Blair Murray (born January 2, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played briefly in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames and Philadelphia Flyers during the 1980s.
Early Life and Junior Career Born in Barrie, Ontario, Murray played junior hockey for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL), later renamed the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), from 1977 to 1980. He demonstrated offensive capabilities for a defenceman during his junior career, particularly in his final season (1979-80) where he recorded 72 points in 66 games.
Professional Career Murray was selected by the Calgary Flames in the sixth round (119th overall) of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He spent several seasons primarily in the minor leagues, playing for the Flames' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates, including the Moncton Golden Flames.
He made his NHL debut with the Calgary Flames during the 1983–84 season, playing 11 games and scoring 1 goal and 1 assist. He played another 8 games for the Flames in the 1984–85 season, registering 2 assists.
In 1986, Murray signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. He played 10 games for the Flyers during the 1986–87 season, recording 1 assist. His professional career also included stints with the Hershey Bears (AHL) and the Salt Lake Golden Eagles (International Hockey League - IHL).
Murray retired from professional hockey after the 1991–92 season, having played a total of 29 NHL games, scoring 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 points. His career was largely spent as a reliable defenceman in the AHL and IHL.
Career Statistics
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-78 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OMJHL | 66 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 36 |
| 1978-79 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OMJHL | 66 | 10 | 29 | 39 | 77 |
| 1979-80 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | OHL | 66 | 18 | 54 | 72 | 65 |
| 1980-81 | Birmingham Bulls | CHL | 79 | 7 | 28 | 35 | 60 |
| 1981-82 | Oklahoma City Stars | CHL | 79 | 9 | 31 | 40 | 76 |
| 1982-83 | Moncton Alpines | AHL | 72 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 44 |
| 1983-84 | Moncton Golden Flames | AHL | 69 | 10 | 26 | 36 | 72 |
| 1983-84 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1984-85 | Moncton Golden Flames | AHL | 71 | 9 | 34 | 43 | 56 |
| 1984-85 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1985-86 | Moncton Golden Flames | AHL | 62 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 46 |
| 1986-87 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 65 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 26 |
| 1986-87 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1987-88 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 77 | 12 | 36 | 48 | 36 |
| 1988-89 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 63 | 6 | 26 | 32 | 42 |
| 1989-90 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | IHL | 82 | 12 | 34 | 46 | 24 |
| 1990-91 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | IHL | 65 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 30 |
| 1991-92 | Springfield Indians | AHL | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |