University of Minnesota Athletics
Murray Williamson Reflects on Hall of Fame Career
9/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of hockey in the state of Minnesota, Murray Williamson played for the Golden Gophers from 1957-59 and is one of seven individuals who will be inducted into the “M” Club Hall of Fame on Sept. 18 at the Ted Mann Concert Hall on campus.
Williamson was the Gophers’ Most Valuable Player and a first-team All-American as a senior. He went on to coach two U.S. Olympic teams and was a major contributor to the growth of hockey in the United States. He recently reflected on his selection to the Hall of Fame and his hockey career.
Q: What does it mean for you to be inducted into the “M” Club Hall of Fame?
A: “Those were three of the greatest years of my hockey career and it’s a great honor. There were others that also deserved this and many of them are already there. Guys like Herbie Brooks and Jack McCarten. To be in the same Hall of Fame as those guys is a great honor. Coming out of Winnipeg, Canada and going to a huge campus that’s as big as my hometown was a great experience and was life-changing. I’m indebted to the University of Minnesota forever.”
Q: What led you to the University of Minnesota?
A: “I was coaching all the way back to when I was 18 years old and coached the Bantam team in Canada that won the provincial championship. That happened while I was playing as an all-star in the provincial junior league. I played a year of juniors before most of my friends decided to go play at the University of Michigan. I was planning to go to Michigan too until John Mariucci intercepted me in a pool hall in Eveleth. We were playing in a tournament up there when he saw me and talked me into going to Minnesota and I’m glad he did.”
Q: What was it like to play for the legendary John Mariucci?
A: “We were great friends all the way until he passed away on March 23, 1987. He was legendary. He was a tough taskmaster, but was also a character beyond all imagination. He’s the one that resurrected the hockey program at Minnesota. Having the arena named after him is very appropriate. We stayed in contact following my career and became very close friends.”
Q: What are your memories of coaching the 1972 Olympic team to a silver medal?
A: “It was a life-changing experience. That team still has communication almost on a weekly basis. The team recently had a book written about them called “Striking Silver” that was a bestseller on the east coast. It went over all the trials and tribulations of the team’s success. Seven of those players are in the (U.S. Hockey) Hall of Fame and Herb Brooks was on that team until December. It was a young team that had a lot of people move on to be successful.”
Q: As a founder of the USHL, did you ever envision the league getting to the point it is today with very successful franchises and huge arenas?
A: “It thought it could, but knowing what it would take it was a long road to hoe. People weren’t familiar with it. We were trying it in places like the Twin Cities, Chicago, Austin, Minnesota and Fargo. The most important thing was we had support from the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association. It gradually became what I thought it could be. Those franchises are selling for a million dollars now and, when it started, I had to give someone 5,000 dollars just to take a franchise. We used the first world junior championships in Russia to draw players to the league and it took off from there.”
Q: You’ve been fortunate to be inducted in many Halls of Fame and where does the “M” Club honor rank for you?
A: “It’s right up there. It’s up there with the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame honor I received recently, which was a great tribute. But, Minnesota is my home base. This means a lot to me.”
Q: Do you still follow the Gopher hockey team?
A: “I do still follow the Gophers. I live in Tucson in the winter time, but I’m able to see most of the games on television and I do keep up with how they’re doing. I also follow Boston College closely since (their coaches) Jerry York and Jimmy Logue both played for me.”
Q: What was it like watching Boston College and Minnesota play in the first round of last year’s NCAA tournament?
A: “That was fun. It’s a good thing both teams are maroon and gold.”
