The fifth-round pick in the 2022 NHL draft was another of the standouts in prospect camp for the Utah Hockey Club.
Harvard has ground out some great hockey prospects, including Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox, forward Dominic Moore, and Utah HC forward Alex Kerfoot.
Now there's another name to watch, and it's defenceman Matthew Morden.
The left-handed blue-liner from Hamilton, Ontario, just completed his freshman year at Harvard, where he made 32 appearances. Despite just logging three points, Morden became known for his defensive prowess at 6-foot-4 and 203 pounds.
It's become a theme among the prospects in the pool for Utah, who are big, mobile, and physical, like Dmitry Simashev and Maveric Lamoreaux.
Morden broke onto the scene with the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks in 2021-22, putting up a career-best 21 points in 57 games in 2022-23.
Prior to Muskegon, he spent his high school years at St. Andrew's College Prep School in Toronto after starting with the Toronto Titans and their youth programs.
Morden definitely impressed in prospect camp, potting a couple of points in the open scrimmage at Delta Center two weeks ago.
It was rewarded with the Utah HC Most Improved Player honor, given to the prospect "who has shown the most growth on- and off-the-ice over the last year."
While he hasn't signed his entry-level contract yet, his development at Harvard will be something to keep an eye on this season, and given he was the most improved prospect at camp, it makes his growth all the more intriguing.
This story was updated to reflect the award Morden was given at Utah HC prospect camp.