Murray Williamson, a cornerstone of Minnesota hockey and former coach of two U.S. Olympic teams, has died at the age of 91. His passing marks the end of an era for a player and coach who substantially shaped the sport in both the state and the nation.
Born in Winnipeg, Williamson became a three-year letterwinner and standout player for the University of Minnesota Gophers. He earned the team’s MVP award and was named a first-team All-American in 1959, solidifying his place as one of the program’s all-time greats.
During his 76-game Gophers career, Williamson amassed 79 points, scoring 32 goals and contributing 47 assists. His senior year was especially strong,with 13 goals and 20 assists. Following his collegiate career, he competed in several seasons of semipro hockey before transitioning to coaching.
Williamson served as coach and general manager of the St. Paul Steers in the United States hockey League, laying the groundwork for his international coaching career. He went on to lead the U.S. national teams in the World Hockey Championships in 1967, 1969, and 1971. He also guided the U.S. olympic teams in both 1968 and 1972.
The 1968 Olympic team, featuring a young Herb Brooks who would later become a celebrated U.S. Olympic coach himself, finished sixth in Grenoble, France. Williamson’s 1972 Olympic team achieved greater success, securing a silver medal in Sapporo, Japan. Notably, over half of the players on that 1972 team hailed from Minnesota, a testament to the state’s growing hockey prowess-a story detailed in the 2006 book, “Striking Silver: The Untold Story of America’s Forgotten Hockey Team.”
