All Access: Connor Murphy

Photo By: USHL

After his game-winning goal on Friday in Omaha, Steel forward Connor Murphy is now tied for the team lead with seven goals. In his first season in the USHL, Murphy has made a seamless transition from the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League, where he spent two years with the Caledonia Corvairs. During his time in Caledonia, the Canadian forward racked up 167 total points in 100 games. After winning the Rookie of the Year award in 2012-13, Murphy took home Player of the Year honors this past season as Caledonia captured the Sutherland Cup (GOJHL Championship). We had a chance to catch up with Connor and get his thoughts on his past in Canada, his present in Chicago, and his future in Michigan.  

Q: Last weekend, you were able to lift the team to victory after a late comeback by Omaha. Can you talk about the game and what happened on your game-winning goal?

A: You know what, it was a big win for us as a team. It was a great start to the game; we came out and had a lead. Unfortunately, we let up for a few minutes, had a little bit of a lapse, and we let them back into the game. But we’re a character team and when things get tough, we step it up. I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time. It was a great play by everybody on the ice, and it was a real testament to the kind of character that we have on the team.

Photo By: MJB Images

Q: You are now tied for the team lead with seven goals. How have you been able to come into your first season in the USHL and immediately make an impact for the Steel?

A: In all honesty, again, it’s just a testament to everybody on the ice and on the team. There are so many guys contributing every night, and it makes it so easy to play your game and work hard when you have so many great players to play with. The coaches work with all of us every day, and we have such a balanced team that it just makes it very easy for everybody to play great and be himself on the ice. 

Q: You are being very humble, and we know that you had a lot of success last season with your junior team in Canada. Can you talk about your accomplishments there?

A: Yeah, I played two seasons in Caledonia, and as a team we had a lot of success - we won the championship [Sutherland Cup] last year. The coaches gave me a lot of opportunity there to play in important situations and I was able to make the most of it by working hard. I can never thank the [Caledonia] coaching staff enough for everything that they have done for me. We had a great group of guys, and it was a lot of fun to go to the rink everyday; a lot like it is here with the Steel.

Q: How does the USHL compare to the GOJHL in Canada?

A: The USHL is definitely a step up. It’s great hockey. Every team, from top to bottom, has great players and there are no weak links. The game is very fast and very physical, and it’s a lot of fun to play here. It’s very exciting, and there is constant back and forth play. It definitely was a bit of an adjustment, but like I said before, it is a lot of fun to be a part of.

Q: Congratulations on signing your National Letter of Intent this week to play at the University of Michigan! What ultimately led you to choose the Wolverines over other schools?

A: Well it was a very exciting day signing with Michigan. Going through the process, and growing up, Michigan was always one of the schools that you heard about the most. Especially being from Canada, the Michigan Wolverines were always huge, and it’s only a couple hours from home, which was a big, big positive for me. I’m just very excited to be a part of that program.

Q: What do you like most about living and playing near Chicago and how has it been adjusting to life outside of Canada?

A: So far the experience has been great. My billet family is unbelievable. I’m living with Connor McDonald, and he has taken me under his wing a little bit and has been awesome in helping me with the transition. And again, all the other guys in the locker room, it’s awesome because we just have so much fun coming to the rink every day, and you can’t ask for much more than that. It has just made that transition so much easier, with everyone being so welcoming. It really is a special group we have here in Chicago.

Q: Do you have any pregame routines or rituals that help you get focused?

A: In all honesty, I don’t do too much. I try to just stay loose, have some fun with the guys, and make sure I’m stretched out and ready to go. I play soccer with the rest of the guys. I’m not too good, but I like playing with the boys. 

Q: Can you talk about Fargo and how you guys feel heading into the back-to-back play with them this weekend?

A: We have been on a little bit of a roll lately, and we are really starting to come together as a team and forge our own identity. It’s going to be two really big games for us. We don’t know too much about Fargo since we haven’t played them yet, but we just need to stick to our game plan. We have been working hard all week in practice and hopefully, if we stick to what we’ve been working on, we’ll earn some points.

Photo By: MJB Images