Introducing Matt Murley

You have played several seasons in both NHL and KHL. How do you compare these two leagues?

Both NHL and KHL are very good leagues. It’s very hard to compare any league to NHL, that’s the best league with the best players in the world. KHL has come on really far away in their six years of existing and the skill level of the league is great.

Why did you decide to leave USA and join Amur Khabarovsk in 2008?

I played last few years in AHL and was the leading scorer in my team and I only got into a few games in NHL so I wanted to make a step forward in my career and try something different. And I moved to KHL.

How would you rate your last season with Medvescak?

It was a great season for me in Zagreb. I really didn’t know much about Zagreb and Croatia before I signed the contract to Medvescak.  It was an amazing place to live. We were a great team not only on the ice, but also off the ice so we had really a fun year. Personally I had a really good year too, it was a wonderful season for me.  Hopefully everything will work out the same in Bratislava, as it did in Zagreb.

Why did you sign contract to Slovan?

I have heard only great things about the club and the city of Bratislava. It’s always important for me to spend time in a nice city. Slovan played good last year, fought for play-offs till the end of the regular season! They are very competitive team and I’m really looking forward to playing in a great KHL team. It’s a great opportunity for me and I believe that I will help the team to get to the play- offs in 2014/2015 season!

You played also in Bratislava against Slovan. What impressions did you have from this game?

I remember that game well, it was the final regular season game of the previous season. You have a great new arena, nice places near the stadium. The atmosphere in Bratislava was great, fans cheered all the time, and it’s always exciting for players to play in such a loud crowd!

What have you been up to these days?

I have been training for last two months, doing a lot of weight training and running. I will start on Friday and be on the ice probably three times a week.

What number wil you wear in Slovan?

Hopefully I’ll wear number 19. It is my lucky number and I have had it since junior hockey and collegue hockey. I always had good seasons with number nineteen. It’s a kind of superstitious thing.

The most scoring leaders have worn number nineteen in Slovan? Will you try to do the same?

(smile) I didn’t know that. I always try to do my best, score as much as I can and help the team to win many games! Hopefully I do the same like players before me with number nineteen in Slovan.

Do you know anyone in our locker room?

Yes, I know your defender Vladimír Mihálik, I played with him in Sweden, Timra in 2012/2013 season. He is a great guy, and it can help me in the beginnings with my stay in Bratislava.  And I know really well Tomas Surovy, who will also play for Slovan the next season. We played together in Pittsburg from 2002/2003 season and in AHL team at Wilkes-Barre. I talked to him a little bit  during the last season, when he played in Minsk. He is a nice guy and I’m looking forward to playing with Tomas again after ten years.

When will you come to Bratislava?

I still don’t know the certain date but I think it will be at the beginning of July, when our preparation on ice starts.

Will you be in Bratislava alone?

My girlfriend is from northern Sweden, where she is also studying, so most likely she will be coming with me to Bratislava.

It will be your third season in KHL. What are your goals?

My number one goal is to get to the play-offs and then anything can happen. Slovan is very competitive team and I think we will be able to achieve that.