Cornell University Athletics

As a two-time first-team All-American, Murray was a prominent part of the Big Red's re-emergence as a national power. He spearheaded the nation's best defense and best penalty kill units in 2003, when the Big Red racked up a program-record 30 wins en route to its second-straight Ivy League championship, an ECAC Hockey championship and a trip to the Frozen Four. Murray was a three-time All-Ivy League first-team selection, a two-time All-ECAC Hockey first-team pick and was named the ECAC Hockey Defensive Defenseman of the Year in 2003. As a junior in 2002, Murray was named one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given annually to the best player in college hockey. As a senior, Murray shared the Charles H. Moore Outstanding Senior Varsity Athlete Award. He was selected by the Ithaca Journal as its Male Athlete of the Year in 2002, when he was also given the Nicky Bawlf Award as the team's most valuable player. The Big Red defense ranked second in the nation that season, and both its power play and penalty kill were ranked in the top five nationally. Murray was best known for two things — a booming slap shot that helped him accrue 24 goals and 60 assists for 84 points over 127 career games, and a physical presence that was unmatched by any competitor. He was an eighth-round selection by the San Jose Sharks in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, which turned out to be a bargain when he embarked on a lengthy professional career which is still active. After two full seasons in the American Hockey League, Murray made his NHL debut with the Sharks in the 2005-06 season. He played eight seasons with San Jose before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013. He entered the 2012-13 season with 425 career NHL games, which ranks third all-time for former Cornell players behind Joe Nieuwendyk and Kent Manderville.