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by Allison Cho
Mackenzie Murphy’s journey through hockey is defined by passion, perseverance, and drive to grow the game at every level. From a childhood spent competing with his big family to representing Syracuse Club Hockey and launching The Hockey House, his story tells one of leadership, adaptability, and innovation. Whether he’s balancing academics and athletics or building a platform to reshape club hockey coverage, Mackenzie has continued to find ways to elevate the sport he loves. Now, as a key figure at Celly Hockey Co., he remains dedicated to fostering hockey culture, and at the same time, he’s carving out opportunities for players and fans alike. His path is a testament to the power of storytelling, community, and staying true to one's passion.Â
Growing up in a household with seven hockey-playing siblings sounds like a storybook upbringing for an athlete. Can you share what that dynamic was like and how it shaped your passion for the game?
The dynamic was something I will forever be grateful for. On any given day, there was always some combination of knee hockey, street hockey, and wiffle ball. Growing up that way, I just assumed everyone had the same experience–it was like PE class 24/7. We did everything as a family. It was interesting going from the little brother in the house to all of a sudden being the oldest kid in the house once my older brothers went off to college. I went from never winning those knee hockey games to always winning those knee hockey games. Â
Playing multiple sports like lacrosse and baseball often brings a unique perspective to athletes. How did those experiences contribute to your overall athletic development and success in hockey?
Playing sports was just what we did. Once one season ended, another one began. Playing different sports helped me develop as a leader. In each sport I played, I had a different role on the team, which gave me a better perspective as I got older, was in a leadership position, and had to understand the role everyone on the team plays. I also learned at a young age the importance of having endurance. No matter what sport I played, I never wanted to be the guy who ran out of gas. Sports like soccer and lacrosse had a huge impact on how I approached hockey.Â
High school hockey in New Hampshire has its own competitive edge and culture. What was your experience like playing at that level, and how did it prepare you for the next steps in your career?
High school hockey in North Conway, New Hampshire had that Friday Night Lights feeling. My older brothers were on the first Kennett High School team to win a state championship. They went on to win three of the next four titles, so my age group grew up with the expectations and dreams to do the same someday. Playing high school hockey taught me the importance of community and brotherhood. I had played with most of those guys since I was four or five years old, getting to play high school hockey with them was something I’ll never forget. Putting on the Kennett jersey, you took great pride in the community you represented, something that carried over when I got to college, the opportunity to put on the Syracuse jersey.
Junior hockey and prep school both offer distinct opportunities for growth. Can you walk us through your decision to pursue prep school and how that path influenced your journey?
I was very involved in high school. I played three sports, was the student body president, and a member of several different clubs and honor societies. It was easy for me to choose going to prep school versus doing a year of juniors. I always liked the structure that school provided and thought a place like Bridgton Academy would better prepare me for college. I’ll forever be grateful for my time at BA, because without my year there, I would’ve never found a home at Syracuse. My guidance counselor recommended I look into Syracuse because she knew I wanted to play hockey somewhere and major in communications. I had never heard of the Newhouse School until then, and I had no idea Syracuse even had a hockey team. It ended up being a perfect fit for me.
Representing the Syracuse Club Hockey team must have been a special chapter in your life. What did it mean to you to wear that jersey, and what advice would you share with players considering the club hockey route?
Getting the opportunity to represent Syracuse University was an experience I’ll never forget. There were a lot of ups and downs behind the scenes, but I learned a lot. We were constantly looking to gain more respect from the university and constantly striving to be one of the best run club sports on campus. During my sophomore year, I had the opportunity to design our new jerseys, so being able to put on the Syracuse script was a true honor. In terms of players considering the club hockey route, I would tell them that they’ll have the opportunity to make the most of their experience. Club hockey is very much player driven. The most successful teams are filled with players looking to leave their program better than they found it.
Syracuse University is known for its strong academics and athletic programs. Why did you choose Syracuse, and how did your time in the communications program shape your career aspirations?
I chose Syracuse University after taking a tour in January of 2019. It was out of my comfort zone in terms of size and distance from home, but I immediately fell in love with the school once I stepped foot on campus. I remember it being dark and gray, and since it was winter break, there were no students on campus, which didn’t matter. I loved the rink, and I loved what Newhouse had to offer. Once I got accepted, I knew I’d have a spot on the hockey team in the fall–it was a no brainer. Newhouse provided me with plenty of tools, but it was my experiences outside of the classroom that I think shaped my career aspirations. I enjoyed my time as a social media intern for the athletic department. Between my work in the classroom and work with the athletic department, I knew I wanted to work in social media.
