Home
News
Behind the ECHL Benches - Rob Murray, Alaska Aces

Behind the ECHL Benches - Rob Murray, Alaska Aces

Wednesday, September 21st

Rob Murray is in sixth season as head coach of Alaska after being named to the position on July 13, 2011. In 2013-14, Murray led the Aces to an ECHL record fourth consecutive - and Murray’s third straight - Brabham Cup as ECHL regular-season champions with 97 points and to the team’s third Kelly Cup title with a 4 games to 2 win over Cincinnati. In his first season with the Aces in 2011-12, Murray was named a co-recipient of the John Brophy Award as ECHL Coach of the Year, leading the club to its sixth division title in nine ECHL seasons.

Prior to joining Alaska, Murray spent eight seasons with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. He was the club’s assistant coach from 2004-08, working alongside former ECHL player and coach Scott Gordon. When Gordon was hired as head coach of the New York Islanders prior to the 2008-09 season, Murray was elevated to head coach in Providence. In his first season as head coach, Murray led the P-Bruins to a 43-29-8 record and a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals. He finished his three-year tenure with a 117-103-20 regular-season record. While in Providence, he coached seven players who went on to win the Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011.

Prior to his coaching career, Murray enjoyed a 16-year playing career that included 107 National Hockey League games with Washington, Winnipeg and Phoenix. Murray ranks seventh in American Hockey League history with 1,018 games played and is second with 2,940 career penalty minutes. Over 500 of his AHL games came with the Springfield Falcons, and he is that club’s all-time leader in games played, assists, career penalty minutes and single-season penalty minutes. Murray’s number 23 was retired by the Falcons, making him one of just two players in team history to have his jersey retired, alongside Hockey Hall of Famer Eddie Shore. Murray and his wife Carolyn have five children - Taylor, Zack, Quinn, Brendan and Mackenzie.

Coaching Record		Reg. Season				Playoffs
Season	Team	Gms	W	L	T	Gms	W	L
2008-09	Providence (AHL)	80	43	29	8	16	9	7
2009-10	Providence (AHL)	80	36	38	6	---	---	---
2010-11	Providence (AHL)	80	38	36	6	---	---	---
2011-12	Alaska Aces (ECHL)	72	43	18	11	10	5	5
2012-13	Alaska Aces (ECHL)	72	49	15	8	11	6	5
2013-14	Alaska Aces (ECHL)	71	45	19	7	21	16	5
2014-15	Alaska Aces (ECHL)	72	35	30	7	---	---	---
2015-16	Alaska Aces (ECHL)	72	27	38	7	---	---	---
	ECHL Totals	359	199	120	40	42	27	15