Kimberley local Logan Murray just finished up his first season with the Calgary Canucks, with his new team winning their second consecutive Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) championship.
Murray grew up in Kimberley and played minor hockey here until he was 14.
"I have so many great memories with friends, teammates and coaches," Murray said. "Kimberley has a very strong history of hockey. My family has been part of this history for years, from my brother to my dad and my great grandfather who won the Allan cup in 1936 and the World Senior Hockey Championships in 1937 with the Kimberley Dynamiters."
His brother Evan Murray had signed on with the Kimberley Dynamiters and was traded to the Quesnel River Rush in the KIJHL last season.
In his first year of Bantam hockey, Murray moved to Calgary and played for the Edge School U15 Prep team in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League (CSSHL).
"Going to Edge School and moving away from my family at the age of 14 taught me responsibility, adversity and resilience, with having to balancing school, hockey and living away from home," Murray said. "I was very fortunate and honoured to get a Kyle Stuart Memorial Foundation scholarship which allowed me to attend Edge School for three years."
In his last year at Edge School, Murray played U18 Prep and his team won the CSSHL Western Canadian Championships.
At that time, the Calgary Canucks asked if he would be interested in being an associate player (AP) for their team for that season, and he agreed. He then signed on with the Canucks when the U18 Prep season concluded.
"I was fortunate to become a part of the Calgary Canucks organization knowing that they had a great coach and coaching staff, with a core of returning players that were AJHL champions last season and would be hosting the Canadian National Junior A, Centennial Cup Championships for the following season."
Murray added he feels very fortunate that his first year playing junior hockey was with the Canucks, especially as they won the AJHL Inter Pipeline Cup, the second in a row for that franchise. The team featured a solid group of returning older players, including some who had WHL experience.
"The team was built to be a serious contender to win the Centennial Cup this year and even though we were the host team for the Centennial Cup our motto all year was 'EARN OUR WAY', and we did by winning the league," Murray said. "The older guys on the team have really taught me to make the transition from U18 Prep to Junior Hockey.
"I’ve always wanted to play high level hockey as being competitive excites me and pushes me to be a better player and a better person on and off the ice. I have made many great friends and met lots of awesome people over the last few years."
Murray said that while it's been a challenge being away from his friends and family in Kimberley, his teammates, friends and billet family has made the transition easier to handle, allowing him to fully embrace the experience of leaving home to play hockey at a high level.
"Coming from a small town, it has showed me that there are a lot of really good players out there, which has pushed me to work harder and be better," he said.
Murray said he hopes his junior hockey career leads to him playing college hockey on a scholarship, and then potentially playing professionally after that. In the meantime, he is content to enjoy the opportunity before him, playing on the top team in the AJHL.
