Matt Murray (ice hockey, born 1994)
A calm Canadian goaltender who stepped into the playoff fire as a rookie and backstopped the Pittsburgh Penguins to two consecutive Stanley Cups.
Born 1994 (age 32)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: May 25·Millennials
Biography
Matt Murray's early career reads like a sports fantasy: the unflappable rookie summoned from the minors to rescue a championship quest. When the Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltending faltered in the 2016 playoffs, the lanky netminder from Thunder Bay was tapped, displaying a preternatural calm that insulated the team from pressure. He didn't just fill in; he dominated, claiming the starting job and hoisting the Stanley Cup. The following year, he did it again, sharing duties but delivering crucial wins to secure a second straight title. Murray's story is one of meteoric rise and resilience, facing the immense challenge of following a legend and, for two glorious springs, writing his own legacy in the crease.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Matt was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup as the starting goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016, his rookie season.
- Won a second consecutive Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2017, sharing goaltending duties with Marc-André Fleury.
- Became the first goaltender in NHL history to win back-to-back Stanley Cups in his first two seasons.
- Posted a shutout in his NHL debut on December 19, 2015, against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Did You Know?
He stands 6'4" but was not drafted by a major junior hockey league in Canada; he played Junior A hockey in the OJHL before major junior.
He is an avid reader and has mentioned enjoying fantasy novels, including the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series.
His father once built a backyard ice rink for him to practice on during winters in Ontario.
He wore number 30 in Pittsburgh as a tribute to his childhood goaltending idol, Martin Brodeur.
“The biggest thing is just trying to stay even-keeled. You can't get too high, you can't get too low.”
