NHL teams often use their late-round draft selections on what might be called “projects” as in players with potential that may take a little bit longer to develop.
The New York Rangers may have struck gold with their 2023 sixth round pick in 6’7’, 205 lb. center Dylan Roobroeck.
After his selection, the London, Ontario native rewarded their confidence by finishing second on the Oshawa Generals in scoring (72 points) in 2023-24 and helping them reach the Ontario Hockey League championship round.
“We had a pretty good team there last year and fell a little short in the finals, but it was a good year,” Roobroeck said.
In his first professional season this year with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL), the 20-year old unsurprisingly started slowly going scoreless over his first five games.
But since he has scored a goal in four of his next seven contests and added one assist in another. He registered his first two-point game as a professional Nov. 8 at Rochester and his four goals is third on the team and ties him for seventh among AHL rookies.
“It’s been good; just learning as I go. I’m new to the league so just following other guys, learn as much as I can and try to get better every day.
“Little bit of puck-luck and just gotta keep my head up and play the way I know I can and hope for the best.
What has helped his transition was his late season call-up in 2023-24 and getting into one playoff game last spring.
“It’s huge getting the experience last year even though it was just one game; you get to feel of especially what playoffs are like and what the league’s like.”
The Rangers of late have been selecting more players with size. In 2024, two of their four selections stand 6’4” or taller. In 2023 their last two of five selections are 6’5” or taller including Roobroeck. And the Hartford roster this season features five players standing 6’4” or more.
“It’s good to see. It’s something that I was gifted I guess, so I just need to use it to my advantage.”
And though he is only 20 years old and 12 games deep into his professional career, he is already seeing time with the penalty kill unit.
“Watching video and talking with coaches a lot and just trying to build trust and get more and more ice time.”
And trying to prove that he should have been selected prior to the sixth round.
“Yeah, a little, I guess. I don’t really look at that too much. Just try to focus on what I can control and play my best.”
Record-breaking year sees nearly 100 local youth hockey players receiving financial support through community partnerships
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In a milestone achievement, the Jr. Amerks Youth Hockey Organization awarded nearly $35,000 in scholarships that would help make hockey more accessible to young players — the largest distribution of needs-based financial aid to date.
This initiative aims to break down financial barriers for kids who want to play hockey. This year, 100 players, approximately 10% of the Jr. Amerks overall enrollment, received partial or full scholarships covering their season fees.
“This year’s scholarship distribution is a testimony to our community’s unwavering commitment to give every child the chance to play hockey,” said Robyn MacBride, president of the Jr. Amerks Youth Hockey Organization. “We believe that no child should be denied the opportunity to experience the benefits of hockey due to financial constraints. Our incredible partners have made this vision a reality.”
Financial need-based scholarships are part of the Jr. Amerks’ commitment to providing young athletes with the opportunity to experience the sport of hockey, made possible by community partners such as Hockey Buddies and the Tony Mazurkiewicz Memorial Scholarship Fund.
About Jr Amerks Partners
Hockey Buddies: An organization founded by Rochester nativeCole Bardreau, who was recently named captain of the Bridgeport Islanders AHL team, donated nearly $22,000 in scholarships to support Jr. Amerks players this season. Hockey Buddies offers Youth Player Sponsorships for families in need of assistance paying for equipment and team due.
Tony Mazurkiewicz Memorial Scholarship Fund: This fund honors the late Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz, a Rochester Police Officer who was tragically killed in the line of duty on July 21, 2022. The fund provides $557 scholarships in tribute to his badge number, supporting Jr. Amerks players who are the children of first responders.
Sean Shortsleeve Memorial Scholarship Fund: Funded directly by the Jr. Amerks, this scholarship has provided consistent financial assistance to players in financial need for many years.
“These scholarships represent much more than financial support—they represent a promise to our youth that they are valued and have a place in hockey,” added MacBride.
The Jr. Amerks Youth Hockey Organization has a longstanding mission of promoting inclusivity within the sport, ensuring that any young athlete with a passion for hockey can participate. Through partnerships with the community and dedicated scholarship funds, the Jr. Amerks continue to grow Rochester’s hockey community and inspire the next generation of players.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Plattsburgh State women’s ice hockey team rose to sixth in the latest USCHO.com Division III Top-15 poll, with 185 voting points. The full rankings can be found here.
