Americans, five Olympians, and three Hobey Baker finalists. Morris earned ECAC Coach of the Year honors two times,” Durocher said.

Most recently he was a coach in the NHL Carolina Hurricanes organization with the American Hockey League Charlotte Checkers.

He now leads his second NCAA Division I and ECAC team.

Joe Marsh, who served as head coach at St. Lawrence for 26 years, said of Morris, “Mark is a great friend and a great fit for St. Lawrence. The years ahead look bright.”

In the search process, Morris also received support from NHL general managers, AHL general managers, current and former ECAC hockey coaches, former professional and college players, and the current Clarkson University president.

“Of course everyone knows which side of the rivalry line I stand on when Clarkson and St. Lawrence play hockey,” Tony Collins, president of Clarkson University, said. “But I’m pleased to see Mark Morris back in the North Country coaching hockey.”

"With the pros, I learned some things along the way," he said.

"I'm always about how you make each other better," Morris said summing up his philosophy.

Morris succeeds Greg Carvel, who has left SLU for UMass.

The university identified Morris as “the third Charles W. Appleton II Hockey Coach and 14th (coach) overall in the men’s hockey program.”