By Sheri Monk

He thought he was going to lace up to play hockey against the NHL alumni attending the April 10 Maple Creek 4-on-4 Celebrity Hockey Tournament.
But 67-year-old Guy Murphy was surprised to learn he’ll be playing as an honourary NHL celebrity during the All-Star game.
“He was called up to play in the NHL and actually went to the try-out camp for the Detroit Red Wings but somehow in the way he understood things he decided not to go play,” explained Connie Burton, event co-chair, adding the respected cowboy and saddle bronc rider was an excellent and prestigious pro hockey player in his day.
Born at Neville, south of Swift Current, Murphy estimates he was about seven-years-old when he took his cowboys boots off and traded them in for a pair of skates for the first time.
“I said, ‘Take them skates back, they won’t skate’,” Murphy chuckled, recalling his early days on ice.
Despite the his shaky start, he continued to play and eventually went pro after attending a three-week training camp south of the border. Murphy spent three seasons with the Moose Jaw Canucks and the rising start saw a lot of ice time. But in 1960, he wasn’t being played as much as Weyburn would soon be joining the league. Murphy heard through the grapevine his club was fixing to send him to the new team, to help it develop the franchise in its first year. Murphy was not impressed.
“Either play me or I’m packing up my bags and leaving,” Murphy informed the club, much to his manager’s chagrin.
The scorned club told Murphy he would never be let out of his contract – but his coach did not yet know Murphy’s manager.
“My mother was a feisty lady and she was my manager. After she was through with him, they told me I could come to the office and get my release,” laughed Murphy.
After his release, he logged some time near Val Marie hunting antelope, before the hockey bug took hold of him again. Contemplating his options, he dismissed Prince Albert and Melville as being too cold. Eventually, he settled on Weyburn, but demanded a massive raise compared to what he was earning with the Moose Jaw. Murphy joined the club after receiving word the club had accepted his salary demand of $375 monthly. He had been earning $250 playing for Moose Jaw.
Eventually, his rights ended up with the Boston Bruins and he spent some time playing for the club’s farm team, the San Francisco Seals. But tired of the constant travel, Murphy rejected an offer to travel to North Carolina to play for another farm team and the promise of the NHL.
“Give me a train ticket to Swift Current, Saskatchewan,” said Murphy.
Though he quit pro hockey, he continued to coach professionally for years, including a stint at Val Marie, where he coached Bryan Trottier.
It’s been about 30 years since Murphy spent much time in skates, but he’s been lacing up steadily, training at the Maple Creek Community Arena in preparation for the event. Joining the celebrity tournament has meant a fond trip down memory lane and Murphy still enjoys looking at old newspaper clippings and photos from his hockey days. Nearly 50 years later, he has no regrets.
“I’ve always been kind of a cowboy all my life. I chewed it over and decided no, that’s not for me,” he explained.

For more information on the celebrity tournament, log
onto www.thebadger.ca/4on4.