![]() Tilikum made for a sympathetic and compelling character. Is it cold up there right now?' And the guy looked at me as if I was crazy, which I was.The last death, because of its savagery and because Brancheau was a high-profile SeaWorld trainer, forced us to ask, collectively, sincerely, and for the first time: “Who Is Shamu?” Instead of the iconic, happy killer whale celebrated by SeaWorld and its fans for five decades, Tilikum demanded the world confront his reality, Shamu’s reality, which involved separation from family, confinement, boredom, chronic disease, aggression among marine park killer whales, and aggression against trainers. "I just ran up to him and said, 'Hi, I'm Bearcat Murray. The book chronicles some of his favourite moments throughout his career, including the Calgary Flames Stanley Cup victory in 1989, his very own fan club starting up in Boston after some hockey lovers discovered his antics and his memorable meeting with Prince Albert of Monaco during the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Murray liked the name, too, using it often, so much so it was immortalized as part of the title of his 2021 memoir, Bearcat Murray: From Ol' Potlicker To Calgary Flames Legend. And my recollection is the 'potlicker' had to do with never wasting anything, like lick the pot clean." "I'm sure if you went to his basement today, the stuff that he has stored down there would turn heads. "He was a guy who would waste nothing," he said. While with the Flames, another nickname took form: "The old potlicker from Okotoks," Peplinski said, which he promises is not a derogatory term ( despite the definition). ![]() Yooneek Books, a bookstore in Okotoks, tweeted out condolences to the friends and family of Murray, saying he'd often stop by to sign books when they'd call. Peplinski said the Flames did notice he had a peculiar style, from his strange ways of taping, to his regular yoga practice, to his frequent rollerblading adventures around competitors' arenas. "He's going to be missed." Completely self-taughtĪlthough he is remembered as a great athletic trainer now - and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the athletic trainer category in 2009 - Murray later said he wasn't quite sure what he was doing. "In all the time I spent with Bear, there was not a minute of his life that he wasted. I would love to tell you some of the stories that I will never repeat but I remember fondly, because boy, did we have a lot of fun together," he said. Over his time with the team, players and staff appreciated Murray's zest for life, something that will be dearly missed by all who knew him, Peplinski said. He remained with the club as a community ambassador. He worked as head athletic trainer until 1996, when he retired. Jim Peplinski, former right winger for the Flames, said the team took a liking to the name when Murray joined them in 1980. ![]() Audio Gordie Howe the lifesaver, the friend: Jim 'Bearcat' Murray reflects on his hero ![]()
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