FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Fifteen years ago 1st Lt . Timothy Murphy wore the black and gold of the United State Army Military Academy when he skated for the Golden Knights at West Point. On Dec. 16, 2017 Maj. Timothy Murphy donned the black and gold again, this time skating for the first ever All-Army Hockey team.
Not only did he make the team, he became the assistant captain, and scored the first goal against their opponents, a Canadian Armed Forces team. Murphy, an Executive Officer with the Massachusetts' National Guard's 101st Field Artillery Regiment, was one of the only two National Guardsmen to make the team. He was also named the second star (similar to the Most Valuable Player) of the game in front of the packed crowd at the Watertown Municipal Arena, near Fort Drum, New York after the All-Army Team took home the 4-2 win.
"Whether its as on the ice or as my XO (Executive Officer) he has this innate ability to just motivate people," said Lt. Col Fiorentino, his commanding officer and teammate on the Massachusetts National Guard's Redlegs hockey team. "There are fast skaters and there smart players, Tim is both. He can skate fast, handles the puck well, and understands the game."
Murphy only had to submit his hockey resume to be invited to the tryout for the team. The "southie" (South Boston) native has been on skates since he was three years old, played hockey for his high school, preparatory school, and was invited to play for West Point.
After leaving the Active Army Murphy found a home in the Massachusetts National Guard, where he began skating with the Redlegs. His reputation on the ice led to him being tapped to apply for the All-Army hockey team. After a two-week tryout and practice sessions at Ft. Drum, N.Y. Murphy and the others took the ice against their Canadian opponents
"You should have been there it was so… electric," said Leah Murphy, his wife, a life-long hockey fan, originally from New Brunswick, Canada. "He moved like his was 22 again, you can tell he loved being on the ice, and you can tell how well he knows the game," said Leah.
Throughout the week of the try-outs and the game against the Canadian team Murphy said, "It was surreal at 38 years old to put the pads back on again, and skate at that level again."
He wasn't the only one to be caught up in the excitement. Leah also brought their two three-year-old son and infant daughter.
"So, I scored the first goal," Tim said matter-of-factly. But from the other side of the glass Leah recounts, "TIM SCORED THE FIRST GOAL!" and Thomas, their three-year-old son, "was so happy seeing the crowd cheer for 'Dada.'"
Throughout the game the capacity crowd was exhilarated by the back and forth action. At the beginning of the 3rd period the game was tied 2-2 and Murphy assisted on the tie-breaking goal.
Before the end of the 4-2 victory Tim and his son got to finish the game with another victory. He skated over to his family and shared a high-five with his son through the glass.
"You could tell they (the players from both teams) love hockey, but they got to represent their country doing something they love," said Leah. "It was really cool for my kids to see that too."
Murphy is scheduled to play at the All-Army's next match up this January at the Baltic Military Championships in Lithuania.
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