Getting invited to try out for Team Canada's under-18 squad was one of the best things to happen to Matt Murray.
Getting conked in the head in the first scrimmage session wasn't.
The Soo Greyhounds second-year netminder suffered a concussion in Calgary, an injury that set him back as he prepared for the start of the Soo Greyhounds training camp.
"The symptoms lasted two or three weeks," said Murray, who was injured July 30. "I just started skating again a week before our training camp."
Murray and Greyhounds defenceman Gianluca Curcuruto were invited to try to win a spot on the national team, which eventually captured a gold medal at the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka, a tourney held Aug. 8-13 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Neither made the final roster, but Murray believes the injury kept him from earning a spot on the club.
"I think I would have made it and that (the fact Canada struck gold) made it hurt a little more," said the 17-year-old Thunder Bay native.
Murray spoke of how fluky the injury was.
It occurred following a scramble in front of his goal. His helmet was knocked off in the scramble, the puck squirted out and an opponent let go with a quick, one-timer.
"The shot him me in the head," said Murray, the Greyhounds second-round choice in the 2010 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selections draft. "I played the rest of the game before the symptoms started."
What ended were his hopes of winning a spot on the team.
Murray said the injury has "definitely hurt me as far as my fitness level."
He said he isn't where he wants to be with the OHL exhibition season not far off, but vows to work even harder because of it.
A year ago, the six-foot-four, 170-pounder shone at times, finishing with a 3.79 goals against average and a saves percentage of .887 in 28 games.
He'll be locked in a battle for playing time this season with overage netminder Chris Perugini.
Both have spoken publicly of their hunger for the No. 1 job here.
"Every goalie wants to be the go-to guy," Murray said. "So obviously, my goal is to get the majority of the starts this season. I have confidence in myself and as long as I play well, I think I can earn the majority of the starts."
Both Murray and Perugini use the words "close friends" to describe their relationship.
Murray calls Perugini his "goaltending mentor" last season.
"Chris showed me the ropes," Murray added. "We pull for each other and it's just good competition. This brings out the best in both of us."
As a rookie, Murray said the speed of the OHL game proved to be the biggest adjustment he faced.
With that out of the way, he believes he's better prepared heading into the 2011-2012 campaign.
He's also leaned how to "deal with fans and media. I'm getting better ignoring any bad press or screaming fans. I'm more focused."
Which is exactly where the lanky puck-stopper wants to be heading into his draft year.
"I have a lot to play for," he said. "It's been a dream of mine to get drafted into the NHL from the time I started playing hockey. I'm really looking forward to a good year."
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment