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Murray Named Oakley CHL Goaltender of the Week

January 29, 2013 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Quad City Mallards News Release


MOLINE, Ill. (January 29, 2013) - The Quad City Mallards' John Murray has been named Oakley Central Hockey League Goaltender of the Week, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the CHL.

Murray, 25, stopped 68 of the 70 shots he faced and posted his first shutout of the season as he and the Mallards went 1-0-1 in a two game series with the Sundogs in Arizona last weekend. Last Friday evening, Murray made 36 saves in the Mallards' 5-0 whitewashing of the Sundogs. One night later, Murray turned aside 32 shots while allowing just a pair of goals in regulation and overtime as the Mallards earned one point for a 3-2 shootout loss.

"John really came through for us in a couple of important games on the road last weekend," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski. "He made a lot of very good saves and a lot of important saves both nights and gave us the chance to have a successful weekend."

In the wake of last weekend's trip to Prescott Valley, the Mallards, who have three games in hand on the Sundogs, pulled within three points of eighth place Arizona in the race for the final CHL playoff berth.

Murray has gone 9-8-5 in 24 games this season and ranks third in the league in minutes played (1382:02), fifth in save percentage (.913) and eighth in goals against average (2.65). Last Friday's shutout was the eighth of his career.

Murray is unbeaten in regulation in his last three starts (2-0-1). The 6' 0", 186-pound Lancaster, Pennsylvania, native went 131:51 without allowing a goal before Jake Hauswirth scored for Arizona at 2:32 of the second period of last Saturday night's game. That goal was the first given up by Murray since A.J. Gale's for Denver at 10:41 of the first period of the Mallards' January 19 win over the Cutthroats. Hauswirth's goal was also the first surrendered by Murray in three career starts in Arizona. Murray also blanked the Sundogs in his only start at Tim's Toyota Center prior to this season- on November 26, 2011 as a member of the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees.

Murray is the second Mallard in as many weeks and the third this month to earn league wide-recognition. Mickey Lang last week was named Oakley CHL Player of the Week after Neil Conway took home Goaltender of the Week honors at the start of the month.

Murray joined the Mallards this season after excelling for the Ruskowski-coached Killer Bees last year. Murray last season finished tied for first in the CHL in shutouts (3), tied for fifth in save percentage (.919) and tenth in goals against average (2.66) while going 16-14-2 in 36 games.

M urray returned to North America with the Killer Bees last year after heading to Serbia to join HK Partizan Belgrade for the 2010-11 campaign. The Lancaster, Pennsylvania, native turned in superlative numbers- a 1.98 goals against average and a .941 save percentage in 25 games- while backstopping Partizan to a league title.

Murray tended goal in the ECHL for the bulk of his first two professional seasons. He started 2009-10 with the Victoria Salmon Kings before going on to spend the majority of the year with the Johnstown Chiefs. As a rookie in 2008-09, Murray saw action with the Ontario Reign and - briefly- Mississippi Sea Wolves and was also chosen to play in the 2009 ECHL All-Star Game. Murray also played one American Hockey League game- for the Syracuse Crunch- during his first full year as a pro. The Lancaster, Pennsylvania, native got his first taste of the professional ranks when he took the ice with the Reading Royals of the ECHL for eight games at the tail end of the 2007-08 season.

Before turning pro, Murray played two years of junior hockey in the United States Hockey League and two more north of the border in the Ontario Hockey League. He suited up for the USHL's Sioux Falls Stampede from 2004 to 2006 and represented Sioux Falls in the 2006 USHL All-Star Game. 2006-07 saw Murray earn team Most Valuable Player honors with the Kitchener Rangers and make another All-Star appearance, this time in the OHL's mid-season classic. He closed out his junior career with the Kingston Frontenacs in 2007-08.

The Mallards meet the Bloomington Blaze tonight at 7;05 p.m. on home ice. This evening will also see Mo Mallard welcome a host of other area mascots to the i wireless Center for All-Star Mascot Night.

Tickets for tonight's tilt- as well as seats for all remaining Mallards regular season home games- can be purchased in person at the i wireless Center ticket office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000. The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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