Murray OK after collapse
Former Pete fell ill while coaching E CH L Tulsa Oilers in game against Quad City Mallards
Former Peterborough Pete Rob Murray is reported to be doing well after collapsing behind the bench of the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers on Friday night.
The game between the Oilers, an affiliate of the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers, and Quad City Mallards was postponed after Murray was taken away on a stretcher, according to published reports.
On Friday night, Tulsa Oilers vice-president of communications and play-by-play announcer John Peterson tweeted out, “Update on Coach Murray: He’ s doing well. The doctors have told me he’ s suffering from dehydration and exhaustion. They said there’s no concern right now.”
On Saturday morning, Peterson updated: “Coach Murray is looking a lot better and is very appreciative of the overwhelming support from the entire hockey community. Still having some routine tests done, and hopeful he’ll be released later today.”
Murray was not behind the Tulsa bench Saturday night but Peterson reported he had been released from the hospital.
“Coach Murray is being discharged and expected to make a full recovery. Thanks to the wonderful staff at Trinity Medical Center for taking care of him. Special thanks to our trainer Steve Lintern and the @myqcmallards doctors on-site for their heroic efforts last night.”
Murray, 50, played for the Petes from 1984-87 earning a reputation as a hard-nosed two-way forward. He was a late-pick in the OHL draft who turned himself into a third-round pick of the Washington Capitals in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He went on to play 15 seasons of professional hockey including 107 NHL games with the Capitals, Winnipeg Jets and Phoenix Coyotes.
In 2003-04, he joined the AHL’s Providence Bruins as an assistant coach for five seasons before taking over as head coach in 200809. After three seasons leading Providence, Murray became head coach of the ECHL’s Alaska Aces in 2011-12. In 2013-14, he led the Aces to an ECHL record fourth consecutive – and Murray’s third straight – Brabham Cup as ECHL regular-season-champions with 97 points and to the team’s third Kelly Cup title with a 4-2 series win over Cincinnati. In his first season with the Aces in 201112, Murray was named a co-recipient of the John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year, leading the club to its sixth division title in nine ECHL seasons.
As a player, Murray ranks seventh all-time in AHL games played at 1,019 and second in penalty minutes with 2,940. in 2017, he was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame. Over 500 of his AHL games came with the Springfield Falcons, and he is that club’s all-time leader in games played, assists, career penalty minutes and single-season penalty minutes. Murray’ s number 23 was retired by the Falcons, making him one of just two players in team history to have his jersey retired, alongside Hockey Hall of Famer Eddie Shore. Murray and his wife Carolyn have five children – Taylor, Zack, Quinn, Brendan and Mackenzie.
He joined Tulsa this season.