Derek Morris Derek Morris ( born August 24 , 1978 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman , currently a member of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League . Drafted out of the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) 13th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft , he has also played in the NHL for the Colorado Avalanche , Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers . Playing career . Morris played minor hockey in the Alberta Midget Hockey League ( AMHL ) with the Red Deer Chiefs and was awarded the Brian Benning Trophy as the league ' s top defenceman in 1995 . He went on to play major junior with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) . After his rookie WHL season , in which he scored 52 points in 67 games , Morris was drafted 13th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft . He returned to play a second season with the Pats , improving to 18 goals and 75 points before turning pro . Following Morris ' s 1996 – 97 WHL season with the Pats , he was assigned to the Calgary ' s American Hockey League ( AHL ) affiliate , the Saint John Flames for the final 7 games of the regular season , as well as 5 post - season games . In 1997 – 98 , he scored 9 goals and 29 points in his NHL rookie season with the Flames , earning NHL All - Rookie Team honours . He continued to improve to 34 , then 38 points in his second and third seasons with the Flames before an injury - shortened season in 2000 – 01 kept him to 28 points in 51 games . In 2001 – 02 , Morris was again sidelined after sustaining a left wrist injury . During the season , he was involved in a tragic incident in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 16 , 2002 , when an Espen Knutsen slap shot deflected off him and into the stands , striking 13 - year old Brittanie Cecil in the temple . She died from the impact two days later , prompting the NHL to implement protective netting at the ends of the rinks at the start of the following season . Morris completed the season with 34 points in 61 games . After five seasons with Calgary , reaching the 30 - point mark four times , he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche . Morris made an immediate impact with the Avalanche in his first season , tallying a career - high 11 goals , 37 assists and 48 points in 2002 – 03 . The following season , however , he was traded for the second time in as many campaigns , this time to the Phoenix Coyotes . Morris was set to become a free agent in the subsequent off - season . Morris completed the 2003 – 04 season playing in 14 games and recording 2 assists with the Coyotes after being traded . He finished with a combined 32 points . In his first full season with the Coyotes in 2005 – 06 , Morris tallied 28 points in 53 games , then recorded back - to - back 25 - point seasons the following two campaigns . On March 4 , 2009 , he was again dealt at the trade deadline , this time to the New York Rangers . He did not re - sign with the Rangers in the off - season , instead on July 24 , 2009 , Morris signed a one - year contract with the Boston Bruins worth $ 3 . 3 million . On March 3 , 2010 he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes for a conditional fourth round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft . Personal life . Derek and wife Jodie have 3 sons ; Traiten , Presley and Asher , who was born on May 31 , 2007 in Phoenix International play . Morris has represented Team Canada on three occasions at the World Championships . After appearances in 1999 and 2001 , he won his first gold medal with Canada at the 2004 World Championships in the Czech Republic . He contributed 5 assists in the gold - medal effort .