The Cardinals picked up their first conference win on the road on Friday, taking down Potsdam 3-0 as Chloe Lewis (Monson, Mass./Northwood School) picked up her first shutout of the season. On Saturday, Plattsburgh played 65 minutes and took a tie against Oswego State behind power play goals from Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./St. Louis Lady Blues) and Mae Olshansky (Las Vegas, Nev./North American Hockey Academy), finishing the weekend 1-0-1.
The USCHO.com Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Poll is compiled weekly and consists of 20 voters, including coaches and media professionals from across the country.
Hauppauge’s James Hagens and Ithaca’s Will Moore lead a group of New York State natives atop the NHL Central Scouting Players to Watch list for the 2025 Entry Draft.
Both are listed as “A” players meaning they are projected to be selected in the first round.
Hagens, thought by some to be the best player and possibly the first overall selection next year, is in his freshman campaign with Boston College. The 5’10”, 178 lb. forward led the team with nine assists and tied for first with ten points through the first six games this season.
Last season Hagens led USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team with 63 assists, 102 points and 1.76 points-per game in 58 games.
Moore stands 6’2” and 175 lb. and is playing in his second season with the U.S. National Team Development Program. In a combined 19 games against college programs and in the USHL, he had four goals with 12 points after registering 68 points in 85 games a season ago.
Moore is committed to Boston College in 2025.
East Greenbush’s and Moore’s teammate Jack Murtagh is slotted as a “B” draft prospect indicating a projected second or third round selection. The 6’0”, 200 lb. left wing is committed to Boston University in 2025 after completing his second season with the USNTDP.
He spent two seasons with the Bishop Kearney Selects prep program in Rochester prior to heading to Plymouth, Michigan. This season he had 11 points in eight games.
Tonawanda’s Matthew Lansing is listed as a “C” draft prospect indicating a projected fourth or fifth round selection. The 6’0”, 188 lb. center spent four seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres program with his final year split between there and Waterloo in the USHL. This season with Waterloo and the USNTDP he had four points over the first 12 games.
Fellow East Greenbush native Donato Bracco is tagged a “W” indicating a sixth or seventh round projection. Also with the U.S. National Team Development Program, the 5’10”, 166 lb. left shot defenseman had 11 points through the first 22 games this season and is committed to Harvard next fall.
Locust Valley’s Matthew Grimes is also a “W.” A 6’0”, 184 lb. left shot defenseman with Sioux Falls in the USHL, the University of Minnesota commit had one assists through the first 12 games this season.
Brooklyn’s Jesse Orlowsky is listed as a “W.” A 6’2, 213 lb. center with Waterloo in the USHL and Harvard-bound, he had four assists in the first 13 games for the Black Hawks.
John (Jack) Parsons, passed over in last year’s draft, is slotted with a “W.” The former USNTDP goaltender is committed to Providence but is with Chicago in the USHL this season where the Ithaca native sported a 3.62 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in ten games.
Rochester’s Ethan Phillips is a “W” as the Bishop Kearney Selects 6’2”, 205 lb. goaltender had a 2.39 GAA and .923 save percentage in 11 games with two shutouts. He is committed to Providence College in 2026.
And Northwood Prep and Camillus’ William Schneid comes with a “W” tag. The 6’0”, 174 lb. left wing and former West Genesee HS player already has 15 goals and 32 points in 20 games this season.
Unofficially the draft is reported to be held in Los Angeles in late June.
on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, at . RIT's Tanner Andrew, #7, tries to chase the puck during RIT Mens Hockey game vs Army. (Ethan Bissinger/RIT Sports Network).
By Warren Kozireski —
Freshman Aidan Marshall scored twice while senior Hunter McCoy and sophomore defenseman Jon Bell each had a two-point game as Army defeated RIT handily 5-1 Friday night.
It marked just the seventh time the Black Knights have beaten the Tigers in the 41-game history between the teams and first since a 6-0 win in December 2021.
“That was our most complete game of the year,” Army head coach Brian Riley said. “We have a young team so I worry from game to game what we’re going to be when we go out there, but our game was good from start to finish tonight.
“Our D-corp tonight I thought was really good. We didn’t extend plays in our end because of turnovers; we’ve done that a lot this year, but we were able to manage that part of our game.”
Marshall staked Army to a 1-0 lead at 2:07 of the first period after forcing a turnover behind the RIT net, but the Tigers Simon Isabelle tied it two minutes later from Tanner Andrew.
Army then rattled off four consecutive started by sophomore Brent Keefer roofing his shot following a pass from behind the net from Nik Hong.
