Ask the Sharks: Murray's Answers by Alison High / San Jose Sharks

On Saturday night against Edmonton, Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray scored the game-winning goal --- his second tally of the season --- and sealed the Sharks eighth-straight victory. It was a fitting way to end an epic week for the 29-year-old who was named to the Swedish Olympic Team only six days prior.





SJSHARKS.com caught up with the hard hitting native of Bromma Sweden and spoke with him about his preseason hat trick, his lifestyle and his favorite home cooked meals. The 6-foot-3, 240 pound defenseman had some funny stories to tell us while answering questions that were submitted by Sharks fans. Check out his answers to your best questions in the following segment of "Ask the Sharks."



1.As a defenseman what did you work on the most to get your game up to the level it is today and what do you work on to maintain that level of play?

For me, to get to this level, it really was my skating. After that, you try to get better at everything; at all different areas of the game. Whatever your weaknesses are, in this League, they'll expose you. It's really your overall game that you've got to work on.



2.Who has helped you the most as you came into the NHL and found a permanent spot on the Sharks roster?

I actually think (former Sharks coach) Rob Zettler. I sat out of a lot of games as a healthy scratch my first two or three years. He had me there after each practice working on different things, especially skating. So as far as when I got to the Sharks and then got a permanent spot, I'd have to say it was Rob because of all of his help with my skating. But that's a tough question to answer because so many people have made a difference in my career.



3.How did it feel to get your first hat-trick with the Sharks during the preseason?

I was almost more embarrassed than happy about it (laughs). I haven't scored many regular season goals so there were a lot of jokes going around there for awhile. Obviously it was a lot of fun, but I'd like to get it at a more important time than the preseason.



They actually made a little trophy --- we get little trophies for different things and when you score a milestone goal and get hat tricks --- usually you don't get them for preseason, but they said that it will probably never happen again so they made one for me with the pucks.



4.Have you lost any teeth playing hockey?

No. Only chipped teeth actually. I've knocked out other people's teeth though.



5.Have you ever had boxing lessons?

No. Well, actually this summer I had a little bit as part of my training. But I really haven't gotten to use it this year.



6.What's your favorite home cooked meal?

Wow. That is so tough. I'm probably going to have to go with --- there are so many! Honestly, I've got a ton of home cooked meals. Right now I'm going to have to go with wallen bergare. It's a little bit tough to explain. It's very finely ground veal that's made into patties with spices and stuff like that. It's served with mashed potatoes, peas and gravy. It's a very homey and delicious meal. My mom makes a fabulous one, but usually my younger brother makes it.



7.Do you have any special plans for your upcoming 30th birthday?

Those plans have been in the works for a long time. There will probably be a gathering for friends and family in Sweden in the summertime. It will be sometime in July. The way I like to do it, it would be tough to do during the season.



8.Were you a bully when you were little?

No I really wasn't. I was pretty nice. I was more helpful for people against bullies. I think it was that --- especially growing up in school --- my older brother was a bully so nobody would touch me. I think I got one snowball thrown at me in first grade and that guy had to answer to my older brother who was in third grade at the time. And since then no one has touched me.



It was the same way later in school. You get initiated when you start seventh grade and you get thrown in the lake with your clothes on. So my brother was two years old than me and when they tried to do it to him, it didn't work too well. So the rumors came around and when I was in seventh grade they didn't do it to me. I almost felt left out.



9.What is it like being named to the Swedish Olympic Team?

Right now I try not to think about it a lot. I'm trying to stay focused on San Jose. Honestly, I don't know if it has really sunk in yet. When you first find out, you get very excited --- it's been a dream since I was a little kid. I get more excited every time someone talks about it, but I'm trying to not look too far ahead and just focus on now. Obviously this is my job and this is what counts right now. I've got to be on top of my game with the Sharks. I think it will really hit me hard once I arrive in Vancouver.





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