Career
He was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 4th round (113th overall) of the 1999 National Hockey League Entry Draft. Murphy skated with the Thornhill Islanders in the Metro Junior A Hockey League before attending Bowling Green State University where he played four years of CCHA collegiate hockey with the Bowling Green Falcons men"s ice hockey team (1997–2001). Murphy played in the 1999 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships with Team United States of America.
Following graduation, Ryan turned professional for the 2001-2002 ECHL season, playing up with the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League.
Ryan went on to play nine seasons of professional hockey, suiting up for 372 AHL games and another 124 ECHL games.
On June 30, 2009, Murphy became an unrestricted free agent. On November 25, 2009 it was announced that the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL) had signed Murphy to a professional tryout contract, however he played only five games for the Bulldogs before being released by the club
Ryan is the son of former Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Murphy.