Curtis Murphy was a highly decorated defenseman for the University of North Dakota from 1994 to 1998. In his senior season, he served as an alternate captain and was recognized as one of the best players in college hockey. He was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 1998, an AHCA West First-Team All-American, and was named the WCHA Player of the Year. Throughout his four years with the Fighting Sioux, he consistently contributed offensively, amassing 32 goals and 86 assists for 118 points.

After college, Murphy was a highly successful professional hockey player, despite being an undrafted free agent. He played one game in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild during the 2002-03 season. Most of his career was spent in the minor leagues and in Europe, where he was a top offensive defenseman. He won two Calder Cups in the AHL and was named the AHL’s Best Defenseman twice, winning the Eddie Shore Award in both the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons. Murphy retired from professional hockey in 2015.