| Local cowboy laces up to relive hockey career |
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| Local Content - Local Sports |
| Written by publisher |
| Tuesday, 02 February 2010 15:46 |
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By Paul Grigaitis In 1958, Murphy started to play with the Moose Jaw Canucks junior hockey team. He remained with Moose Jaw for three years and then in his fourth season he started playing for the Weyburn Red Wings – the farm team for the Detroit Red Wings. In 1962, the Red Wings traded his rights to the Boston Bruins. Murphy finished his professional career that season playing for the Bruins’ farm team – the San Francisco Seals. Murphy started warming up for Maple Creek’s upcoming celebrity hockey tournament just a few weeks ago. Before that, the cowboy figured it was in the ‘70s when he last played hockey, but said he’ll use some tricks he’s known from his professional career when he hits the ice in April, such as shortening the blade of his stick by about one inch for more balance. “It’s quite an advantage in stick handling,” he explained during an interview at the Community Arena last week. Taking an inch off the blade rather than the shaft of the stick decreases the weight and allows him to handle the stick with just one hand if need be, he said. And because the shaft is longer, he gets better reach, he continued. Murphy said he still prefers to use a wooden stick and still uses his old CCM skates he used in his professional days. Since his professional career, Murphy has coached minor hockey in several southwest Saskatchewan communities including Val Marie where he coached NHL legend Bryan Trottier, who went on to win four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders. Murphy has a lot of stories to tell from his hockey career, but his fondest memory he said is a five-goal performance he had while playing in his last season of junior hockey. Murphy laughed when asked if he thinks it’s a performance he might be able to repeat at the celebrity hockey tournament in April, but said he’ll be out playing in the spirit of the charitable event. Proceeds from the celebrity 4-on-4 hockey tournament will go to indoor projects at the Community Arena and a fund for new hospital equipment.
Guy Murphy laces up his skates prior to hitting the ice for a practice skate last week. Photo by Paul Grigaitis |