Sophomore defenseman Mac Gadowsky ended the first period scoring as his shot went off the skate of a Tiger and into the net at 14:19.
Marshall scored the only goal of a chippy second period redirecting a pass from Hunter McCoy to extend the leaf to 4-1.
McCoy scored his first goal of the season from Bell at 11:42 of the third to finish the scoring.
“Our last couple of times in here (Polisseni Center) have been pretty good, but over time I think you have some teams that you play well against and get some wins. Other teams just kind of have your number and that’s certainly been the case with RIT for us.”
(Photo provided by RIT Men’s Hockey/Athletic Dept.)
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT senior goalie Sarah Coe was named the Atlantic Hockey America Goaltender of the Month for October announced by the league.
Coe recorded a 4-1-0 record, including a pair of shutouts. Coe made 28 saves in the Tigers 4-2 win over No. 7 Colgate, earning AHA Goaltender of the Week honors (Oct. 14). Coe is second in the league with a 1.93 goals against average and third with a .926 save percentage. She made 14 saves in a shutout won over Assumption and 23 saves in a shutout victory over RPI.
The season has begun at the Collegiate Level with the high school and professional schedules just days away.
Buffalo State opened their season November 1 and 2 at Neumann before returning home on November 8 and 9 to face SUNY Canton. This is Head Coach Rachel Grampp’s fourth season and the final season for WNY’er Lilli Adimey.
Adimey last season
They took their first win of the season 5-1 over Neumann with scoring coming from five different players including three well-known to the WNY hockey scene. Lilli Adimey, Buffalo; Alex Groh, Elma and Sydney Radecki, Lancaster added to the scoring. In goal Jessie Auge stopped 13/14 shots for the W.
Niagara University has two teams in the ACHA including a D1 team that is 4-5 on the season. They are at Indiana Tech this weekend and then return to Dwyer for a four game home stand beginning with Sault on November 16 and 17.
The D2 team had a 5-3 victory over Adrian and is 4-3 overall with a game against Brockport Sunday, Nov. 3 at home.
Hilbert will opened their season with two losses to Hood College. It was a 2-3 loss on November 1 and a 3-4 overtime loss the following day. The Hawks will open at home against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on November 9 and 10 at Northtowns.
File Photo
The Hawks welcome a new Head Coach this season with Emma Knoll taking the helm. Knoll played three years at Kings College and worked as a scout for Mora IK in Sweden.
This will be Hilbert’s last season as an independent as they will become part of the UCHC in 2025-26.
Looking back at last season, Kaitlin Cowie of Henrietta lead the team in goals with 4 and in assists with 10. She scored the game winner in their Inaugural game against Kings College. Kelsey Fuller of Rome (NY) is a freshman goalie that will have an instant impact on the team this season. She was named to All Section Team III First Team in 2022-23.
AT 5-3-3, RIT seems to likes tied up games that take them to a shoot-out, which unfortunately they have not been able to capitalize on. Most recently they tied St. Lawrence University 2-2 but St. Lawrence won in the shootout and then it was a Robert Morris 2-2 tie and RM beating them in the shootout. They face-off against Robert Morris as their article is being published. Next up is Syracuse at home on November 15 and 16. Kylie Aquaro leads the team in points with 4 goals and 4 assists. Addie Alvarez has 4 goals and 2 assists followed by Brie Kelley (2-4=6) and Kyla Bear with 6 assists. Goaltender Sophia Bellina was named Goaltender of the Week after having a career high 40 saves in a 2-2 tie against St. Lawrence. It’s her sixth career game with 40 saves and first this season in five starts.
Nazareth opened their season with a 4-1 win in an exhibition game over Elmira but then continued with a season opener win over Rivier University, 5-0. They will face off against Morrisville on November 9.
Allie Zack had the first goal of the regular season, unassisted in the first period. Alexis Kindred and Kate Cascio had goals in the second and in the third it was Nikki Sharp and Brook Terry. In Goal, McKinley Hoff had the shutout.
WNYGVIH
The 15th Season Anniversary Celebration Banquet has been canceled due to personal reasons for a couple of committee members and due to the low response for reservations. The Committee will regroup and look at celebration options for later in the season.
