Penn State Hockey: Forward Brett Murray Joining Nittany Lions

Penn State hockey’s offense is getting some midseason reinforcements as early signee and Buffalo Sabres draft pick Brett Murray (Toronto, Ontario) will forgo the remainder of his junior hockey season and join the third-ranked Penn State men’s ice hockey team at the start of the new year.

Murray will enroll a semester early at Penn State and join the Nittany Lions when they return from winter break. The 6-foot-5 inch forward played the first half of the 2016-17 season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League.

In 27 games with Youngstown, Murray collected 20 points on seven goals and 13 assists while turning in a plus-nine rating. His point total was good for third on the team while his 13 assists paced the squad and his goals were the third highest mark through the opening half of the season.

“At 6-5, Brett is an imposing power forward,” Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said in a release. “His ability to both think the game and get up and down the ice will allow him to make a smooth transition to college hockey.”

Murray was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Murray will wear No. 18 once he dresses for the Blue and White, who begin their second semester of play on the road in Columbus against ninth-ranked Ohio State on Jan. 6-7.