Lacrosse, Athlete, 2022 |
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Few cast as formidable a shadow on the lacrosse backend as Coquitlam’s Bruce
Murray. The long-time Coquitlam senior Adanac led both on and off the floor over a career that covered national, professional and international territory. Built like a Mack truck but with deceptive stick skills, Murray was a force with his hometown junior Adanacs, racking up 61 goals, 115 assists over 98 games as a rare five-year junior star. He earned the Al Boles Most Inspirational Player award in 1996, and the league’s most sportsmanlike player award in ’97. Murray was called up by the senior Adanacs’ playoff run in 1998, drawing into every game of the Mann Cup against Brampton. Selected third overall by New Westminster in the 1999 WLA draft, Murray was a point-a-game defender before getting dealt to Coquitlam in 2005.
Back at the Poirier Palace, he proceeded to lead the club into the playoffs for the next four seasons, including a Mann Cup final in 2007. During 14 WLA seasons, including nine as captain, Murray tallied 47 goals, 108 assists over 242 games, earning first all-star honours in 2003, ’08 and ’12. At the age of 33, he demonstrated the heart and determination of a lion by returning to the sport after missing a full year due to a knee injury. A two-time second-team all-star, Murray twice received the Maitland Trophy for outstanding play and contribution to minor lacrosse. His 10-year pro NLL career included stops in Vancouver, Anaheim, Arizona, Colorado and Edmonton, where he carted off 567 loose balls over 138 games. He was also named to two All-Star Games.
For Canada, Murray played prominent roles in a pair of World Indoor Lacrosse championships, winning gold in 2003 and 2007.
Upon retiring in 2015, Murray was named Coquitlam’s forever captain.