Kingston Frontenacs Game Day January 19, 2020

by Marcus Boutilier
@bouthockey ohlnetwork.ca
The success of any hockey team can be attributed
to its defence and how they translate with
the forward corps to provide support in front of
the goaltenders and transition into getting pucks
quickly out of the defensive zone into the hands of
the offensive players. It’s a bonus when you have
a player like Jake Murray who can provide these
attributes from the backend while also being a part
of the offence as well.
At 6 foot two, 190 pounds, he’s an excellent
skater able to move the puck out of his zone with
ease but also blessed with a vision for making smart
passes to start a breakout. While he likes to join the
rush and provide offensive support, Murray is smart
enough and quick enough to get back in position
when the opposition gets the puck. Just as much as
a 200-foot forward is valued to a coach, a two-way
defender like Murray is also as desirable.
Before midget hockey, the left-handed defender
played in the illustrious Quebec International Peewee
Tournament in 2014-15 and was a member of the
East Coast Selects program for two years leading
up to his midget campaign with the Rangers. He
dressed in a combined 13 games for the U13 (2015-
16) and U14 (2016-17) squads adding four assists.
The Oakville, ON native played with the Oakville
Rangers Minor Midget AAA program in 2017-18
enjoying an excellent regular season with his team
going undefeated. Murray provided nine goals, 25
16
assists for 34 points in 35 games and registered a
goal and four points in the season-ending OHL Cup
earning a bronze medal teaming up with current
Frontenacs defenceman Ethan Ritchie. He and
Ritchie played seven years together during their
minor hockey. The then 15-year-old played two
games with the OJHL’s Oakville Blades.
Kingston made Murray their first pick at the 2018
OHL Priority Selection 13th overall as the teams’ firstround
selection looking to add a mobile defenceman
with size. He played his first exhibition game vs
Ottawa at home on Sept 2 finishing with an assist
in three pre-season games. Jumping right into the
mix, the rookie played his first OHL game on Sept 20
in Peterborough and got his first career point in his
home debut, assisting on a Jason Robertson gamewinner
during a 5-2 Frontenacs win over Oshawa in
his second game. During the opening month, he also
scored his first career goal Oct 19 on the road vs Soo
Greyhounds with Brett Neumann and Robertson,
returning the favour, with assists.
In 62 games during the 2018-19 season, he
showed off his ability to skate out of his zone at times
with relative ease, contributing two goals and eight
points helping chip in offence while gaining valuable
experience defending against the opposition’s best
forwards. He registered almost a shot-per-game
average with 60 pucks on net showing off a heavily
powered slapshot. He also earned OHL East Division
Academic Player of the Month for February and
represented Canada Red at the U17 tournament
collecting three points in six games.
OFFICIAL GAME DAY MAGAZINE, VOLUME 47, ISSUE 20