Happenings! Back in LA, Murphy Joins ATKM, Color Of Hockey

Happy Monday, Insiders!

Reporting back from the offices in El Segundo this morning, after returning from a week spent back in New York to see friends and family before the season started. Good to get home for a bit – first time for me for a full week in over a year – but excited to be back at it, just less than three weeks before the Kings depart for Melbourne, Australia to begin the preseason with an exciting, overseas trip! Was fortunate enough to get back just in time to watch El Segundo LL take home the Little League World Series, a nice nugget of information for an El Segundo resident!

First things first, appreciate all of the positive feedback on the 50 Facts article. One of my favorites of the summer and something that has been in the works now for a few weeks time. Linked HERE in case anyone missed it!

Not a ton of news missed last week, minus a few staffing changes at the AHL level with the Ontario Reign. Adam Brown will be the next goaltending coach with the Reign, succeeding Matt Millar, who held the position from 2019 – 2023. Millar joined the new goaltending department earlier this summer, taking on a scouting role under Bill Ranford, who was promoted to the front office following the end of the 2022-23 season. Brown has been with the Kings organization over the past two seasons in a development role, working with younger, drafted goaltenders playing outside of Los Angeles. He will now focus more on the tandem playing at the AHL level. Brown’s hire completes the goaltending staff for both the NHL and AHL clubs, as he joins Mike Buckley, who was hired as the NHL goaltending coach earlier this summer.

Looking around the Kings world, not a ton to report, but wanted to share a couple of content items that could be of interest.

Murphy Joins ATKM
First and foremost, Kings alum and Hockey Hall of Famer Larry Murphy joined All The Kings Men this week for the first time as a guest.

Murphy has coached in the 3ICE league over the last two seasons and won his first championship this summer, skating to a 2-1 victory in the championship game over Team Patrick, led by Craig Patrick. Murphy played with the Kings from 1980 – 1983, before a trade that I am certain none of you have any opinions about whatsoever. Murphy’s teammate in LA Jim Fox was also on the recording, with the pair reminiscing about their time as roommates and teammates.

Color Of Hockey
Sharing a couple of articles as well on Spanish-language broadcaster Francisco X. Rivera, and the Kings organization, who have spent time this summer working on growing the game in Mexico.

Rivera is a team consultant who is helping the Kings organization to grow the game in non-traditional regions. Rivera recently broadcast games at the 2023 Amerigol LATAM Cup, as he contributed towards growing the game. The Mexico Junior Kings program has also started to produce talented players who are representing the organization’s efforts across North America.

Articles from Bill Douglas from NHL.com HERE on the LATAM Cup and HERE on the Mexico Junior Kings Growth, both via NHL.com.

With that behind us, happy to be back and tuned in here until we officially get going. Any questions here on this fine start to the week? Fire em in the comments and I’m happy to answer as best as I can.