Born in Toronto, Ontario, he was educated at Loyola College, St. Michaels College, St. Hyacinthe College, and Université Laval. He was ordained in 1918 and was sent to Regina in 1922. He started an athletic club for boys and was appointed St. Augustine's parish in Wilcox, Saskatchewan in 1927. The ice hockey team is known as the Notre Dame Hounds. More than 100 former Hounds have been drafted by National Hockey League including Wendel Clark, Curtis Joseph, Rod Brind'Amour, Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier. The Saskatchewan Hockey Association's Athol Murray Trophy is named in his honour.