Burke Murphy was a standout forward for St. Lawrence University from 1992 to 1996. As a senior in the 1995-96 season, he was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, an honor given to the top college hockey player in the nation. He was also named a Second-Team All-American and a First-Team All-ECAC selection. He finished his collegiate career as the second all-time leading goal scorer for the Saints with 99 goals and accumulated 174 total points.

After college, Murphy, who was drafted by the Calgary Flames in 1993, went on to a professional career that included time in the American Hockey League (AHL), International Hockey League (IHL), and Europe. He played two seasons in the AHL and IHL before spending four seasons playing in Germany and Italy. He retired from professional hockey in 2002.