Ty Murchison will never forget FaceTiming his parents and sharing the news he had always dreamed of breaking to them. It was early morning back in Arizona, so I woke them up,” Murchison said. “I was choked up trying to get the words out. As soon as I told my mom, she was screaming for my dad to get in the room.”
The Road to the NHL
Ty Murchison, 22, grew up in California and was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft. After spending four seasons at Arizona State, he signed a two‑year entry‑level contract with the Flyers in March.
Debut Game Details
Murchison will take the ice on the Flyers’ third defensive pair Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks at Xfinity Mobile Arena at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSP. His mother Allyson and father Ken will be in attendance, joined by roughly 20 other fans.
A Growing Entourage
“I’ve got a big entourage coming from all over the place,” Murchison said Tuesday with a smile after his morning skate. “California, Arizona, Prince Edward Island.”
Performance in the AHL
With the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Murchison has tallied a goal, three assists and a plus‑9 rating in 21 games. He is 6‑foot‑2, shoots left, and plays with a hard‑nosed, fast‑paced, physical style that caught the attention of Flyers’ coaching staff.
Coaching Perspective
Rick Tocchet praised Murchison’s culture fit and competitiveness. “He’s the type of guy that’s a culture guy,” Tocchet said Monday. “I thought from Day 1 — and I don’t think we gave him an exhibition game — he was really impressing me in practice. He was pissing guys off, he was blowing up guys on cycles and stuff like that. And he has played really well. That’s what we’re trying to build around here, guys that are competitive. I don’t know how he’s going to play, but I do know he’s competitive and he skates well. I think he deserves a shot. That’s how we build the crest around here.”
Locker Room Impact
Tocchet added, “It’s good for the room, they see a guy like that working his way up, it puts other people on notice. That’s how you build the competitive balance in the locker room.”
The Flyers’ Defensive Depth
Murchison will become the ninth defenseman to suit up for the Flyers this season, joining Nick Seeler, Travis Sanheim, Emil Andrae, Jamie Drysdale, and Noah Juulsen on the defensive pairs.
Focus on Quick Play
Murchison said he enjoys “a fast‑paced, physical game,” and the Flyers hope his energy will help the team squash plays quickly—a defensive aspect Tocchet has been seeking improvement on.
Emotional Reflection
“Extremely emotional,” Murchison said Monday after practice. “There have been a lot of periods throughout the last 48 hours where I’ve been getting a bit choked up just thinking about it because I’ve been thinking about this every day of my life.”
Looking Ahead
With his NHL debut behind him, Murchison’s journey from a fifth‑round pick to a Flyers defenseman underscores the dedication and hard work required to reach the big league. The Flyers’ coaching staff and fans alike will watch his progress as he continues to develop his fast‑paced, physical play on the ice.
