Greenville Swamp Rabbits: A Talk With Jake Murray
On a weekend that honored the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ history, they became the Johnstown Chiefs for a pre-season game on October 11th, 2025, against their old foes, the Wheeling Nailers. Olde City Sports Network sat down with defenseman Jake Murray to talk about his time in the OHL, making those connections that last a lifetime, and what his off-season training regimen consists of.
Before turning professional, Murray, a Mississauga, Ontario native, spent four years in the OHL with the Kingston Frontenacs and donned the “A” all four seasons. In October 2022, Murray was traded from Kingston to Guelph Storm for a 2024 4th Round Pick, 2025 3rd Round Pick, and a 2026 3rd Round Pick. During his time with Kingston, Murray dressed in 131 games and tallied eight goals and 46 assists. During his lone season with the Storm, he played in 64 games, scoring four goals and recording 34 assists. In that lone season, he was an alternate captain. “A lot of people would call the OHL the premier development league in the world. It's a league where not only are you getting instruction in the development of the skills side, but the personal side as well. You're getting pushed when you leave home at 16,17. So, they're not only teaching how to be a hockey player, but they're also teaching how to be a better person. That was my first experience being on my own, learning how to be responsible for all my own school stuff, my financials, not that we were making much, but making what little we got, work. You make a lot of great friends and connections with some coaches that you've played for. Two of my assistant coaches for my final year are now coaching overseas, one's in Norway and one's in Germany. So, it kind of opens that book and opens multiple doors for a career after hockey. Even if pro hockey doesn't work out, there's always a lot of your old teammates and friends who are hiring and all these different fields, and those doors into other professions are open as well.”
Photo Credit: Stacey Grubich/Olde City Sports Network
Playing in the OHL, players form lifelong connections, and Murray played alongside Lehigh Valley Phantoms Forward Zayde Wisdom and Jacksonville Icemen defenseman Adrien Beraldo. Murray discusses what it was like to connect with both players. “He [Beraldo] was in his third year, my rookie year, so having an older guy like him around was great. He stepped up for guys a lot and wasn't scared to defend his teammates. So having that example to kind of see and understand what it's supposed to be like is great. Wiz [Wisdom] is a phenomenal story. Worked for everything he's got, and just being able to see him grow, get drafted, sign an NHL contract, and be able to support his family and help his little brother and his mom, and he's a guy that just very tenacious, even though he had his contract, was getting paid, he still went out. He was working for more and wanted to get better. He's still playing in the AHL, and I do think he will play in the NHL one day.”
Coming into the professional scene, Murray played two games with the Cincinnati Cyclones. The following season in 2023-2024, he signed an AHL contract with the Texas Stars and dressed in 19 games. He was assigned to the Idaho Steelheads and played 26 games that season, and tallied two goals and eight assists. He talks about what it was like to be in the professional realm for the first time. “I like to look at my time in Texas. I had an opportunity in front of me, didn't make good on it, and find myself back in the ECHL, and I get to reflect on that time. I see how hard those coaches tried for me to help me be comfortable, help me stay at that level. Just be able to look back and understand what I didn't do and when that opportunity comes again, what I have to do next time to stay. I can't say that I've had a bad experience, and I've been very fortunate to play some great teams and played for some really good coaches along the way, too.”
In the 2024-2025 season, Murray tallied a career season with the Bloomington Bison. He dressed in all 72 games and notched five goals with 29 assists. Coming off a season like that, there are skills and mindsets that players take with them into the next season. “I think the number one thing is confidence. I kind of went into an unknown situation with an expansion team, and I just bet on myself, believed in myself, and I took on a leadership role as a second-year guy, which was super unique. I'm glad I had that opportunity and learned a lot from it. Taking that confidence that I can go into any situation, fit in, mesh with the guys, and contribute to a winning team. This year, I think we have a phenomenal group with lots of skills. So, being a part of a pro team like that, first time in a couple of years, and combining that with the confidence I'd take from last year, I think it's going to be a recipe for great success for a group.”
Off-season training is vital for every player’s development and to stay in shape for the upcoming season. Murray shares what his summer training is and what mindset he takes from it. “I think I'd say probably pretty standard in the gym four times during the week, fifth time Wednesday's a track day, and I normally skate two or three times, two dedicated skill sessions, and then a Friday scrimmage at the gym. Keep it a little lighter at the end of the week, but also put yourself in a game situation and try to train the instincts, too. That's I feel like the one thing that's hardest to train in the summers. The instincts and the IQ side of the game. So yeah, four times in the gym, once on the track, and two or a few times in the ace.”
Having patience and mobility is important for a defenseman. In that position, the player is seeing most of the ice to defend the netminder, team, and the net. “Mobility number one. I mean, guys just keep getting faster and quicker. The game is very fast north-south, but so many guys are super shifty and quick east-west, so being able to move, be mobile on your edges, and be comfortable on your feet. It's a key to defend now, really. Same with the other side of the game. See guys like Lane Hutson, Cale Makar, and Adam Fox. They're so dynamic, so unpredictable. So just having that aspect of your game where you're not too predictable, you're not easy to read, mobility is big for that, and then patience, too. There are a lot of teams that, as much as they do like to play fast, they don't force it, so you have to recognize when there is a time to slow it down, play a little more control, slow the pace down a little bit, and patience is a virtue. Being able to not panic, especially with a little bit of pressure, ultimately, what's going to lead to a lot of successful first passes.”
Murray signed with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits after his rights were acquired from the Bloomington Bison at the ECHL future consideration deadline.
- Samantha Wismer/Olde City Sports Network
- Photo Credit/Stacey Grubich/Olde City Sports Network
