Matt Murley
A college hockey star turned NHL forward who reinvented himself as a sharp, popular voice in the modern sports media landscape.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: December 17·Generation X
Biography
Matt Murley was a Hobey Baker Award finalist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted him. The American left wing, born in 1979, played a hard-nosed, physical style in the NHL and AHL, though his time at the highest level was brief. His second act placed him at the center of hockey culture. He became a central figure on Barstool Sports' 'Spittin' Chiclets' podcast and its 'Game Notes' spin-off, delivering analysis with a former pro's candor. His commentary bridges the gap between the ice and the audience, making him a trusted expert in hockey betting and commentary.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Matt was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named a First Team All-American and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2003 while playing for RPI.
- Played 62 games in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Phoenix Coyotes, recording 13 points.
- Became a featured hockey betting analyst and personality on the influential 'Spittin' Chiclets' podcast network.
Did You Know?
He was drafted 51st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
In his final season at RPI, he led the nation in scoring with 60 points in 38 games.
He and former teammate Colby Armstrong co-host the 'Chiclets Game Notes' podcast.
“You have to be ready to adapt your game to whatever role the team needs.”
