ALBANY — Troy native Matt Murley has left the Albany River Rats.

The 28-year-old former RPI standout has accepted a lucrative offer from

the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. Murley informed head coach-GM

Jeff Daniels of his decision this morning.

"It's tough," Murley said this afternoon. "I wanted to play in Albany

in front of my family and friends and with the guys, so it's tough leaving

them. But, I have to take care of myself first.

"It's a life experience. I get to see another part of the world and

play in a league that's really good. I think it's the next step to take in

my career."

Murley will join Khabarovsk Amur, a

team located in the far Eastern part of the country. "It's a long ways

away," Murley said. Amur is already 15 games into its schedule, with three

wins, one shootout win, one shootout loss and 10 regulation losses for 12

points, good for 21st in the 24-team league.

"It came up real quick. It just happened, and I ran with it. I had a

chance to go over there, and it's something I really wanted to do. It's a

great league, a league comparable to the NHL. I'm taking the opportunity."

Murley signed a one-year, two-way contract with Albany’s NHL parent

team, the Carolina Hurricanes, on Sept. 15 for a guaranteed six-figure

salary. First-year Albany head coach-GM Jeff Daniels said the 'Canes have

referred the matter to the NHL.

“He asked Carolina to get out of his contract and they said no, but he

still chose to go play in Russia,” Daiels said. “I don’t know the team

he’s going to and I don’t know all the details. I guess it’s a league

matter now in regard to his contract.

"It was a financial decision, I guess. I talked to him this morning and

told him I'm disappointed he was leaving. I thought he was going to be a

big player for us, but I also thanked him. Even though this has been on

his mind the last couple days, from day one since he's been here he's been

great in the room, great on the ice, worked hard in every drill. It didn't

affect his play down here, so I give him credit for that."

Murley is leaving tonight.