The puck will drop on the 15th Season of girls varsity hockey in Western New York on November 216 when FFLOP will take on LIDA at 4 p.m. at Holiday Twin; HHEWS will face Williamsville at 4 p.m. at Northtowns, St. Marys of Lancaster will battle Niagara County at 4:45 at Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena and CASH will take on KENGIL at the new Paddock Ice Arena at Brighton at 7:30 p.m. A full day for sure and the regular season schedule will continue on Monday, December 2.
KENGIL and St. Mary’s will be looking to keep their Section VI/Western and Private championships, respectively.
PWHL News
The new Professional Womens Hockey League will hit the ice on November 30 when the Boston Fleet take on the Toronto Sceptres at 2 p.m. at Coca Cola Coliseum. Also playing that day are the Montreal Victorie against the Ottawa Charge at Place Bell at 5 p.m.
The NY Sirens will open on December 1 at the Minnesota Frost.
The Sirens staff includes two coaches known to New York collegiate hockey in Head Coach Greg Fargo,formerly of Colgate and Assistant Coach Josh Sciba, formerly of Union and also Niagara University’s women’s D1 program.
The former Head Coach, Howie Draper, has stepped down as HC but will serve as a special advisor to the team as he returns to the University of Alberta’s women’s ice hockey team.
The Prudential Center is home ice to the Sirens and the Essex County Cody Arena will be the site of Training Camp.
Former goaltender and two-time AHL All-Star to be inducted later this season as the 69th member of prestigious club
(Rochester, NY) – The Rochester Americans are pleased to announce that the team will induct goaltender Ryan Miller into the Amerks Hall of Fame as the Class of 2025.
Unanimously selected for induction by the Amerks Hall of Fame Committee, Miller will take his rightful place in the prestigious club during a pregame ceremony on Friday, April 11 when Rochester hosts the Laval Rocket at 7:05 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena.
“The City of Rochester and the Amerks organization were a very important part of my hockey career,” said Miller. “I’m excited for the opportunity to return with my family and revisit that special time. It’s a tremendous honor to be a part of the Hall of Fame and join the other great players who wore the red, white and blue.”
One of the most decorated goaltenders in franchise history, Miller appeared in 172 career games over parts of four seasons (2002-06) with the Amerks, posting a 92-61-16 record with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. The two-time AHL All-Star selection also finished with 15 shutouts, tying for second-most in franchise history behind only fellow Amerks Hall of Famer Bobby Perreault, while his 2.34 goals-against average remains the 10th-best all-time in team history.
Miller, who becomes just the seventh netminder to be enshrined in the Amerks Hall of Fame, reached the 20-win mark and led Rochester to the postseason in each of his first three seasons with the Amerks. In 26 career playoff appearances, he boasted a 13-13 record with a 2.37 goals-against average, .916 save percentage and two shutouts. He also saw time in 18 contests with the Buffalo Sabres, the team that selected him in the fifth round (138th overall) in the 1999 NHL Draft, including 15 during his rookie season.
His best season as an Amerk came during the 2004-05 campaign when he backstopped the Amerks to an AHL-best 51-19-4-6 record, helping Rochester claim the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as regular-season champions and earning him his second straight AHL All-Star selection. He was also named the recipient of the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the top AHL’s top goaltender and Amerks MVP.
That same season he would also go on to set the single-season franchise record for most shutouts in a season with eight while posting a 41-17-4 record to go along with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. Miller came just seven wins shy of tying Gerry Cheevers’ mark for wins in a season with 48.
A native of East Lansing, Michigan, Miller joined the Amerks for the 2002-03 season following three seasons as a standout at Michigan State University, where he was a three-time CCHA Goaltender of the Year and won the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player in 2001 after leading the nation in wins, winning percentage, save percentage (.950), goal-against average and 10 shutouts. He was also a two-time First Team All-American and was named the 2001 Big 10 Men’s Athlete of the Year and USA College Hockey Player of the Year. Miller, who set an NCAA record with 26 shutouts, became just the second goaltender ever to win the prestigious award following Robb Stauber, another former Amerks goaltender. In 106 career games with the Spartans, Miller posted a 73-19-12 record with a 1.64 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage. He was inducted into the Michigan State Hall of Fame in 2013-14.
Miller appeared in 18 seasons with Anaheim, Vancouver, St. Louis and Buffalo from 2002-21, posting a 390-289-87 record with a 2.64 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 794 career NHL games. Miller made his NHL debut with the Sabres on Nov. 19, 2002 at New Jersey. All-time, Miller ranks 14th on the NHL’s wins list, 12th in saves (21,621) and 19th in games played (794). He also ranks fifth in save percentage among all-time NHL goaltenders with 700 appearances. The only four others with a higher save percentage all-time are Hasek (.922), Roberto Luongo (.919), Henrik Lundqvist (.918) and Tomas Vokoun (.917).
