All Your Latest News

The Calgary Flames have dealt journeyman centre Brendan Morrison to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday for minor league defenceman Brian Connelly.

The 36-year-ancient Morrison is a veteran of 15 NHL seasons, having played with New Jersey, Vancouver, Anaheim, Dallas and Washington before signing with the Flames in the 2010-11 season.

Morrison has four goals and seven assists in 28 games this season for Calgary and 601 points (200 goals, 401 assists) in his career.

He’s reached the playoffs nine times during that span and has eight goals and 21 assists in 58 career playoff games.

“As we projected our line-up going forward we felt it was going to be hard for us to find a spot for Brendan or get him significant ice-time,” said Flames GM Jay Feaster in a statement. “Given his pending [unrestricted free agent] status and the fact that we were not going to re-sign him, we felt it vital to try to go him for another asset.”

Connelly has 21 goals and 105 assists over four seasons with the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs. He originally signed with the Blackhawks on June 8, 2009.

The four-month-ancient Winnipeg girl who was hospitalized following a devastating fire that killed her mother, grandmother and two sisters has died, according to Shahina Siddiqui, executive director of the Islamic Social Services Association.

Hoorya Farooq was rescued from a burning house in Winnipeg’s West Kildonan neighbourhood on Tuesday night. She was the only survivor.

Hamid Farooq, the girl’s father, is a shift worker and was not home at the time of the fire.

Farooq’s wife Zebunesa Sadiq, 33, his mother Shemeem Akhtar, 60, and his daughters Fayza Peyawary, nine, and Aliza Sadiq, four, all died in the heavy smoke and fire that spread through their semi-detached home on Woodlark Place.

The infant was on life support in hospital and, according to a relative, there had been no brain activity since the fire.

On Friday, the father who spent the past few days at his daughter’s bedside, made the hard choice to take the girl off life support.

She died in the afternoon.

Brian Elliott couldn’t be more pleased to be in Ottawa, but the same couldn’t be said just over a year ago.

The St. Louis Blues goaltender is back in Ottawa after he was named to the all-star team thanks to his stellar performance this season.

Last year at this time Elliott was the local whipping boy for both the media and Ottawa Senators hockey fans. The young goalie was struggling terribly and was eventually traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Craig Anderson in February.

Following his departure no one ever expected to hear Elliott’s name in the same sentence as the likes of Boston’s Tim Thomas or New York’s Henrik Lundqvist, but his performance has merited just that.

The 26-year-ancient’s numbers are incredible: 15 wins in 23 games, 1.69 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and five shutouts. This is in stark contrast to last season in Ottawa with a save percentage under .900, a 3.19 GAA and a record of 13-19-5.

Elliott started the season in St. Louis on a two-way contract, but the Blues have since rewarded the Newmarket, Ont., native with a two-year, $3.6-million contract extension.

With all that in hand it’s no wonder Elliott is pleased to return to Ottawa for Sunday’s all-star game and perhaps earn a small redemption.

“This is pretty special and not a lot of guys get to do this, especially guys in my situation,” said Elliott. “I kind of just have to soak it in right now.”

Despite the hard times he experienced in Ottawa, Elliott said he did learn a fantastic deal from the experience.

“Being in this type of market and being under fire every night makes your skin a small tougher than if you were playing in a southern market in Florida,” said Elliott. “It’s hard at first but once you learn how to deal with it I reckon you can learn to deal with anything.”

Elliott will also be reunited with a number of his former teammates as he was selected by captain Daniel Alfredsson to be part of his team.

“I just reckon his tale is a fantastic tale,” said Alfredsson. “I know he struggled with us last year and to see him bounce back like this is fantastic. I was really pleased to be able to pick him for my team.”

Senators star Jason Spezza, also with team Alfredsson, believes Elliott was unfairly treated last season.

“I reckon [Elliott] got a bit of a tough ride here,” said Spezza. “Alfie wanted to make a point and make sure to take [Elliott] on our team. [Elliott] never once complained when he was getting a bit of a rough ride here, he never wavered … I reckon if you talk to any guy in our dressing room they’re really excited to see the year he’s having and being a part of this event.”

Spezza also believes the fans will welcome Elliott back with a warm reception.

Elliott admits he wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the fans have been fantastic and he’s enjoying his return.

“I was pretty surprised,” he said. “It’s nice to realize everyone’s pulling for you and nobody’s really booing you unless you’re a Maple Leaf. It’s a fantastic hockey city and they appreciate everybody.”