Awards Rewind: Morneau’s Magnificent Rookie Year

After a couple of years in the Maritimes pursuing his hockey dreams, Gio Morneau could have never imagined the homecoming he'd have in 2024. The former Ottawa Jr. 67 and Rockland Nationals player became an instant star in his first year at Carleton, collecting handfuls of hardware.

As Morneau found his footing in the physical OUA East it was hard to deny his ability. When the Carleton Ravens heated up in November, Morneau - and fellow rookie Felix Bedard - led the charge. Scoring 15 points over 8 games as the Ravens awoke from an early season slumber, Morneau brought all of TD Place to their feet with a brilliant overtime goal to close the first half of the regular season. 

As the Ravens chased down a playoff spot in the second half, Morneau took his game to another level. Trailing Nipissing by a goal late in the third, Morneau tied the game and put an exclamation mark on his rookie season by scoring an emphatic Michigan goal. While Morneau's talent is undeniable, head coach Mark Cavallin believes his work ethic separates him most from the pack. 

"We know Gio as the hardworking guy," said Cavallin ahead of the banquet, explaining that no player used more extra ice this season than Morneau. That extra ice paid off in physical OUA East games where the rookie thrived. "In games that were the toughest, they would go after him, and he played his best."

Morneau would be named OUA Rookie of the Year, a member of the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team, and a finalist for the U SPORTS Rookie of the Year award. At the annual Varsity Banquet, Morneau was the second men's student-athlete to win the Male Rookie of the Year award, which was introduced in 2024.