Murray Armstrong

Murray Alexander Armstrong (January 1, 1916 – December 8, 2010) was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ice hockey Head Coach.

Murray Armstrong
Born (1916-01-01)January 1, 1916
Manor, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died December 8, 2010(2010-12-08) (aged 94)
St. Augustine, Florida, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Americans
Brooklyn Americans
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 19371946
Playing career
1931–1934Regina Pats
1934–1935Regina Victorias
1935–1936New York Rovers
1936–1939Syracuse Stars
1937–1939Toronto Maple Leafs
1939–1942New York Americans
1942–1943Regina Army Caps
1943–1946Detroit Red Wings
1946–1947Buffalo Bisons
1946–1947Dallas Texans
Position(s)Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1948–1956Regina Pats
1956–1977Denver
Head coaching record
Overall460–215–31 (.674)
Tournaments15–7 (.682)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1937 Calder Cup
1958 WIHL Regular Season Champion
1958 NCAA National Champion
1960 WCHA Regular Season Champion
1960 WCHA Tournament Champion
1960 NCAA National Champion
1961 WCHA Regular Season Champion
1961 WCHA Tournament Champion
1961 NCAA National Champion
1963 WCHA Regular Season Champion
1963 WCHA Tournament Champion
1964 WCHA Tournament Champion
1966 WCHA Tournament Champion
1968 WCHA Regular Season Champion
1968 WCHA Tournament Champion
1968 NCAA National Champion
1969 WCHA Tournament Champion
1969 NCAA National Champion
1971 WCHA Tournament Champion
1972 WCHA Regular Season Champion
1972 WCHA Tournament Champion
1973 WCHA Regular Season Champion
1973 WCHA Tournament Champion
Awards
1947 Herman W. Paterson Cup
1961 WCHA Coach of the Year
1961 Spencer Penrose Award
1968 WCHA Coach of the Year
1974 Colorado Sports Hall of Fame
1977 Lester Patrick Trophy
1981 Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame
1984 Hobey Baker Legend of College Hockey Award
1996 Denver Athletic Hall of Fame
2000 Denver Athletic Hall of Fame (Team)
2004 Denver Athletic Hall of Fame (Team)
2006 Denver Athletic Hall of Fame (Team)
2008 Denver Athletic Hall of Fame (Team)
2010 Denver Athletic Hall of Fame (Team)

Playing career

Armstrong played junior hockey with the Regina Pats before debuting with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 1937–38 season. Two years later he was involved in one of the biggest trades of the decade. He, Busher Jackson, Buzz Boll, and Doc Romnes were sent to the New York Americans in exchange for Sweeney Schriner. He played three years with New York before World War II, in which he went to play and coach for the Regina Army Caps. Following his army service, Armstrong was signed by Jack Adams in Detroit, but halfway through his third season he was demoted after Adams called up an 18-year-old named Gordon Howe. In 270 career NHL games, Armstrong scored 67 goals and 121 assists for 188 points.[1]

Following his retirement, Armstrong went on to coach the Regina Pats from 1950–55, and the University of Denver from 1956 to 1977, winning five NCAA Championships, in 1958, 1960, 1961, 1968 and 1969. He is considered one of the top NCAA coaches of all time.

He retired to St. Augustine, Florida, where he remained an avid golfer into his 90s.

His son Rob Armstrong is a former CBS News journalist and the current Retired Professional in Residence at Flagler College.[2]

He died in St. Augustine, Florida on December 8, 2010.[3]

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1931–32 Regina Pats SJHL 3101021120
1932–33 Regina Pats SJHL 30007200010
1933–34 Regina Pats SJHL 24260
1934–35 Regina Victorias SSHL 2296151562132
1935–36 New York Rovers EAHL 321523381871230
1936–37 Syracuse Stars IAHL 431421358846106
1937–38 Syracuse Stars IAHL 35731381053140
1937–38 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 9000030000
1938–39 Syracuse Stars IAHL 502727541031120
1938–39 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 30110
1939–40 New York Americans NHL 471620361230000
1940–41 New York Americans NHL 481014246
1941–42 Brooklyn Americans NHL 456222815
1942–43 Regina Army Caps SSHL 24293261365512174
1943–44 Detroit Red Wings NHL 28122234450220
1944–45 Detroit Red Wings NHL 5015243931144262
1945–46 Detroit Red Wings NHL 4081826450220
1946–47 Buffalo Bisons AHL 19108184
1946–47 Dallas Texans USHL 421531461060330
NHL totals 270 67 121 188 72 30 4 6 10 2

[4]

Head coaching record

College

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Denver Pioneers (WIHL) (1956–1958)
1956-57 Denver 12-14-26-11-15th
1957-58 Denver 24-10-212-10-0t-1stNCAA National Champion
Denver: 36-24-418-21-1
Denver (Division I Independent) (1958–1959)
1958-59 Denver 22-5-1
Denver: 22-5-1
Denver Pioneers (WCHA) (1959–1977)
1959-60 Denver 27-4-317-4-11stNCAA National Champion
1960-61 Denver 30-1-117-1-01stNCAA National Champion
1961-62 Denver 17-11-211-7-03rdWCHA Third Place Game (Loss)
1962-63 Denver 23-9-112-6-01stNCAA Runner-Up
1963-64 Denver 20-7-47-2-12ndNCAA Runner-Up
1964-65 Denver 18-8-24-7-16th
1965-66 Denver 18-11-310-7-34thNCAA Consolation Game (Win)
1966-67 Denver 22-8-011-5-02ndWCHA Finals
1967-68 Denver 28-5-115-3-01stNCAA National Champion
1968-69 Denver 26-6-014-6-02ndNCAA National Champion
1969-70 Denver 21-10-113-8-1t-2ndWCHA Regional Finals
1970-71 Denver 25-10-115-7-02ndNCAA Consolation Game (Win)
1971-72 Denver 27-11-019-9-01stNCAA Consolation Game (Loss)
1972-73 Denver 29-9-120-8-01stNCAA Runner-Up
1973-74 Denver 22-13-315-11-23rdWCHA Finals
1974-75 Denver 12-23-19-22-19th
1975-76 Denver 16-23-012-20-0t-7thWCHA First Round
1976-77 Denver 21-17-216-14-24thWCHA Semifinals
Denver: 402-186-26237-147-12
Total:460-215-31

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[5]

See also

References

  1. Internet Hockey Database, Murray Armstrong
  2. Rob Armstrong (2004). Covering Politics: A Handbook for Journalists. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 9780813809182.
  3. Mike Chambers (December 9, 2010). "Legendary Denver hockey coach Murray Armstrong dies". Denver Post. Retrieved 2010-12-09.
  4. "Murray Armstrong". Elite Prospests. Retrieved 2014-07-14.
  5. "2013-14 Denver Hockey Media Guide" (PDF). Denver Pioneers. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
John MacInnes
Bill Selman
WCHA Coach of the Year
1960–61
1967–68
Succeeded by
John MacInnes
John Matchefts
Preceded by
Jack Riley
Spencer Penrose Award
1960–61
Succeeded by
Jack Kelley
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