AMHERST — The net couldn’t fit both.
After winning the national championship last year, the UMass hockey coaching staff sat its goalies, Filip Lindberg and Matt Murray, down for an open, honest conversation. They wanted one of them. Not both.
Three years of “who’s starting next game?” was enough.
Murray, then a senior with one more season of eligibility through the NCAA’s blanket COVID-19 waiver, entered the transfer portal. He didn’t stay long. Lindberg, who backstopped the Minutemen to the national title, announced he was leaving Amherst to pursue a pro career (he eventually signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins and was playing with their AHL affiliate before an ankle injury derailed his debut season).
UMass coach Greg Carvel and associate head coach Jared DeMichiel told Murray the net was all his if he returned to the Mullins Center. The decision was easy for the netminder who already held UMass career records for wins and shutouts (up to 73 victories and 14 clean sheets).
“It was pretty much the best case scenario to come back to a team that I know and love and a place that’s amazing,” Murray said. “As soon as that opportunity arose, it was a pretty much a no brainer. A place like this is something you can’t say no to.”
Murray has started every game except one this season, winning a career-high 21 and leading the Minutemen back to the NCAA Tournament. His numbers (2.27 goals against per game and a .919 save percentage) line up well with his career statistics despite the marked increase in volume. Murray’s 35 starts this season are eight more than he’s ever made.
“Murrs has always been great for us. I don’t look at anything different,” UMass senior Anthony Del Gaizo said. “I don’t think this was like an epiphany.”
Despite that, Murray, a St. Albert, Alberta, native, will start just his second NCAA Tournament game Friday against Minnesota at the DCU Center in Worcester (6 p.m., ESPNU). His other came in a dire situation. Lindberg needed to miss last year’s Frozen Four semifinal due to COVID-19 protocols. Murray hadn’t played in 80 days before being called into service against Minnesota Duluth.
He stopped 36 shots in an overtime thriller to send the Minutemen back to the national championship game, which they won.
“The old saying goes you get what you deserve. I’ve always tried to work as hard as possible to put in that time to make it feel like I deserved to have that opportunity,” Murray said. “Then when that chance comes to make sure that I’m ready to go so that I can make the most of it.”
As much as he impressed with his performance on the ice, the DeMichiel gave him more credit for how he handled hearing Lindberg would start in the national championship game the morning after. Murray told them to do what was best for the team.
“I think that was just as much a defining moment, his maturity and him putting our program first before anything else,” DeMichiel said.
Murray rarely pops or flashes on the ice but stays steady and consistent. Carvel gave him a mandate that has held true, “you can give up two goals, we’ll find a way to score three.” Because he plays behind such a stout defense, he doesn’t often have to stand on his head or steal games. His defense will snuff out most low quality chances before they start, which sometimes leaves Murray to turn aside shots that probably should be goals. In the postseason, he’s done it more often than he hasn’t.
That style aligns with his personality off the ice, too. Murray usually sits in the background, relaxed until his moment arrives.
“He definitely keeps to himself, and when he speaks up there’s a purpose to it. There’s a reason to it. That’s kind of how he plays in the net. He’s very calm, relaxed, and when it comes comes time for him to be athletic, he’ll be athletic — same thing in social situations,” DeMichiel said. “If he feels the need and he’s pretty he’s pretty strong when he does have his opinions, and he’s usually right when he does have them.”
He’s brought that energy to the ice since his parents gave him his first set of goalie pads at age “six or seven.” Murray isn’t sure why, but he wanted to be the kid wearing the extra equipment. His parents supported that desire knowing that it meant more equipment, time and responsibility.
Murray wears both the extra pads and the responsibility that comes with them well. It takes patience and focus during a game where, ideally, most of the action occurs on the other end of the ice. He knows that if he makes a mistake, the puck likely ends up in the back of the net unlike other positions which have line mates, partners and him to cover for them.
“You definitely have to have that mental capacity to handle the the pressure of that and I think, with me, I’ve always been somewhat of a perfectionist, a little bit OCD,” Murray said. “I think that’s that’s just who I am as a person. I always want to be the best. I always wanted to be first place, I always had to get the best grade. It’s always working towards being the best, and I think that shows on the ice.”
College coaches started taking notice when he was “16 or 17” playing in the Alberta Junior League for the Spruce Grove Saints. Murray committed to the Minutemen under former coach John Micheletto.
“The biggest thing, again, was opportunity to play,” Murray said. “There’s an opportunity to play right away when I came in.”
After Carvel was hired in March of 2016, he and the incoming staff were able to hand pick which of the commits they wanted to keep for the most part. They made it clear they still wanted Murray to be a Minuteman.
“He was adamant to reach out to me and express the same wants and a similar opportunity to come in and play,” Murray said.
That opportunity still needed to be earned. Sophomore Ryan Wischow had started 27 games the season prior. He was the first goalie Murray split time with as a freshman. Then Lindberg joined the Minutemen the next season, which fostered beneficial competition for playing time over the next three years.
“Obviously it’s a challenge, but it’s a healthy challenge. It’s good motivation when you’re battling with a guy of the caliber of Filip. When you’re able to go back and forth like that and make sure there’s no complacency in your game, especially at that point where there’s a lot of development that needed to happen,” Murray said. “I don’t think it would have been possible without that extra motivation of being pushed by a great goalie partner and friend.”
That environment also carries a certain degree of uncertainty, which affects anyone. Murray often turned to his strong faith in moments both challenging and worth celebrating, spending time talking and praying with Rev. Gary M. Dailey at the Newman Catholic Center.
“It’s something that I was given a choice with. That was powerful of my family. A lot of people just get thrown into something, so for them to let me find something on my own, it was a great experience,” Murray said. “It’s something that helps you clear your head and gives you something more to work for, keeps you humble.”
Murray’s immediate household wasn’t overly religious when he was growing up. His grandparents on his mother’s side are from Slovakia (“very old European style,” Murray said”), so it was an important part of their lives, as well as for some his aunts and uncles. He started to embrace the faith more deeply when he moved away from home.
“I found it very grounding,” Murray said. “Practice difficulties and everything going on, being able to have that kind of resource to turn to has been fantastic. Door’s always open, phone’s always on. He’s been great, helped me through a lot. Especially even through the good things, when everything’ going good you have something to be thankful for.”
Returning to Amherst for his additional season has brought Murray a lot of good things. He’s pursuing a master’s degree in business analytics in addition to backstopping a team ranked in the top 10 for much of the season.
“The school side has been great. It’s some things that going into college I never thought I’d be into,” Murray said. “I’ve learned a lot of things that I never thought I’d be enjoying, but it’s been a great ride so far.”
How Murray plays Friday against Minnesota will go a long way toward determining how long the ride lasts. Lose, and both the season and his college career ends.
“It’s pretty self explanatory to have this kind of opportunity with a place and an organization, a school and a team that I love being around. Everyone’s so supportive,” Murray said. “It’s a great place. That kind of support makes you want to work even harder to make them more proud.”
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.