Evening star., 1938-12-18

a swell story - another Patrick in hockey.
Let him take shot at it,
Thus it was that Murray played with the
Rovers that winter of 1855, and, indeed,
played so well that the following season he
was promoted to the Philadelphia Ramblers,
the Rangers farm team in the international
League And that's when he got the big league
call Strangely it was another injury to Babe
Pratt that gave Muzz his chance in the
National Hockey League; the Rangers called
him in to fill in for the injured Pratt.
After his first game with the major leaguers.
reporters swarmed into the dressing room to
ask him how he liked playing in such fast
competition He was neither awed nor excited.
Il like it pretty we'll, he said. Il like it
because a smart fellow can use his brains
up here"
It lust never occurred to the cocky kid
that maybe the other guys would not only be
smarter but faster and stronger and better
than he. For ever since he first clenched his
fists and gritted his teeth and licked the kid
across the street. and outran the guy around
the corner, and outjumped all the boys at
school, Muzz has been the best in whatever
he has tried to do.
Muzz started collecting various and as
sorted championships at an early and, what
many would consider. unlucky age. He was
thirteen when he won the Daily Colonlst'
bicycle road race, an eight -and-a-half-mile
event. in British Columbia Since then he has
won thirty-odd bicycle trophies; played with
the Canadian national basketball champions;
won the title of most outstanding basketball
player in the Dominion: held the high-school
all-around track and field honors for three
years in row: fought his way to three major
amateur boxing titles; and. in his spare time.
starred with his high-school football and
lacrosse teams.
1t is only natural that he should be cocky
kid But, despite his supreme confidence IN
himself, he can take orders. No matter how
much it hurts.
For instance once when he was competing
in the 88O-yard run in the provincial cham
pionships back home. his coach, Arch Mckin-
non. told him to take it easy in the elimlna-
tiontrials. Don't try to win, " said McKinnon.
lust finish third so you II qualify for the finals.
Then you won't let em know how fast you
are and you'll save your energy for the finals. "
Muzz frowned his displeasure at the thought
of not winning, but when the race was run
he followed orders. stayed behind the leaders,
paced himself properly and wound up fresh
third.
Nice work, kid McKinnon said. pound
ing him on the back, you ran that race
perfectly"
Muzz looked up at the stands. which were
aflutter with Victoria's prettiest high-school
lassies Yeah. he growled. yeah. but those
danes up there don't know that
He didn't like to lose even a preliminary
heat in view of the sweet young things who
have cheers only for the winner.
But did we say that Muzz wins everything
he goes into?
Well, that's not precisely true. He failed
once Here's how:
Four or FIVE years ago, he and his fellow
townsman, Doug Peden. of the bike riding
Pedens, shared practically every bike title in
Western Canada. They became great pals
and in the 1894 British Columbia board-track
championships they struck a deal whereby
Muzz helped Doug win the two-mile title
and Doug vice-versaed and helped him win
the five-mile championship.
Well, this firm friendship has endured
through the years, and during the summer of
1897 Muzz stuck around Victoria with the
Pedens and trained on bike with them each
day. When it came time for them to go to
Montreal for the opening of the six-day-bike-