University of Minnesota Athletics
Murray Williamson on Mariucci, Memories, Alumni & More
7/29/2019 11:11:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Life would've been a lot different for Winnipeg native Murray Williamson if he didn't run into John Mariucci in an Eveleth pool hall.
He'd probably be a Wolverine.
But as fate would have it, one Gopher legend ended up recruiting another, as Williamson played three seasons (1957-59) for Maroosh before embarking on an illustrious coaching career.
Williamson talked about what it means to be a Gopher and the importance of alumni.
Gopher Hockey: Why did you choose the 'U'?
Murray Williamson: I played junior hockey in Winnipeg. I was playing some teams down in Eveleth, Minnesota, prior to heading to Michigan where I had a chance at a scholarship with Vic Heyliger. I was playing pool in Mike Karakas' pool hall – he was a good friend of John Mariucci's. Then the coach arrived and said, 'Why do you want to go to Michigan? Why don't you come to Minnesota?'
I remembered playing down there in exhibition games when I was with the St. Boniface Canadiens and it was a pretty impressive place – sold-out crowds and enthusiasm. So John Mariucci invited me down. He forgot to leave tickets for me to get into the game, so I had to sneak in. I saw him after the game and I thought, geez, this is going to be a fun guy to play for.
Gopher Hockey: Did you two get along?
Murray Williamson: We got along terrific. I was with him when he passed away on March 23, 1987. We were that close. I played three years for him. That relationship continued on for many, many years. He built the program.
Gopher Hockey: Did you develop lasting relationships with your Gopher teammates?
Murray Williamson: Lots of them. John Petroske, Herbie Brooks, Bob Turk, Jack McCartan, Mike Pearson – they were all spectacular. A fellow by the name of Bill Pedersen played one year for Maroosh and then decided his studies were more important in the school of architecture. He became one of the world's best architects. He's a famous alum that has developed buildings around the world.
Gopher Hockey: Were you proud to watch your son Dean (1987-90) and granddaughter Taylor (2016-19) both play at the 'U'?
Murray Williamson: Watching Dean and Taylor play were the highlights of my hockey careers. Dean wound up walking on with the Gophers – he was previously at Denver. He was really put to the test. He couldn't crack the lineup but he was a good player. And then finally, they had an injury up in Duluth. He got into the lineup and scored the game-winning goal in overtime in his first game. That was one of my Gopher highlights.
The other was watching Taylor come back from that devastating myasthenia gravis (a rare autoimmune neuromuscular disease) to score that goal to put them into the NCAA Tournament. Those two goals were the highlights.
Gopher Hockey: And now to see them team up to coach the Wayzata High School girls' varsity program, how did you take that news?
Murray Williamson: Oh, man. That is so wonderful. They are so close. Dean and Taylor are so close. They ride bikes together and they train together. That family is unbelievable. That's a thrill just to see their success and to work together.
Gopher Hockey: How important is it for Gopher Hockey alumni to stay in touch and to have a strong alumni base for the program?
Murray Williamson: It's the most important part of the program – retaining relationships with the alumni. That base is so important. If you have a strong alumni, they talk to their friends, they attend the games and all of a sudden your crowds are built back up again.
Gopher Hockey: Any advice for current Gopher Hockey players?
Murray Williamson: Always remember this, and I'm endorsing one of Herbie Brooks' great sayings: The name on the front is more important than the name on the back. You build relationships and you can always be proud of the fact that you were a Gopher Hockey player. That means something. It means more than if you're able to play on pro teams and travel around. To have the base of being a Gopher Hockey player is so important.
He'd probably be a Wolverine.
But as fate would have it, one Gopher legend ended up recruiting another, as Williamson played three seasons (1957-59) for Maroosh before embarking on an illustrious coaching career.
Williamson talked about what it means to be a Gopher and the importance of alumni.
Gopher Hockey: Why did you choose the 'U'?
Murray Williamson: I played junior hockey in Winnipeg. I was playing some teams down in Eveleth, Minnesota, prior to heading to Michigan where I had a chance at a scholarship with Vic Heyliger. I was playing pool in Mike Karakas' pool hall – he was a good friend of John Mariucci's. Then the coach arrived and said, 'Why do you want to go to Michigan? Why don't you come to Minnesota?'
I remembered playing down there in exhibition games when I was with the St. Boniface Canadiens and it was a pretty impressive place – sold-out crowds and enthusiasm. So John Mariucci invited me down. He forgot to leave tickets for me to get into the game, so I had to sneak in. I saw him after the game and I thought, geez, this is going to be a fun guy to play for.
Gopher Hockey: Did you two get along?
Murray Williamson: We got along terrific. I was with him when he passed away on March 23, 1987. We were that close. I played three years for him. That relationship continued on for many, many years. He built the program.
Gopher Hockey: Did you develop lasting relationships with your Gopher teammates?
Murray Williamson: Lots of them. John Petroske, Herbie Brooks, Bob Turk, Jack McCartan, Mike Pearson – they were all spectacular. A fellow by the name of Bill Pedersen played one year for Maroosh and then decided his studies were more important in the school of architecture. He became one of the world's best architects. He's a famous alum that has developed buildings around the world.
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| Murray Williamson with granddaughter, Taylor Williamson, of the Gopher women's hockey program. |
Murray Williamson: Watching Dean and Taylor play were the highlights of my hockey careers. Dean wound up walking on with the Gophers – he was previously at Denver. He was really put to the test. He couldn't crack the lineup but he was a good player. And then finally, they had an injury up in Duluth. He got into the lineup and scored the game-winning goal in overtime in his first game. That was one of my Gopher highlights.
The other was watching Taylor come back from that devastating myasthenia gravis (a rare autoimmune neuromuscular disease) to score that goal to put them into the NCAA Tournament. Those two goals were the highlights.
Gopher Hockey: And now to see them team up to coach the Wayzata High School girls' varsity program, how did you take that news?
Murray Williamson: Oh, man. That is so wonderful. They are so close. Dean and Taylor are so close. They ride bikes together and they train together. That family is unbelievable. That's a thrill just to see their success and to work together.
Gopher Hockey: How important is it for Gopher Hockey alumni to stay in touch and to have a strong alumni base for the program?
Murray Williamson: It's the most important part of the program – retaining relationships with the alumni. That base is so important. If you have a strong alumni, they talk to their friends, they attend the games and all of a sudden your crowds are built back up again.
Gopher Hockey: Any advice for current Gopher Hockey players?
Murray Williamson: Always remember this, and I'm endorsing one of Herbie Brooks' great sayings: The name on the front is more important than the name on the back. You build relationships and you can always be proud of the fact that you were a Gopher Hockey player. That means something. It means more than if you're able to play on pro teams and travel around. To have the base of being a Gopher Hockey player is so important.
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