VANCOUVER – Heading down the home stretch of her varsity hockey career, the dynamic UBC defenseman and Cornell (NCAA) transfer,
Kelly Murray weighs in on leading the 'Birds to the U Sports Championships, her journey to Kazakhstan, and reflects on playing her final games in the 'Blue and Gold'.
LC: Your Thunderbirds have been the number one ranked team in U Sports for virtually the entire 2016-17 season. As you prepare to host the Canada West Championships and then head to the U Sports National Championships, what's it like being the team everyone wants to knock off the top of the mountain?
KM: I think it definitely makes a difference. Whenever we play teams they know they are playing the number one ranked team. That can either work in our favour or against us. Teams can either be intimated or have that extra fire to beat us. I think for our team, we were aware we were ranked number one, but we always saw ourselves as the underdogs in these situations.
LC: You traveled with the Canadian University team to Almaty, Kazakhstan for the FISU Games in women's hockey. Tell me a what stood out in that experience for you?
KM: I think just the standard of living. In Canada, Graham (UBC head coach
Graham Thomas) talks to us about how privileged we are and how thankful we should be about where we are in our lives. Being at UBC, being part of such a great team and having such great family support. Then you go over there and everyone is happy. They are really just enjoying their lives, but you just recognize how lucky you are just to be from Canada.
LC: As you wrap up your time here at UBC, hopefully with a long run in the playoffs, what goes through your mind?
KM: I think gratitude mainly. I enjoyed my time in the 'States' (Cornell), but I'm so thankful to the coaching staff here at UBC. I had a lot of injuries at Cornell and I think I really found my stride at UBC. I'm just so grateful to the program for allowing me to come in and be a part of this.
