Luke Murphy's Hockey Career
Like most boys growing up in Canada, Luke Murphy aspired to play in the National Hockey League.
With the death of his mother in 1992, losing a battle with cancer she had fought so hard for years, Murphy sensed it was time to get serious about reaching his dreams, and moved away to pursue hockey.
From 1992-1995, Murphy played for the Pembroke Lumber Kings in the Central Junior Hockey League. During these three seasons, he was awarded Rookie of theYear, Most Sportsmanlike Player (twice), League Top Scorer, and runner up to League MVP. But during the ‘90s, Murphy noticed a shift in the game of hockey. Standing 5’9” and weighing 160 pounds put Murphy at a disadvantage against much bigger and stronger athletes who now competed in the NHL. So, his goals shifted. Murphy accepted a hockey scholarship to Rochester Institute of Technology. If he couldn’t make a living playing hockey, at least he could achieve an education and open doors for his future.
After four rewarding years at College (2nd team All-American), receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with a Minor in Sociology, Murphy wasn’t ready to give up on the game he loved.
The summer after graduation, Murphy received an invitation to the Florida Panthers Training Camp. He trained hard during the summer, on and off the ice, and showed up in the best shape of his life. Murphy had a successful camp, scoring the game winning goal in a pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators. Unfortunately, Murphy broke two bones in his hand, ending his camp early. But his hard work paid off, as the Panthers offered him a Minor League contract, $500 a week to play the game he loved. He spent six years in the minors, and retired in 2006 with no regrets.
His NHL dream was never fulfilled, but Murphy’s years of ‘chasing the dream’ weren’t wasted, as he made many friends along the way, visited many beautiful cities, and created experiences that will last a life time.