A lone bright spot looks to be a key cog in a playoff run for the Sudbury Wolves.
In his third career OHL game, Blake Murray scored a hat-trick.
It raised some eyebrows which is something he would continue to do all season long as a rookie, leading the team in both goals and points.
He comes in this year looking to avoid the sophomore slump, and he’s done everything in his power to avoid it.
“It was good last season just to get my feet wet and I know what to expect coming into this season. It was a hard first couple months, my first games in the OHL, but I really think I found my groove in the second half where I got kind of used to it so, I’m looking to start off strong this year and I’m looking forward to it,” said Murray.
Murray is calm as he laces up the skates in his second training camp, a different kid that was a high first round pick for the Wolves in 2017.
His strong play last season not only got him noticed locally and around the league, but across Canada.
It was a busy summer, gym five times a week, skating three times a week. He attended a Newport Sports Management Inc. Agency Camp where he got not only skate with some pros but do it at the MasterCard Centre using the dressing room for the Toronto Marlies.
He then was off to Hockey Canada’s U-18 selection camp which was cut short by a small but untimely shoulder injury that held him off the roster for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup Tournament.
Outside of his play, Murray’s first taste of OHL hockey with the Wolves wasn’t all too positive as he and the rest of the squad finished last in the league.
But from what he sees early, he likes the dynamic of the team.
“My goal is obviously to do better than last season, we finished last in the OHL but I think we be a lot better than last year. We have a lot of new pieces, key guys like Byfield and a new goalie, we’ve got (Jack)Thompson as well, a good defenceman. I think me and a couple guys just developing more and I think we can contribute more to the team as well so I’m very excited for this season,” said Murray.
This is a big year for the Uxbridge native, a young hockey player's dream, their draft season.
“It’s obviously a very important aspect, but you know a lot of guys in the NHL haven’t gotten drafted as well so, everyone has their own career getting to the NHL but I’m looking forward to my draft year and hopefully hear my name called in Vancouver,” said Murray.
Head Coach Cory Stillman doesn’t want the young man changing a whole lot, its clear he has done his work in the off-season.
He’s come into camp and exhibition chomping to get the season started.
If he is to have an improvement on last season, it won’t be will he be drafted, but where.
