Clarke-Pizzo hits NIHL hat trick, then first EIHL goal!

Photo: Panthers Images

It was a special weekend for Morgan Clarke-Pizzo in Week 8.

The Panthers' forward, who is on a two-way deal with the Peterborough Phantoms, scored a hattrick for the NIHL side on their visit to Leeds on Saturday night, and then hit his first professional goal for the Panthers in Manchester.

The 21-year old hadn't played a senior game in the UK before being drafted #34 overall by the Panthers in the 2021 Elite Series draft.

"Morgan's speed is the first thing you notice about him when you see him practice and he came into the Elite series with the right attitude," explained Panthers Director of Hockey Gui Doucet. "Obviously he didn't get to play that much and so was mostly practicing, but he was keen to learn and always wanted to stay on the ice and do extra work. He really wanted to improve and we saw a lot of potential there with him."

Doucet continued: "Morgan’s play with the puck was always there, he has good skill, but this season he's also been learning to play better without the puck, in a system. That's something that when you're younger, you perhaps haven't been introduced to in such detail as there is in professional and senior hockey. We're really pleased with his progress there.

Clarke-Pizzo trains with the Panthers as well as gaining ice time with the Phantoms, a system the team also uses with Jack Hopkins who is on a two-way contract with Telford. "I'm aware of how the boys are doing and speak to their coaches quite often," added Doucet.

"I like to see how they perform, but also what their coaches think of them. In the Elite League, these guys are playing around six to seven minutes per game, whereas in the NIHL they're playing close to 20 minutes every game in different game situations, so the insights their coaches can give us are very useful. I have a good relationship with Slava Koulikov and Tom Watkins we try to help each other as much as we can."