Dec. 26, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Recent early signee and Buffalo Sabres draft pick Brett Murray (Toronto, Ontario) will forgo the remainder of his junior hockey season and join the third ranked Penn State men's ice hockey team at the start of the new year as announced by Head Coach Guy Gadowsky and team representatives earlier Monday morning.
Murray will enroll a semester early at Penn State and join the Nittany Lions when they return from winter break. The 6 foot 5 inch forward played the first half of the 2016-17 season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League.
Youngstown is currently third in the Eastern Conference of the USHL with 33 points after turning in a 15-9-2-1 record before the holiday break. The Phantoms are currently riding a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1).
In 27 games with Youngstown, Murray collected 20 points on seven goals and 13 assists while turning in a plus-nine rating. His point total was good for third on the team while his 13 assists paced the squad and his goals were the third highest mark through the opening half of the season.
"At 6-5, Brett is an imposing power forward," commented Gadowsky. "His ability to both think the game and get up and down the ice will allow him to make a smooth transition to college hockey."
Murray was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. The Toronto, Ontario native used a breakout season in 2015-16 with the Carleton Place Canadians of the Central Canada Hockey League to secure the 99th overall selection last June. The then 17-year old Murray notched 46 points in 48 games scoring 14 goals and adding 32 assists. He also collected five tallies with eight helpers in 16 postseason contests helping the Canadians claim the CCHL crown.
Murray will wear the #18 once he dresses for the Blue and White, who begin their second semester of play on the road in Columbus against the ninth ranked Ohio State Buckeyes on January 6-7, 2017.