MURRAY MAKING MAJOR STRIDES THIS SEASON
Dec 7, 2022By Suzie Cool
Rochester Americans forward Brett Murray recently had, arguably, one of the best weeks of his professional career. In three games against Atlantic Division opponents, the fourth-year pro posted six points on three goals and three assists.
On Friday, Nov. 25 against the Bridgeport Islanders, Murray and his linemates Michael Mersch and Sean Malone registered nine points on the night alone.
“We want to be a team that is competitive, is aggressive and physically engaged, said Amerks head coach Seth Appert when asked about the trio’s production against Bridgeport. “Great teammates do anything to help the team win and those guys are the epitome of that. Obviously, Mersch is our captain for a reason and Malone's an assistant, but we’re really starting to see that emergence in Brett Murray over the last part of last year, the playoffs last year and then into this year.”
Two nights prior against the Providence Bruins, Murray scored twice within a span of 1:51 in the third period before capping off Friday’s 6-5 overtime win against the Islanders with his third point of the night with the Amerks overtime winner.
Murray is already within half of his career-high 15 goals he scored during the 2021-22 campaign in just 18 games to kick off the 2022-23 season. He enters the week with eight goals in only 20 games this season, including three over his last five appearances. Murray has been one of Rochester's top point-getters over the last seven games, showing eight points (3+5) and three straight multi-point efforts over that span.
“He (Murray) just keeps improving. He keeps growing in his presence on the ice, but also his presence in our locker room and the leadership he is providing,” continued Appert when discussing Murray’s efforts on the year so far.
In total, Murray has appeared in 134 games with Rochester, registering 76 points on 33 goals and 43 assists. From being a player that wasn’t considered a “big” prospect in the 2019-20 campaign to combining for 21 games with Buffalo over the last two seasons, Murray has made enormous strides in his game.
After spending the last two seasons bouncing back and forth between Buffalo and Rochester, Murray dialed in on his workload more than ever with hopes that he’d start the season down I-90.
“Quite a bit,” stated Murray when asked how much work was put in to help him flourish the way he has to kick off the Amerks 2022-23 campaign. “Every offseason I try to get a little bit better every single day. I really took it seriously this offseason, trying to make the team in Buffalo. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen but I’m still able to carry those skills down here to help these guys win.”
Last season, Murray handled the up and down movement with ease, further proving and establishing himself in the American Hockey League.
Using his size and skill around the crease, Murray posted a career-high 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points in 52 regular-season games with Rochester. In the postseason, Murray elevated his game to an even higher level, appearing in all 10 playoff contests for the Amerks while totaling six points, including an overtime game-winner to help the Amerks advance to the North Division Semifinals.
“His (Murray’s) skating,” elaborated Appert when asked where he’s seen Murray grow the most confident in his skillset this season. “He’s just worked so hard to redefine his game, to be more physically engaged, to be more of a power forward. He’s really put a ton of time into his skating and his body makeup and now he's skating so well that he's out there for three-on-three overtime and he's out during the penalty kill and, I think, it's just growing his confidence in himself as well.”