He is the all-time leader among U.S.-born goaltenders in wins (391) and remains one of only six goalies in NHL history to win 30 games in seven straight seasons (2006-12). He also leads American goaltenders in career save percentage (.914), ranks second in shutouts (44) and games played (796) and ranks third in goals-against average (2.64) with at least 500 games played. Since his NHL debut in 2002-03, Miller ranks fourth among NHL goaltenders in wins, saves and appearances. He remains one of just 30 goaltenders in NHL history to win 300 games in his career. He won his 390th career game on Mar. 18, 2021 vs. Arizona, passing Dominik Hasek (389) for 14th place on the NHL’s all-time wins list for goaltenders and surpassed John Vanbiesbrouck (374) for the all-time lead among U.S.-born goaltenders in wins (375) on Feb. 17, 2019 vs. Washington.
Miller spent 11 seasons with Buffalo from 2002-14, going 284-186-57 in 540 games. He holds Sabres franchise records in career wins (284), appearances (540), minutes (21,660:48) and single-season wins (41 in 2009-10). He led Buffalo to the Eastern Conference Final in both 2006 and 2007, joining Dominik Hasek as the only Buffalo goaltender to reach consecutive Conference Finals. The highest honor of his NHL career came following the 2009-10 season when he won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top netminder. That year, Miller broke his own record with 41 wins and finished with an astounding 2.22 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage, both NHL career-highs, while leading the Sabres to a Northeast Division title.
Additionally, Miller has made seven career trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Ducks, Canucks, Blues and Sabres. In 57 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, the 6-2, 170-pound goaltender went 28-27 with three shutouts, a 2.52 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. Miller ranks second in Sabres postseason history wins (25), games played (47) and saves (1,336).
Internationally, Miller represented Team USA at the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Winter Games, leading the U.S. to a silver medal in 2010. He was named the MVP, Best Goaltender and an All-Star at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.35 goals-against average and .946 save percentage in six tournament games. Overall, he went 6-1 with one shutout, a 1.30 goals-against average and .945 save percentage in seven tournament games. His six Olympic wins are the second-most in Team USA history. Miller also represented his country at three World Championships (2001, 2002, 2003), posting two shutouts with a 2.09 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in eight tournament contests.
Throughout his illustrious career, Miller is the only player in hockey history to be named the top goaltender in the NCAA, American Hockey League, National Hockey League and Winter Olympics. He is also a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022 and was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame along with having his jersey No. 30 retired in January 2023.
(Photos provided by Rochester American Hockey Team)
Team USA Earns Third-Consecutive Tournament Championship With 3-0 Win Over Canada
SKIEN, Norway – Kelsey DiClaudio (Plum, Pa.) scored twice and added an assist to help the U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team to a 3-0 victory over Canada to clinch the 2024 Para Ice Hockey Women’s World Challenge championship at Skien Fritidspark.The U.S. finished the tournament with a 4-0-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record for the third-consecutive year and has now won all three Women’s World Challenge titles since the inaugural event in 2022. “It was a great game, we knew it was going to be tough and very competitive for all three periods,” said Rose Misiewicz, head coach of the U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team. “We are super excited that we got the job done and won our third World Challenge.”Team USA opened the scoring 3:59 into the contest while on the power play. DiClaudio gained possession in the offensive zone and threaded a pass to Lera Doederlein (San Diego, Calif.), who found Chloe Kirkpatrick (Bemidji, Minn.) with a back-door feed across the crease. Kirkpatrick one-timed the puck across the goal line to put the U.S. up 1-0. In the closing minutes of the opening period, Gabby Graves-Wake (Phoenix, Ariz.) denied a breakaway chance for the Canadians with an acrobatic blocker save to maintain the lead.At the 5:02 mark of the middle frame, DiClaudio carried the puck into the offensive zone and created a one-on-one with the Canadian goaltender, tucking the puck home off a deke to double the U.S. advantage. Just 42 seconds later, DiClaudio recorded her second tally of the contest after winning a puck battle in front of the Canada crease and capitalizing on a shot from the left circle to go up 3-0. Both sides were held scoreless in the third period despite power play opportunities for each, sealing the victory, and Women’s World Challenge championship for Team USA. NOTES: Team USA outshot Canada 20-11 … The U.S. was 1-3 on the power play, while Canada was 0-3 … Kelsey DiClaudio was named U.S. Player of the Game … The U.S. outscored its opponents 27-0 across four games.
