MARINERS SIGN MERCYHURST DEFENSEMAN NORTON

PORTLAND, ME – March 10, 2023 – The Mariners added a defenseman to the roster on Friday, signing Owen Norton, from Mercyhurst University. The 24-year-old blue liner spent parts of five seasons with the Lakers NCAA Division I program and is the first Mariners collegiate signing of 2023.

Originally from Ancaster, ON, Norton began his junior career at home with the Ancaster Avalanche of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League from 2015-17, being named the league’s “Most Improved Player” in his second season. He then moved up to the British Columbia Hockey League’s Surrey Eagles for his final season of juniors in 2017-18. That season, he led all Surrey defensemen in scoring, with 31 points in 58 games – 27 of which were assists.

Norton began his career at Mercyhurst in 2018. He played consistently for the Lakers over five seasons, gaining an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic. In total, he skated in 159 career games a Mercyhurst, scoring seven goals and adding 37 assists.

Norton joins a Mariners defense core which recently lost Andrew Peski on a loan to the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers.