DAUPHIN SHOULD RALLY BEHIND MARLIN MURRAY

In my time that I've been associated with Junior 'A' hockey, I feel as though I've been fortunate to live in the two best markets in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

To me, if you don't want to play, coach, or watch Junior 'A' hockey in Yorkton; then you aren't cut out to be a player, coach, fan, etc.  And, most people in Yorkton are not cut out to be fans, but that's another topic for another day.

The same is true in Dauphin, where Marlin Murray is taking a bit of heat this weekend for losing his mind on the referees during his team's series with the Winnipeg Saints.

I'll talk about the Dauphin market shortly, but I think I want to tread lightly on a subject that bothers me a little.  When it comes to coaches and their disputes with referees, I think it's important for the refs to remember that the coaches' jobs are on the line every time a call goes against them.  Let's be honest.  Sometimes referees have bad games just like coaches and players do. If they didn't, they'd be officiating in the National Hockey League and not the Junior 'A' ranks.  While I admire referees who work full-time jobs, then hop in their vehicles to travel, sometimes for a few hours, to work a game and then travel a few more hours just to get home for a few hours' sleep and then start anew all over again; I do feel that it's important to stress that if a coach is on the edge with his team (which might not be playing well) and then sees his team as being picked on (rightly or wrongly) he may have a moment where he comes unglued.  After all, who's to say if his team loses; perhaps the coach finds himself out of work with a wife and children also out on the street with him.  Now, that's what all Junior 'A' coaches sign up for.  They know they are going to be fired eventually; but it doesn't make the situation any easier.  So, I bring this up so that all of us can cut a guy some slack sometimes if he happens to 'snap'.  The ref gets to have a bad game and go home to his full-time job the next day.  A coach may have a bad game, then have another bad game because the players are not sharp, then another bad game because the ref wasn't at his best and guess what?  All of a sudden you have three bad games in a row and in a playoff series, it's now 3-0.  And, who's to say you don't get unlucky and maybe get a referee who has two bad games in a row?  I'm not accusing; but rather setting the table for something.

In the case of Murray, I haven't followed the situation all that close other than to know his team lost a playoff series they shouldn't have.  I don't know what the reasons are.  And, to me it doesn't matter.  I'll use the same analogy on Murray that I used on Jamie Fiesel in Melville.  Murray's teams since he's been in Dauphin have been at, or near, the top of the MJHL every single season.  Murray's teams are competent every single season.  And, that's all you can ask.  But, furthermore, I think he has more wins than any other coach that has served there.  So, a first round playoff exit (while a crisis to him) shouldn't be a big deal to fans or executive members.  You can't win every year.

The year I lived in Dauphin (1995-96), the Kings were a powerhouse.  In fact, if I was to compare rosters I'd say that team had more talent than any other Dauphin team (2010 RBC final club included).  I still remember a lot of the players (Brian Kostur, Richard Chartrand, Brent Wishart, John Guthrie, Neil Andruschak, Jaret Harms, Duane Clarkson, Mike Jelencic, Ian Munro, Lee Erickson, Josh Morino, and Eric Pateman to name a bunch).  That team pretty much rolled over for Neepawa in the second round.  I couldn't believe it.  Since that time, the Kings have gone through a who's who list of head coaches who, in my opinion, all under achieved in a market that should be a favorable one for players to want to play in.  Not to mention the amenities the town has for young people when you compare it to other small communities in Manitoba.  I blame the Dauphin Kings Executive (which has also had a revolving door of people involved) for not getting it right.  Not getting it right until they hired the emotional Murray.

Marlin's not perfect.  He wears his heart on his sleeve and the entire Junior 'A' hockey world (and then some now!) knows that.  Personally, I like the passion.  I'd rather have a Marlin Murray than a guy who stands behind the bench looking like he's making plans to shovel the driveway when he gets home.  And, the Dauphin Kings have had a few coaches that have looked exactly like that in the 12 years or so since 1996 up until Murray's hiring.  Now, the devil's advocates will say there needs to be a happy balance.  I say good luck with that.  How many of the best in what they do are 'down the middle' type of guys?  A few.  But, not many. In Murray's case, I say you take the good with the bad because the scale is heavily weighted on the side of good.  And, like Fiesel in Melville, if there is a change behind the bench in Dauphin; Marlin won't be out of work long.  He's had way too much success.  More success than any other Dauphin coach.  So why mess with that?

As far as the suspension goes, I don't really have an issue with the 12 games when I look at in an isolated manner.  But, when I compare it to some of the other suspensions handed down, I have to say I'm puzzled.  The original penalty in the hazing case for the Neepawa head coach was in the single digits.  To me, that's way more serious.  And, the Swan Valley coach last year was only given single digits when Jesse Enns came out as an extra attacker and steam rolled an opposing player that could have resulted in a life altering injury.  Now, I'm not suggesting Enns was told to do what he did, but if you are putting an extra guy on the ice for a goal, he's not it!

Either way, the suspension is what it is.  And, the do-gooders out there will be highly critical of Marlin for his actions.  But, those same do-gooders should also remember how happy they were watching a championship team in 2010 and that wouldn't likely have occured without Murray as the coach.  And, I'm betting it won't happen again any time soon if he's replaced.  It's not easy to get that special coach who has a knack for winning.

Here's to hoping the Kings play well in their first 11 games next year and then Murray comes back and, once again, leads them to great success.