Andy Murray (hockey player)
Encyclopedia
Andy Murray is the current head coach for the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
team of the NCAA Division I Central Collegiate Hockey Association
(CCHA). He is a former head coach of the Los Angeles Kings
and the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League
.
that was started by Murray's grandfather. Once Murray was old enough, he began to work there. In 1976, when Murray was 25 years old, his uncle hired him to be the coach of the Brandon Travelers after a brawl. Three years later, he got the head-coaching job at Brandon University
in Manitoba while still working at the dealership during the day. In 1981, his father died the day after a victory that qualified Brandon for a National tournament. After that season, he needed to get away, and took a coaching job in Switzerland. In 1988, he went to the United States to be the assistant coach for the Hershey Bears
of the American Hockey League
. That year, the Bears won the AHL championship, and he was promoted as an assistant coach of the Philadelphia Flyers
. He spent two years there before joining as an assistant coach with the Minnesota North Stars
, where he made it to the Stanley Cup
Finals. In 1992, he went back to Switzerland to coach for Lugano. Two months later, he quit because of a fan revolt. After that, he took a job in Germany before returning to assistant coaching with the Winnipeg Jets, where he stayed until 1995. Murray was named the coach of the Canadian National Hockey Team in 1996, a post he held until 1998. He served as head coach at Shattuck-St. Mary's School for the 1998–99 season.
replacing Larry Robinson
, where he stayed for seven seasons
His best success came in 2001, when the Kings forced the Colorado Avalanche to a seven-game series in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Kings forced the seventh game after previously being down three games to one. He garnered a lot of media attention after publicly stating that anyone on his team that wasn't going to give 100% was not to travel with team back to Colorado for game five of the series. The Kings responded, winning game five, 1–0. They made Murray proud once again in game six, when Glen Murray scored in the second overtime to win the game for the Kings, 1–0. Murray made a famous fist pump when exiting the team bench after winning game six in overtime.
On March 21, 2006, Murray was fired by the Kings and was replaced on an interim basis by John Torchetti
. He provided colour commentary
for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
during their Hockey Night in Canada
telecasts of the 2006 Stanley Cup
playoffs.
On December 11, 2006, the Blues hired Murray to replace Mike Kitchen
as head coach after a seven game losing streak. He coached the Blues to a record of 33–36–13 in his first full season as coach in 2007–2008. On April 10, 2009, Murray coached the Blues from a 15th place showing in the Western Conference at the All-Star Break to a 25–9–7 record down the stretch to clinching the sixth playoff spot, marking the team's first Stanley Cup playoffs appearance since the 2004–05 lockout. Murray's Blues took on the Vancouver Canucks
in the opening round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
and were swept. Murray was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year during the off-season but lost to Claude Julien. On January 2, 2010, Murray was fired as Blues coach and replaced with Davis Payne
.
in 1997, 2003 and 2007. He was the first coach to accomplish this feat. In the 2010 World Championships
, he acted as a consultant to the Swiss team.
. Murray replaced Jeff Blashill
, who left WMU after one season to join the NHL's Detroit Red Wings
.
and Jordan Murray, and a daughter, Sarah Murray. He is also a distant cousin
to Los Angeles Kings
center Marty Murray
.
Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
team of the NCAA Division I Central Collegiate Hockey Association
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association is a NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey college athletic conference that operates mostly in Michigan and Ohio, although it also has members in Alaska and Indiana. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as a hockey-only conference. It holds its championship...
(CCHA). He is a former head coach of the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
Early life and career
Andy Murray's family had an auto dealership in Souris, ManitobaSouris, Manitoba
Souris is a town in the southwestern portion of the Canadian province of Manitoba, 2006 population 1,772, total including Glenwood Municipality is 2,412. It is located on the Souris River, from which it takes its name. The town is home to Canada's longest historic cable-stayed footbridge , known...
that was started by Murray's grandfather. Once Murray was old enough, he began to work there. In 1976, when Murray was 25 years old, his uncle hired him to be the coach of the Brandon Travelers after a brawl. Three years later, he got the head-coaching job at Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
in Manitoba while still working at the dealership during the day. In 1981, his father died the day after a victory that qualified Brandon for a National tournament. After that season, he needed to get away, and took a coaching job in Switzerland. In 1988, he went to the United States to be the assistant coach for the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. That year, the Bears won the AHL championship, and he was promoted as an assistant coach of the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He spent two years there before joining as an assistant coach with the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
, where he made it to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
Finals. In 1992, he went back to Switzerland to coach for Lugano. Two months later, he quit because of a fan revolt. After that, he took a job in Germany before returning to assistant coaching with the Winnipeg Jets, where he stayed until 1995. Murray was named the coach of the Canadian National Hockey Team in 1996, a post he held until 1998. He served as head coach at Shattuck-St. Mary's School for the 1998–99 season.
NHL head coach
On June 14, 1999, Andy was named the new head coach of the Los Angeles KingsLos Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
replacing Larry Robinson
Larry Robinson
Larry Clark Robinson is a former ice hockey player and coach in the National Hockey League. Robinson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995 and is currently the defensive coach for the New Jersey Devils...
