Ryan Murray was able to highlight his lengthy hockey resume this summer when he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Colorado Avalanche. On Thursday, the former member of the 2012 Canadian World Junior Hockey team, the #2 pick of the 2012 NHL Draft and gold medal winner of the 2016 World Championships, was able to bring the Stanley Cup back to the White City and Emerald Park area.
Murray spoke to 620 CKRM’s Sean Kleisinger on Thursday’s edition of the SportsCage about winning the cup and bringing back to his home region.
The defenceman joined the Avalanche as a free agent last summer, the man who signed Murray was Avalanche General Manager Joe Sakic. The former Everett Silvertip remembers watching Sakic win the Stanley Cup himself as a player and says it special to have Sakic inside of the locker room throughout the season.
Even though winning the Stanley Cup was lifelong dream, Murray found the event hard to describe.
“You never think you’re going to win it or be on a team that’s going to win it.” Murray added “Pretty humbled by it, so many great players to win it so it’s pretty humbling to be able to be that lucky.”
The Avalanche claimed the Stanley Cup on June 26, when they eliminated the two time defending Tampa Bay Lightning to claim Lord Stanley’s Cup. When he got to finally hoist the trophy, Murray called the experience surreal.
“I don’t know if your emotions have time to catch up in the moment. ” Murray also noted it was a very blessed moment when he got to share in the celebration with the rest of his teammates following their victory over the Avalanche.
One surprise Murray encountered when winning the Stanley Cup was the weight of the trophy when he got to lift it up.
“You kind of feel like it’s going to break cause it’s so big, so wide, so heavy and you’re like is this thing going to hold up?”
The biggest perk of being apart of the Stanley Cup Champion is the players and team staff enjoying their day with the Cup in their hometown. Murray noted it’s pretty special for the trophy to make a trip in Saskatchewan.
“To have it that close and especially in Saskie, you don’t have to go all the way to the Hall of Fame or whatever, it’s right here in everyone’s hometown rink, I think that’s special for everyone that lives out there.”
The Saskatchewan portion of the Stanley Cup tour included a venture to Prince Albert with Josh Manson. On Saturday, Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar will spend his day with the trophy in Humboldt.
There were plenty of festivities honouring Murray’s achievement on Thursday. The town of White City unveiled a sign recognizing the hockey player’s achievement. The Communiskate in Emerald Park also revealed a banner that they will be hanging in the area to honour Murray’s career.
Murray is currently an unrestricted free agent in the NHL.
The sign welcoming to White City honouring Ryan Murray
