Bob Murdoch
Born (1946-11-20)November 20, 1946
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada
Died August 3, 2023(2023-08-03) (aged 76)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Los Angeles Kings
Atlanta Flames
Calgary Flames
Coached for Chicago Blackhawks
Winnipeg Jets
Maddogs München
Kölner Haie
Nürnberg Ice Tigers
National team  Canada
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 19701982
Coaching career 19822002

Robert John Murdoch (November 20, 1946 – August 3, 2023) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach.

Early life

Murdoch was born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, a mining community far from Southern Ontario in Timiskaming District. He grew up in nearby Larder Lake and played organized hockey in this area that saw many players go to the NHL, mainly playing on outdoor rinks. He went to the University of Waterloo where he received a double major degree in Mathematics and Physical Education. He was also captain for the Waterloo Warriors Varsity Ice Hockey team that played in the OUAA. Upon graduation, and undrafted, he played for the Canadian national team in 1968–69 and in 1969–70. He was one of many players affected by the withdrawal of the National Team from participating in the 1970 Ice Hockey World Championships.

NHL Career

Murdoch played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Flames and Calgary Flames and coached 10 seasons in the NHL serving as head coach for Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets, and also serving as assistant coach for the Calgary Flames and San Jose Sharks.[1] He won the Stanley Cup in 1971 and 1973 while with Montreal.

Coaching career

Murdoch coached 80 games with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1987–88 season, compiling a record of 30–41–9. He was succeeded as Blackhawks head coach by Mike Keenan the following season.[2]

During the 1989–90 season, Murdoch was named the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets. After missing the playoffs the previous season, the Jets went 37–32–11 for 85 points and third in the Smythe Division, making the 1990 Stanley Cup playoffs but losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion, the Edmonton Oilers, in seven games. Murdoch was seen as an important part of the Jets quick turn around, winning the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year.

Despite the success of the previous season, however, the Jets struggled in the 1990–91 season, finishing last in the Smythe Division with a 26–43–11 record, and missing the playoffs. Murdoch was fired at the end of the season and was replaced by John Paddock.

Murdoch would become an associate coach for the San Jose Sharks during the 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons. Afterwards, he departed for Europe, and coached several teams in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL), including Munich Mad Dogs, Cologne Sharks, and Nurnberg Ice Tigers, retiring in 2002.

Later Life and Death

While he was proud of his Northeastern Ontario roots, Murdoch and his family spent summers near Lake of the Woods in Northwestern Ontario. In later years, Canmore, Alberta was home, where he was diagnosed in 2019 with Lewy Body Dementia, and died in Calgary, Alberta on August 3, 2023, at the age of 76.[3][4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1968–69 Winnipeg Nationals WCSHL 80112
1969–70 Montreal Voyageurs AHL 60226
1970–71 Montreal Canadiens NHL 10222 20000
1970–71 Montreal Voyageurs AHL 668202869 31234
1971–72 Montreal Canadiens NHL 111128 10000
1971–72 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 537323953
1972–73 Montreal Canadiens NHL 692222455 1303310
1973–74 Los Angeles Kings NHL 768202885 50002
1974–75 Los Angeles Kings NHL 80132942116 30114
1975–76 Los Angeles Kings NHL 8062935103 905515
1976–77 Los Angeles Kings NHL 709233279 923514
1977–78 Los Angeles Kings NHL 762171968 20115
1978–79 Los Angeles Kings NHL 323121546
1978–79 Atlanta Flames NHL 355111624 20004
1979–80 Atlanta Flames NHL 805162148 41122
1980–81 Calgary Flames NHL 743192254 1614536
1981–82 Calgary Flames NHL 733172076 30000
NHL totals 75760218278764 694182292

International

Year Team Event GPGAPtsPIM
1969 Canada WC 50002
Senior totals 50002

Head coaching record

TeamYearRegular seasonPostseason
GWLTPtsFinishWLWin %Result
CHI1987–88 8030419693rd in Norris14.200Lost in Division Semifinals (STL)
WIN1989–90 80373211853rd in Smythe34.429Lost in Division Semifinals (EDM)
WIN1990–91 80264311635th in SmytheMissed playoffs
Total2409311631  48.3332 playoff appearances

Awards and achievements

References

  1. Biography at Legends of Hockey
  2. Bob Murdoch Coaching Record – Hockey-Reference.com
  3. "Stanley Cup champion and Jack Adams Award winner Bob Murdoch passes away at 76". TSN. August 4, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  4. Medina, Alex (August 4, 2023). "He was a Wonderful Person". NHL. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
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