As the hockey team enters the 2005-06 season, Coach Brian Murphy knows the team can keep improving.
"In order to improve on last year, we have to find a way to be more consistent," Murphy said. "We had some quality games every weekend, but we had others that were winnable and we just didn't play well. We need to make sure that we get better every week."
Murphy enters his eighth season as the coach of the Jumbos, after playing on the team and serving as an assistant coach for three years. The coach, a defenseman during his playing days, was the captain of the Tufts 1994-95 team that won 11 games in a row and was one of the best in Tufts hockey history. He is the program's all-time leader in coaching victories with 76.
This season, with five freshmen on the roster, Murphy knows that for the team to be successful, strong leadership will be very important.
"All five freshmen are going to get significant playing time this year and we expect them to contribute right away," he said. "There is a lot of ability there, but with them getting thrown into the mix, there will be some growing pains. We have terrific senior leadership, so I don't think it will be much a problem."
The team has already been working hard, despite the winter having just begun.
"The seniors led some fall workouts, and I can tell they want this team to be good," Murphy said. "They are getting us ready to go."
While Murphy said he loves coaching the team, he also really enjoys the personal interaction with the players, both on and off the ice. It makes the prospect of the upcoming season even more exciting.
"I enjoy being around all of them, hearing about how their day is going and what classes are like," he said. "They are a real good group of quality student athletes."
