Action shot provided courtesy of Michael Rice SuburbanOneSports.com: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f1064915949 (Additional photos provided by PW ice hockey)
By GORDON GLANTZ
When it came time for a letter of reference for the Army, PW’s Tim Murphy Jr. didn’t have to think twice.
He turned to his coach, Dave Cox, who was beyond honored.
“Absolutely,” he confirmed, adding that he was “incredibly proud of the young man (Murphy) has become. I couldn’t be more proud than I am of him.
“He’s the kindest kid you will probably ever meet. He is adored by everyone he meets. He’d probably give you the shirt off his back.”
Although Cox is in his first year behind the bench of the PW varsity squad (the 31-year-old’s resume includes three seasons as the middle school coach), the coach-player relationship extends to the club level with a team out of the Wissahickon rink in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia.
But there is something more unique about the bond.
Murphy is one of three PW skaters who work alongside Cox and assistant coach Tom Lyons as volunteer firefighters at Barren Hill Volunteer Fire Company in Lafayette Hill.
“He is someone I respect and really look up to in life,” said Murphy of Cox. “He’s a great coach and a great guy.
“I’m definitely closer with my coaches, and have a way better relationship with them, because I’m at the firehouse and on the ice, too. I have even bigger respect for them from it.”
A junior in high school by virtue of being held back in first grade due to ADHD and dyslexia, Murphy is actually 18 years old.
As such, he is transitioning from the “junior firefighter” status held by teammates Jayson Yoder, a junior, and Danny Guller, a freshman, who joined a few months ago.
He will also be able to spend this coming summer in boot camp before returning to PW for his senior year, which is a big reason why he chose the Army over the Marines.
“It’s something I always thought I would do,” he said. “My grandfather was in the military. I was always interested, like in war movies. I always wanted to serve my country and do what I could do.”
Murphy is marching on a trail blazed by his grandfather, Joseph Francis Murphy Jr., who was drafted in the Army in 1969 and then fought in Vietnam before being honorably discharged in 1971.
He then continued his service to community by joining the Philadelphia Fire Department, attaining the rank of Lieutenant, before his death in 2011.
Murphy’s great-grandfather, Joseph Sr., served in the 101st Airborne in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
“He was proud to have served in his father’s footsteps,” said Murphy.
Long-Range Plans
Life circumstances prevented Tim Sr., who is PW’s team manager (mom, Jaclyn, is the treasurer), from serving in the military, but he went to a life of service as a medic in South Philly.
Together, they joined Barren Hill as volunteers in 2020.
Long-range, after his time in the military is over, Murphy has no doubts about what will come next as a career.
“I want to become a firefighter,” he said, explaining that volunteering now “is a good way to get my foot in the door and give back to my community.”
He added: “I grew up around it. You look up to your dad, your grandparents. I always went to my grandfather’s station when I was younger.”
Standing Tall
Murphy, who was one of the top scoring defensemen in the league last year, is back at his more natural position of forward this year.
Because of his size – 5-4, 150 pounds – he relies on catch-me-if-you-can skating, smooth passing skills and penalty killing to survive.
But he stands tall in another way, as a caring big brother to 5-year-old Jameson, as well.
In addition to autism (autismsociety.org), Jameson suffers from the rare genetic disorder, KGB (wwwkgbfoundation.org).
“It has made us closer as a family,” said Murphy, who tapes his stick red to help raise awareness. “It has opened my eyes more, having a brother with special needs.”
And it all folds into the mindset of a team-first player who has chosen a life of service.
“It’s about putting others before yourself,” he said. It is a special mindset. Not everyone can do it. You can get on that truck tomorrow, going to save stranger, and not come back home. It definitely is humbling. Putting others before yourself is something that is overlooked.”
Making Memories
Cox, who works for a marketing company, meaning he is a double volunteer as a firefighter for 17 years and a coach for seven, does not want to put any limitations on what his team can accomplish.
“We are definitely not rebuilding,” he said. “We have high expectations. When I took over, every player got a form online and every one of them said they want to win a championship and be successful and have fun while doing it.
“I’m happy to get back. I’m just trying to give everything that this program gave me. I’m trying to make sure these kids realize how fortunate they are to be playing hockey for their school. They will have memories that will last a lifetime.”
Learning Leadership
Cox relies heavily on the steadying influence of Lyons, an ex-Navy man who also volunteers at Barren Hill.
The two coached together at the club level at Wissahickon and developed a close bond born from all the traveling involved.
Lyons now runs the defense for PW.
“(Lyons) puts it the best,” said Cox. “He’s there to push them out of their comfort zone. We’re there to let them experience, try, fail and get back up again and succeed. We are just a group of coaches who want the best for each and every player.”
Cox noted that team president Bob Shoemaker is a volunteer at Spring Mill Fire Co., where he was a past chief and that, while only three players are actually volunteer firemen, the whole team bought into a concept of community service with a food drive.
PW currently has 14 players on varsity and a junior varsity team that has enough talent to draw from if needed. The middle school cupboard is well-stocked with two teams.
Like Murphy, Yoder is the son of a Philadelphia firefighter, Scott Yoder.
Although Yoder is a depth player in the program, splitting time with varsity and JV, Cox had high praise.
“He’s a hard-worker, on the ice and off the ice,” said Cox. “He’s very respectful and does whatever we ask of him. He gives 110 percent, on the ice or in the firehouse.”
While he describes the whole team as a “special group,” Cox is comforted to know that he has volunteer firefighters among the coaches, the support staff, in the bleachers and on the ice.
“I think they learn leadership,” he said of the three skaters. “They learn how to be part of a different team, and I think learn to handle stress pretty well.
“Giving back to your community is a very special trait. You learn a lot, and it can humble you.”
The ‘American’ Way
As for the season, Murphy sees no reason why PW can’t be a legitimate contender in the American Division of the SHSHL in 2022-23.
“I think we can be a top team in this league,” said Murphy, who has 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) in 6 games. “I think we can go far.”
Murphy was encouraged by a 7-4 loss to Abington in a game that was 4-4 after two periods, and which PW missing some key players.
“If we had everyone, I think we could have won that game,” he said.
Nonetheless, through four games, Abington sits atop the American Division at 4-0, and is followed by 3-1 Wissahickon.
In a wild one, Abington topped Wissahickon, 12-10. Notably, Abington’s Matthew Kramer scored 8 goals and assisted on another. He has 16 points (11 goals, 5 assists) in just 3 games.
For PW, the pair of Matthew Flynn (10 goals, 7 assists) and David Branigan (6 goals, 10 assists) were off to hot starts.
Will Hussa (9 goals, 3 assists in 4 games) and Danny Hussa (8 goals, 2 assists in 3 games) are pacing Wissahickon in the early going.
PW (4-2 overall) is 3-1 in the American Division following a 7-5 win over Quakertown (2-2 league, 3-2 overall) on Dec. 7.
Springfield, a new team, is 0-4.
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