Social media plays a huge role in sports today. How did managing Syracuse Club Hockey’s social platforms prepare you for your current roles and responsibilities?
I had previously managed social media accounts for the sports teams I played on. When I did it in high school, it was more of a hobby. I wanted to promote my high school hockey team to try and get more fans to our games. When I did it for the lacrosse team, it was more about having a fun outlet when the season wasn’t going our way. When I got the keys to the social media for @syracusehockey I quickly discovered how big of a recruiting tool it could be for the program. TikTok was becoming increasingly popular at the time, and I used it to tell the story of the Syracuse Club Hockey team. The role with Syracuse Club Hockey helped me develop the storytelling aspect of social media. Every brand has a story to tell and it’s going to affect what gets posted and how it gets posted.Â
Balancing academics, competitive hockey, and building The Hockey House is no small feat. How did you manage it all, and what lessons did you take away from that experience?
Sticky notes! In my room in college, my desk would be littered with sticky notes to keep track of everything I needed to do. For the most part, I fell back on my experiences at Bridgton Academy. Every night, we had two hours of study hall with no phones. So when it came down to business, I would set a timer for two hours and lock my phone away. The quiet floors of the library were also a go-to spot on Sunday afternoons if I really had to get to work. It was all about finding balance. If I wasn’t feeling productive, I would change whatever location I was working from in favor of something that would allow for me to focus. The nice part about our hockey schedule was that it was pretty consistent from week to week, so I typically had the same time slots to work on homework or Hockey House content.
Playing for the Syracuse Club Hockey team surely came with its share of memorable moments. Can you share a favorite on-ice or off-ice memory that still stands out to you today?
One of my favorite memories from my time on the hockey team at Syracuse was our trip to Colorado. We flew out there my freshman year for three games. The first night I didn’t play very well, but I ended up scoring my first collegiate goal the following night and we ended up sweeping the weekend. I’ll never forget flying out there for the trip. Aside from the U-Haul driving out gear to and from the rink, we felt like NHLers.
The Hockey House emerged during a challenging time in the world. What inspired you to launch it, and how did the pandemic influence its early direction?
As I got settled into the ACHA, I became more and more fascinated by the different schools around the league. During the summer of 2020, I was listening to an episode of Spittin’ Chiclets, and they interviewed a former club hockey player who made it to the ECHL. I remember he had some pretty crazy stories about his time in the ACHA and thought it would be cool to hear more stories from around the league. It was then I came up with the idea to start something similar to cover the ACHA and club hockey. I started the podcast in September 2020 and had plenty of time to get the project off the ground. Because of the pandemic, Syracuse didn’t allow any club sports teams to participate at the time. Luckily, there were a small handful of club hockey teams that were allowed to compete, so we took great pride in covering them when the podcast launched.
The podcast has come a long way since 2020. How has it evolved, and what do you think has been key to its success and growth?
Since the podcast has started, we’ve always wanted to provide the latest news and updates on the club hockey world from a player's perspective. Although the goal hasn’t changed, the biggest addition we made was bringing on our executive producer David Herman. In the early days of the Hockey House, I was doing everything, from editing the podcast to writing the notes to creating the social media posts. When Herm came on, it allowed me more time to create engaging social media content, while also giving our podcast listeners the best experience.
Every podcast has standout episodes or guests. Do you have a favorite moment or guest from The Hockey House that left a lasting impression?
One of my favorite episodes was with current Arizona State Head Coach, Greg Powers. Greg played at Arizona State when they were a member of the ACHA. He took over as head coach of the program and helped elevate the team to NCAA Division I status. He offered great insights about college hockey and shared our vision for wanting to keep growing the club side.
Building a platform like The Hockey House isn’t without its challenges. What obstacles have you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge for the Hockey House has always been time. The passion has been there since Day 1, and we’ve found that when we have the time to do so, there’s always club hockey content to share. That second year of the podcast, when we returned to playing at Syracuse, I remember it being a challenge to balance growing the podcast and keeping up with my school work. Fast forward today with my current job, it’s a similar story. I’m still getting used to the limited hours I have to work on recording episodes and creating content. For me, it’s all about creating the best content with the time I’m given.
