Longtime Chicago Blackhawks player and analyst Troy Murray died Saturday, March 7, from cancer at the age of 63, the team announced.
‘Troy was the epitome of a Blackhawk, so far beyond his incredible playing career with a presence felt in every corner of our organization over the last 45 years,’ Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz said in a statement. ‘He was admired by his teammates and our players, and was so proud to connect generations of Blackhawks through his work with the Blackhawks Alumni Association. He jumped at every call to support our local community with our Foundation.’
Murray was selected by Chicago in the third round of the 1980 NHL draft and joined the team in the 1982 playoffs after helping lead the University of North Dakota to a national title.
Nicknamed ‘Muzz,’ he would play for the Blackhawks until 1990-91, then return for parts of the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons, recording 197 goals and 291 assists in 688 regular-season games, including a career-best 99 points in 1985-86. He also won the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward that season.
He was also captain of the original Winnipeg Jets and played for the Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Colorado Avalanche. He won a Stanley Cup in 1995-96 with Colorado in his final NHL season. He had 230 goals and 354 assists in 914 NHL games.
After retiring from hockey, he went into broadcasting and served as the Blackhawks radio analyst for more than two decades, calling the Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015.
‘He never missed a chance to say ‘hello’ in our press box and always knew the perfect time for a joke just when someone around the office needed it most,’ Wirtz said. ‘And he absolutely loved bringing Blackhawks hockey to you, our fans, night after night with a dedication to his craft that never wavered to the very end.’
Murray announced in August 2021 that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He would return to the booth and continue working with the community.
‘During his long and hard battle with cancer, it was often said that Troy didn’t have any ‘give up’ in him,’ Wirtz said. ‘While our front office simply won’t be the same without him, we will carry that spirit forward every day in his honor. We’ll miss you, Muzz.”
Reaction to Troy Murray’s death
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
