Curtis Murphy Named AHL's Outstanding Defenseman
April 4, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Houston Aeros News Release
HOUSTON - The American Hockey League announced today Houston Aeros defenseman Curtis Murphy has been named the winner of the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL's outstanding defenseman for the 2002-03 season, as voted by AHL players and media in each of the league's 28 member cities.
Murphy leads all AHL defensemen with 22 goals and ranks second with 52 points in 78 games for Houston this season. His point total is third on the Aeros. A 2002-03 First Team AHL All-Star, Murphy has also recorded seven power-play goals and a plus-12 rating for the West Division champions. The native of Kerrobert, Sask., skated in his second consecutive AHL All-Star Game and his fifth consecutive All-Star Game this year. Murphy made his NHL debut with Minnesota on December 15.
This is Murphy's second season with Houston. He has been the Aeros' iron man over the past two years, skating in each of the team's 172 regular-season and playoff matches since opening night of the 2001-02 season. Prior to joining the Aeros, he played three seasons with the Orlando Solar Bears (International Hockey League). Murphy led the Solar Bears in playoff scoring when the team won the IHL's Turner Cup in 2001. He played four seasons at the University of North Dakota and was an All-American. This award, which was first presented by the AHL in 1959, honors the late Eddie Shore, a Hockey Hall of Famer widely regarded as one of hockey's greatest defensemen. Shore, a four-time winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, purchased the AHL's Springfield Indians in 1939 and managed the club until his retirement in 1967.
Houston closes out the 2002-03 regular season with games tonight versus the San Antonio Rampage and tomorrow against the Grand Rapids Griffins. Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night for the Aeros and the final regularly scheduled game at Compaq Center. To celebrate, the Aeros are retiring Mr. Hockey, Gordie Howe's jersey number 9. He will be joined in a pre-game ceremony by several WHA and IHL Aeros.
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