Rob Murray Named ECHL Coach of the Year
Published on April 3, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
Alaska Aces Head Coach Rob Murray has been named a co-recipient of the 2011-2012 John Brophy Award as the ECHL Coach of the Year, the league announced on Tuesday. The John Brophy Award is presented annually to the ECHL coach who contributed the most to his team's success as selected in a vote of league coaches. Murray becomes the third Aces coach in franchise history to receive the award. The Aces will begin their defense of the Kelly Cup at Sullivan Arena for Games 1 and 2 of the Conference Semifinals on Friday, April 13th and Saturday, April 14th against either the Colorado Eagles or Stockton Thunder. Playoff tickets are currently on sale. For more information, please call the Aces at 907.258.ACES or visit them online at www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
Murray, who turns 45 on Wednesday, led the Aces to a league-best 43-18-11 record, and the club's sixth division championship in nine ECHL seasons. Alaska won its ECHL-record third Brabham Cup, becoming the first team in league history to win back-to-back regular-season championships. The Aces have earned a bye in the Western Conference Quarterfinals by virtue of finishing first in the Western Conference standings during the regular season.
Murray is in first season as the Aces Head Coach, after spending the previous eight seasons with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League. He was the P-Bruins assistant coach from 2004-08. Prior to the 2008-09 season, Murray was elevated to head coach in Providence. In his first season as head coach, Murray led the P-Bruins to a 43-29-8 record and a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals. He finished his three-year tenure with a 117-103-20 regular-season record. While in Providence, he coached seven players who went on to win the Stanley Cup with Boston in 2011.
Murray joins former Aces Coaches Davis Payne (2006-2007) and Brent Thompson (2010-2011) as Alaska bench bosses to win the award. The Aces have now won the Coach of the Year, Mountain Division, Western Conference, and Brabham Cup in each of the last two years.
The ECHL Coach of the Year Award is named for John Brophy, who won a record three ECHL titles with Hampton Roads in 1991, 1992 and 1998, and was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009.
John Wroblewski of the Gwinnett Gladiators was the co-recipient of the award along with Murray. Wroblewski is in his first season as Gladiators Head Coach, and led them to the South Division title.
Jason Christie of Ontario finished third in the voting, followed by Ryan Mougenel of Las Vegas and Elmira's Pat Bingham.
John Brophy Award Winners (ECHL Coach of the Year)
2011-12 Rob Murray, Alaska Aces
John Wroblewski, Gwinnett Gladiators
2010-11 Brent Thompson, Alaska Aces
2009-10 Derek Laxdal, Idaho Steelheads
2008-09 Rick Kowalsky, Trenton Devils
2007-08 Chuck Weber, Cincinnati Cyclones
2006-07 Davis Payne, Alaska Aces
2005-06 Glen Gulutzan, Las Vegas Wranglers
2004-05 Nick Vitucci, Toledo Storm
2003-04 Pat Bingham, Wheeling Nailers
2002-03 Claude Noel, Toledo Storm
2001-02 Dave Farrish, Louisiana Ice Gators
2000-01 Troy Ward, Trenton Titans
1999-00 Bob Ferguson, Florida Everblades
1998-99 Bob Ferguson, Florida Everblades
1997-98 Chris Nilan, Chesapeake IceBreakers
1996-97 Brian McCutcheon, Columbus Chill
1995-96 Roy Sommer, Richmond Renegades
1994-95 Jim Playfair, Dayton Bombers
1993-94 Barry Smith, Knoxville Cherokees
1992-93 Kurt Kleinendorst, Raleigh IceCaps
1991-92 Doug Sauter, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds
1990-91 Don Jackson, Knoxville Cherokees
1989-90 Dave Allison, Virginia Lancers
1988-89 Ron Hansis, Erie Panthers
The Aces will begin their defense of the Kelly Cup at Sullivan Arena for Games 1 and 2 of the Conference Semifinals on Friday, April 13th and Saturday, April 14th against either the Colorado Eagles or Stockton Thunder. Playoff tickets are currently on sale. For more information, please call the Aces at 907.258.ACES or visit them online at www.facebook.com/alaskaaceshockey.
ECHL Stories from April 3, 2012
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- Royals Take Game One Over Elmira, 4-1 - Reading Royals
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- Jackals Drop Game 1 to Royals, 4-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Stingrays Blank Gladiators 3-0 in Game One - South Carolina Stingrays
- Nailers Score Late To Take Game One - Kalamazoo Wings
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- Game Preview (Game 1): Stockton Thunder (#5) Vs. Colorado Eagles - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - April 3 - ECHL
- Baier Signed by IceHogs - Trenton Titans
- Goaltender Mark Owuya Assigned to Reading - Reading Royals
- Wroblewski Named ECHL Co-Coach of the Year - Atlanta Gladiators
- Murray, Wroblewski Named Co-Recipients of John Brophy Award - ECHL
- Las Vegas' Miller Named Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week - ECHL
- Rob Murray Named ECHL Coach of the Year - Alaska Aces
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