Coyotes select Connor Murphy with first round pick
Jun 25, 2011, 1:27 AM | Updated: 2:27 am
GLENDALE -Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today the team has selected defenseman Connor Murphy with the 20th overall pick in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft at XCEL Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The 6-foot-3, 195 pound Murphy recorded 3-3-6 in just 14 games, due to injury with the United States National U-18 Team. Before moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan for the U.S. NTDP, he appeared in 35 games with the Columbus Jr. Blue Jackets, recording 7-11-18.
The 18-year old native of Boston, Mass. led all U.S. defensemen with three goals and a plus-seven rating in six games at the 2011 IIHF U-18 World Championship. He was named Player of the Game after he scored the gold-medal winning overtime goal, his second of the game, helping Team USA defeat Team Sweden 4-3.
His father Gord, was drafted in 1985 (189th overall) by the Philadelphia Flyers and went on to play 14 years in the NHL, with the Flyers, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers. He is currently an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers.
