John Murray - LCHS student and Forward for the Salem Ice Dogs

He transferred quietly from his hometown of Apex, North Carolina to Lynn, MA. He moved in with the Duggan family. Ryan Duggan, a recent graduate and outstanding player on Lynn Classical HS Hockey Team, became his teammate, good friend, and roommate. John Murray will be moving back south when the Hockey Season ends in just a few weeks.

What was it like, moving up here so he could play some serious hockey. Why tear oneself away from the middle of your Senior year at Apex High School to move up to a cold and snowy Northeast city? Was it all worthwhile to John Murray? Here's what John has to say:

"Since I was 6 years old I thought I was going to be a for sure NHL Hall-of-famer.  I grew older and began to realize that there’s a much bigger world of hockey out there than “The Triangle” of North Carolina.  I researched teams in the Empire Junior Hockey League, a major college feeding 21-and-under league.  I stumbled upon the Salem Ice Dogs and decided to try out.  People always ask me how I ended up choosing to live in Lynn of all places, and I tell them all the same thing – I didn’t.  After making the team, the coach took it upon himself to introduce me to Gary and Nancy Duggan, who were some of the friendliest people I had ever met.  I’ll be honest, I had a terrible first impression of the area, but after meeting the Duggan’s and visiting their house, I went home with a good feeling about making Lynn my new home.         

            Moving to Lynn was easier than I expected.  Though it’s a completely different area than Apex, NC, in many ways, it wasn’t hard to adjust.  The Duggan family was very welcoming and took care of me not as one just renting out a room, but as a member of their family. 

            It was hard leaving my friends and family in Apex but I knew that in order to accomplish my goals I’d have to go above and beyond.  I’ll admit one thing, I sure wasn’t ready for the snow storms.  I lived in New York as a young child and loved to go sledding and make snowmen, but this was a whole new experience.  Having to shovel and clean off my car was never in the job description when I was 5.

            After a long season, I’d say moving over 700 miles away from my family and friends was one of the best decisions of my life.  It was quite a sacrifice leaving the life I had back in Apex but I do not regret my decision to come to Lynn one bit.  This experience made me a more mature young adult.  I learned so much more about hockey, myself, life, and people in general.  I now feel like I can accomplish even the biggest tasks in life.

            I would like to thank the following people for making my move such a smooth transition and for helping me feel home: Ryan, Mike, Danielle, Nancy, and Gary Duggan; Coach Mike “Dogga” Donnelly, Marina Biondi, Anthony “Solz” Soloman, Ryan Hockney, Dari Fabian, Dan Powers, and many others.  Even though I’m moving back home to graduate and be with the friends I’ve had for years, my time here has been unforgettable and I’m already anxiously waiting for my next season with the Salem Ice Dogs."

_____________________

About the Ice Dogs:

The Empire Junior Hockey League is comprised of 21 Junior Teams divided into two conferences each having two divisions. The Salem Ice Dogs are in the Atlantic Division of the National Conference with rivals; Boston Junior Bruins, Bridgewater Bandits, Bay State Breakers, Capital District Selects and the South Shore Kings. The Ice Dogs compete against all 20 teams in the Empire Junior Hockey League.

The Ice Dogs participate in at least 50 highly competitive junior hockey games consisting of regularly scheduled Empire League games and three Showcase Tournaments. The Showcase Tournaments provide an opportunity for the players to showcase their talents in front of College and Professional Scouts who routinely attend these tournaments.

In addition to the heavy game schedule the Ice Dogs will practice about 100 times during the regular season.

The Salem Ice Dogs are committed to player development to propel the players to the next level, and the team to a winning season.

The program includes rigorous on ice and off ice training to develop strength, speed and power on ice. A high level of conditioning is guaranteed through interval training both on and off the ice. Systems of play and knowledge of the game are taught throughout the season so that every player becomes more effective as a player.

Advancing to the Next Level

The Ice Dogs staff is dedicated to advancing players to the next level. Whether that means placement on a Junior ‘A’ Team or directly on a College Roster, the Salem Ice Dogs staff will work to showcase players to Scouts for College and Junior ‘A’ Teams. In six seasons more than twenty five Ice Dog Alumni have advanced to play College Hockey while at least fifteen have advanced to play Junior ‘A’ hockey, and then college hockey. Each year the list gets longer.