Features - 2007 Imports

Every AIHL season the Melbourne Ice is blessed with the finest in local ice hockey talent. However, it has become quite evident that players who come from overseas have an enormous impact on AIHL. Each season, after a series of tryouts, only seven import players are able to be selected for the Melbourne Ice. We may only see these players for a season but no matter how long their stay at Melbourne Ice their services are always greatly appreciated. In the coming weeks MelbourneIce.com will bring you exclusive interviews with some of our great import talent of 2007.

Import Report: #4 Rob Murray

Player Picture The US-born Rob Murray first laced up the skates for the Melbourne Ice a few games into the AIHL regular season. However it did not take him long to adjust. In the 17 games he has played this AIHL season he has tallied six goals and nine points with 26 penalty minutes. Standing at an imposing 6’4” this Oklahoma native has become an integral part of the Melbourne Ice defence with his excellent skating and booming shot.

It would be fair to say hockey has been one of the biggest parts of Rob Murray’s life, not only as a player himself but also due his father and former NHLer Bob Murray. “My Dad has been my mentor my whole life” Rob said of his father who played four seasons with both the Vancouver Canucks and the Atlanta Flames. “Having a Dad as a professional hockey player whilst being a kid growing up has been something special and something not a lot of people get to experience.”

Player Picture Rob’s father was also a major influence in the way Rob approached the game itself. “He influenced me a lot in my motivation and my love of the game. Dad’s biggest asset was always his skating so I was always a pretty good skater. His downfall was his toughness and it’s probably my own.” Murray laughed “I’m not mean enough out there. So I guess his influences were both positive and negative. Although the negative was probably genetic just due to the kind of people we are; we are always kind-hearted and always have a smile on.”

Having played hockey in Canada most of his life Murray found the AIHL to be quite different than what he expected. “The weird thing about the Melbourne Ice and the AIHL is the fluctuations.” Murray said. “You can get players that I would consider Junior B or C level back home, all the way up to players who have dabbled in NHL. So the fluctuation of players is more than anything I have ever seen.”

Yet although Murray notes the evident oscillation in the skill level of AIHL players, he believes that the Melbourne Ice’s consistency has contributed a lot to their accomplishments this season. “The reason that we have had so much success is that our team is pretty consistent and our depth is fantastic compared to other teams.”

The Melbourne Ice, who finished 2007 second on the AIHL table with 53 points, has had plenty of regular season success this year. Yet Murray, as well as many others following the Ice, has noticed the “lulls” in some of the team’s road trips. “The success that we’ve had, you almost want to be a little bit arrogant.” said Murray “It’s almost like we’re surprised winning the first match, then we take it easy in the second match. Yet the teams are too close, if you sit back you are going to lose. It has been our downfall, these lulls.”

Having secured a birth in the AIHL finals Murray reassures the fans that the “lulls” in the Ice’s play will no longer be present. “I’m really excited about this. I think our team is fantastic.” said Murray, clearly excited with the upcoming finals in Penrith “I don’t think we are going to see a lull. When we go into these Championship finals I don’t see our team doing this. When we play our grinding, hard fore-checking style of hockey that Melbourne Ice has become successful, we will win hockey games. I’m just really excited to go to the finals.”

In a few weeks Rob and the Ice will embark the AIHL finals in Penrith to take on the best in the AIHL. Yet no matter what takes place in Penrith, Rob Murray’s involvement in the Melbourne Ice has been something special.

Next Games

@ Canberra *, 10 May 2008
@ Sydney *, 11 May 2008
v Sydney, 17 May 2008
v Central Coast, 18 May 2008
v Canberra, 25 May 2008

Season Schedule | Results.