, where he stayed for seven seasons
His best success came in 2001, when the Kings forced the Colorado Avalanche to a seven-game series in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Kings forced the seventh game after previously being down three games to one. He garnered a lot of media attention after publicly stating that anyone on his team that wasn't going to give 100% was not to travel with team back to Colorado for game five of the series. The Kings responded, winning game five, 1–0. They made Murray proud once again in game six, when Glen Murray scored in the second overtime to win the game for the Kings, 1–0. Murray made a famous fist pump when exiting the team bench after winning game six in overtime.
On March 21, 2006, Murray was fired by the Kings and was replaced on an interim basis by John Torchetti
John Torchetti
John Torchetti is the head coach of the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros and a former professional ice hockey player. Previously, he was the head coach of the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League , and the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL for the 2006–2007 season...
. He provided colour commentary
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
during their Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
telecasts of the 2006 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
playoffs.
On December 11, 2006, the Blues hired Murray to replace Mike Kitchen
Mike Kitchen
Michael Elwin Kitchen is a Canadian former defenceman and former head coach in the National Hockey League. He was selected in the third round of the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft, 38th overall, by the Kansas City Scouts...
as head coach after a seven game losing streak. He coached the Blues to a record of 33–36–13 in his first full season as coach in 2007–2008. On April 10, 2009, Murray coached the Blues from a 15th place showing in the Western Conference at the All-Star Break to a 25–9–7 record down the stretch to clinching the sixth playoff spot, marking the team's first Stanley Cup playoffs appearance since the 2004–05 lockout. Murray's Blues took on the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in the opening round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2009 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 15, 2009, after the 2008–09 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference , play a best-of-seven series for the conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and...
and were swept. Murray was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year during the off-season but lost to Claude Julien. On January 2, 2010, Murray was fired as Blues coach and replaced with Davis Payne
Davis Payne
Davis Payne is a retired Canadian ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins and is the former head coach of the St. Louis Blues.-Playing career:...
.
International tournaments
Andy coached Canada to the three gold medals at the IIHF World ChampionshipsIce Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
in 1997, 2003 and 2007. He was the first coach to accomplish this feat. In the 2010 World Championships
2010 IIHF World Championship
The 2010 IIHF World Championship was the 74th IIHF World Championship, an annual international ice hockey tournament. It took place between 7 and 23 May 2010 in Germany. The games were played in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, SAP Arena in Mannheim, and one game at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen...
, he acted as a consultant to the Swiss team.
Western Michigan University
On July 25, 2011, it was announced Murray will be the head coach of the Western Michigan BroncosWestern Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college ice hockey program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association...
. Murray replaced Jeff Blashill
Jeff Blashill
Jeff Blashill is an assistant coach for the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings. He previously served as the head coach of the Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team and as the head coach and general manager of the Indiana Ice and was an assistant hockey coach at Ferris State...
, who left WMU after one season to join the NHL's Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
.
Personal life
Andy and his wife, Ruth, have three children (all hockey players): two sons BradyBrady Murray
Braden Murray is a Canadian-American ice hockey player. He is currently playing for HC Lugano of the Swiss National League A, after being loaned there by the Los Angeles Kings....
and Jordan Murray, and a daughter, Sarah Murray. He is also a distant cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
to Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
center Marty Murray
Marty Murray
Marty Murray , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played for several teams in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
.
NHL coaching record
| Team | | Year | | Regular season | | Post season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | Finish | Result | |||
| Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
1999–2000 | 82 | 39 | 27 | 12 | 4 | 94 | 2nd in Pacific | Lost in First Round (DET Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... ) |
|
| 2000–01 | 82 | 38 | 28 | 13 | 3 | 92 | 3rd in Pacific | Won First Round (DET Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... ) Lost in Second Round (COL Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... ) |
||
| 2001–02 | 82 | 40 | 27 | 11 | 4 | 95 | 3rd in Pacific | Lost in First Round (COL Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... ) |
||
| 2002–03 | 82 | 33 | 37 | 6 | 6 | 78 | 3rd in Pacific | Missed playoffs | ||
| 2003–04 | 82 | 28 | 29 | 16 | 9 | 81 | 3rd in Pacific | Missed playoffs | ||
| 2005–06 | 70 | 37 | 28 | — | 5 | 79 | 4th in Pacific (89 pts.) | Fired | ||
| St. Louis Blues | 2006–07 | 56 | 27 | 18 | — | 11 | 65 | 3rd in Central (81 pts.) | Missed playoffs | |
| 2007–08 | 82 | 33 | 36 | — | 13 | 79 | 5th in Central | Missed playoffs | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
82 | 41 | 31 | — | 10 | 92 | 3rd in Central | Lost in First Round (VAN Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... ) |
||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
40 | 17 | 17 | — | 6 | 40 | 4th in Central | Fired | ||
| Career totals | 10 Seasons | 740 | 333 | 278 | 58 | 71 | 795 | |||