The planning process for a podcast is as crucial as the final product. How do you approach deciding on topics and selecting guests to feature?
We like to record for at least an hour, so in terms of prepping, we fill the notes sheet with an hour’s worth of talking points. When we record more frequently, we typically have to search for headlines, but when we haven’t recorded in a while, it can be easier for those headlines to fill up the hour slot. In terms of guests, we try our best to find players or coaches from relevant schools. For instance, after UNLV upset Denver, it was a no-brainer to have one of their coaches join the show and recap the monumental win.
Was there a defining moment when you realized The Hockey House was making an impact on the hockey world and resonating with its audience?
In 2022, we had the opportunity to go to the ACHA National Championships in St. Louis. It was the first time that Herm and I got to represent the podcast at an event. The ACHA was gracious enough to give us all-access passes and cover our meals and hotel room for the week. Getting to be there in-person to cover the event was an experience I’ll never forget. I bought us blank black hoodies and had a local screen printer put the Hockey House logo on the front. People were constantly coming up to us in St. Louis, thanking us for the coverage. It was such a great experience, we were invited back to do the same thing in 2023 and 2024.
Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the future of The Hockey House and its role in the hockey community?
Not sure what’s next for The Hockey House! I'd love to be able to pass it down to someone who’s just as passionate about growing club hockey as I am. I enjoyed being able to create content from the perspective of a player and would love for someone else to have that same opportunity. The college hockey landscape is constantly changing, especially on the club hockey side. It’s been cool seeing how big of a role The Hockey House has played in terms of club hockey awareness.Â
Celly Hockey Co. has made waves in hockey culture. Which product has been your personal favorite so far, and why does it stand out to you?
Since I joined Celly Hockey Co., we’ve strictly stuck to creating hats in the hockey industry. My personal favorite has been our collaboration with the PWHL. I’ve been a fan of the league since it first debuted and having the opportunity to work with the league to design hats for each of the six teams was a great experience. We knew the hats were going to be a hit with the fans, and it was great to see the reaction they received when they went on sale. With our office located just outside of Boston (Norwood, Massachusetts), it was especially cool seeing the Boston Fleet hat sellout online within 4 hours.
Starting a podcast or business can be daunting. What’s the best piece of advice you would offer to someone considering taking that leap?
If you have fun doing what you’re doing, then you’ll never have to take a leap. Like I mentioned, The Hockey House was never supposed to be a business. I thought we’d release a couple of episodes and maybe get 1,000 people to follow our Instagram page. We had fun creating club hockey content and have consistently grown our following ever since then.Â
With everything you’ve accomplished so far, what are your career aspirations for the next five years, and how do you plan to achieve them?
In five years, I’d still love to be working at Celly Hockey Co. Our brand has experienced huge growth in the last year as we’ve entered the collegiate licensing space. I don’t know what college hockey will look like five years from now, but I’d love to think that The Hockey House is still kicking and providing hockey fans with the best club hockey coverage. Outside of business, I would love to be coaching. I’ve always wanted to get into coaching and use my experiences in the hockey world to help shape the future minds of the game.
Looking back on your journey, what’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self about pursuing your passions and carving your own path?
I would tell my younger self that you can’t do everything. To this day, I find myself saying yes to every project. I’m grateful for the projects I’ve taken on, but at the end of the day, I’ve learned you can never go wrong making time for yourself.
Mackenzie’s journey, from player to storyteller to industry innovator, reflects his unwavering commitment to growing the game of collegiate club hockey. Through The Hockey House and his work with Celly Hockey Co., he has amplified voices of players, but he also shaped the culture in a new and exciting way. His passion for the game goes beyond the ice, creating opportunities for players, coaches, and fans to connect, celebrate, and continue pushing hockey forward.Â
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Mackenzie! It was a pleasure speaking with you. If you’re interested in hearing more about The Hockey House, their podcast can be found on Youtube. Celly Hockey Co. offers a unique selection of hockey merchandise, ready to find its next home among passionate fans and players.
Disclaimer: The thoughts, experiences, and opinions shared in this article are solely those of Mackenzie Murphy and are based on his personal journey. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any organizations, sponsors, or institutions that Mackenzie may be associated with.
To ensure accuracy and maintain context, Mackenzie Murphy reviewed this article before publication. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this material is strictly prohibited. For any inquiries or concerns regarding this article, please contact info@hazzemedia.com.