Team USA for Ringette paid a visit to Western New York recently and put on a clinic for anyone interested in learning the sport.
Hosted by the Buffalo Regals Girls Hockey organization, participants were introduced to the sport of Ringette.
Played very similar to hockey it does have major differences. First the stick has no blade and rather than passing a puck, you pass a round rubber ring with a hole at its center. There are no face-offs, instead teams are awarded ring possession. Games are stop time and a 30-second shot clock contributes to the game’s reputatiohn as the fastest on ice.
Equipment is basically the same…skates, helmets, pads and the straight stick.
Players are prevented from carrying the ring across the blue lines, so they must pass to another teammate. Only three players from each team, plus the defending goalie, are allowed in the end zones at the same time. The rules of the game have demanded that players develop strong skating skills and encourages them to focus on speed and agility.
“One of the reasons I brought this clinic to Buffalo was to show that the skills in Ringette are good for ice hockey,” said Scott Then of the Buffalo Regals.
Ringette is played in a number of countries including Finland, Canada and the United States. Also in France, Slovakia, Russia,the Czech Republic and Abu Dhabi. Ringette found its prime years in the 90’s with St. Paul, Minnesota hosting the World Ringette Championship. The USA is working to grow the sport throughout the nation introducing it to older players first, then youth.
Anyone interested in learning more about Ringette or getting involved should contact Team USA and they will work to bring a “Come Try Ringette” session to your rink. Coach Then hopes to bring the clinic back to Buffalo early in 2025.
Learn more about Ringette at http://www.ringette.cc
I have been a fan of Anne Murray for a long time. When I found out in the late 1980s that she was a big hockey fan, that peaked my interest in her even more.
I finally caught up with Murray in North Tonawanda, NY at Melody Fair, a little theater that was covered by a theater dome. Prior to her concert there I had the opportunity to visit and interview her trailer, located just outside the theater.
I found out quickly that Murray was a hockey fanatic. Yes, this was the same Anne Murray who has had such hits over the years like “Snowbird,” “You Needed Me” and “A Little Good News.”
I also discovered that when she wasn’t recording or performing Murray followed hockey very closely. So closely that it wasn’t unusual for her to watch a hockey game every night of the week, if possible.
Murray, a native of Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada, the singer grew up with Canada’s national past-time.
“I guess it all started by listening on radio,” recalled Murray. “Of course, Saturday night was ‘Hockey Night In Canada,’ That was sacrosanct. Everybody stayed home and watched it.
“And we watched it any other nights it was on.”
Murray even played the game, first with her brothers out on the frozen ponds of Nova Scotia and later on a girl’s team in high school. Surprisingly, Murray wasn’t a Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens fans during the six-team era of NHL hockey when she was growing up.
Instead, she was a Detroit Red Wings’ fan.
“I guess it was because Gordie (Howe) played for Detroit,” said Murray. “He was always my favorite.
“Bobby Hull and Bobby Orr were alright, too. They were great to watch. But as a kid Gordie was number one.”
She recalled the first time she got to meet her childhood hero, as well as an additional superstar.
“I remember having Gordie Howe on a television show I did in Canada years ago and that was great,” Murray commented. “I also met Jean Beliveau.
“I admired both of them for a long, long time, and I was nervous meeting them.”
Over the years Murray became a star in her own right with the NHL. She was the guest star at the NHL All-Star Charity Dinner prior to the 35th All-Star Game at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
When asked if she had a favorite player at the time of the interview with me, Murray gave a definite answer.
“I would have to say Wayne Gretzky,” remarked Murray. “I especially loved watching Gretzky and Mario Lemieux together when they played in that Canada/Russia series. That was awesome.”
At one point in the 1980’s, Murray put together a group that tried to purchase the Maple Leafs.
“But old Harold (Ballard, then owner of the Leafs) wasn’t interested in selling the team. It’s a shame too.”
Even today in retirement, Murray still loves the game.
“It is such a beautiful sport,” concluded Murray. “I enjoy other sports like football and baseball.
“But there is something about hockey that fascinates me. It must be the grace and style by which the players play the game.
“It is almost artistic. It’s just something I have in my blood.”
