Providence, RI - The Providence
Bruins, the 2007-08 regular season champions of the American Hockey
League, today announced that the Boston Bruins
of the National Hockey League have promoted P-Bruins assistant coach
Rob Murray to head coach. He replaces reigning AHL Coach of the Year
Scott Gordon, who recently accepted the head coaching position with the New York Islanders.
Murray,
41, becomes the ninth head coach in Providence history after serving as
the team's assistant for the past five seasons, during which time the
P-Bruins compiled a 221-141-20-27 (W-L-T-OT/SOL) record. His promotion
comes nearly five years to the day from when he was named an assistant
on August 22, 2003.
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Murray has
been coaching since retiring at the end of a 2002-03 season after a
16-year playing career. Regarded as one of the true greats in the
history of the AHL, Murray and long-time Bruins defenseman Eddie Shore
are the only two men to have had their numbers retired for the
Springfield franchise. Murray's number 23 was raised to the rafters in
a pre-game ceremony in Springfield on February 10, 2007. Among Murray's
accomplishments, he became just the sixth player in AHL history to play
1,000 games on February 23, 2003. He retired ranking sixth in the
league with 1,018 games played. Murray also ranks second in AHL history
with 2,940 PIM. He is Springfield's career leader in games played (501)
and penalty minutes (1,529), and ranks first in assists (157), second
in points (218) and fourth in goals (61).
Murray was known
throughout his career as a leader, serving as the captain of four
different clubs, beginning with the Moncton Hawks for two seasons from
1992-94. He was the Springfield Falcons' captain from the 1994-95
season until his trade to the Edmonton Oilers on November 30, 1999. He became the captain of the Oilers'
AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs for the remainder of that season.
He also served as the Philadelphia Phantoms' captain in 2000-01 until
his trade back to the Falcons and resumed Springfield's captaincy for
the 2002-03 season. Murray also served as captain of the Canadian team
at the 1997 AHL All-Star Classic in Saint John, New Brunswick.
In addition to his lengthy AHL tenure, Murray skated in 107 career NHL contests with the Phoenix Coyotes,
Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals. Overall, Murray appeared in
1,205 games as a pro, registering 177 goals, 348 assists, 525 points
and 3,190 penalty minutes.
Murray and his wife Carolyn reside
year-round in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, with their daughters
Taylor and Quinn, and sons Zachary and Brendan.
