MacMurchy played collegiate hockey with the University of Wisconsin in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. MacMurchy began his professional career within the Blues organization with AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. Unable to crack the NHL ranks, on August 5, 2011, MacMurchy embarked upon a European career, signing with Norwegian club, the Stavanger Oilers of the GET-ligaen. As the league's top point scorer in the 2011–12regular season, Ryan led Oilers to the team's first ever regular season championship. With points in every home game of the regular season and a 13-game pointstreak, he shattered several team records. In a game against Frisk Tigers on December 30, 2011, Ryan scored 6 points and tied the team record for most points in one game. The Oilers finished the regular season with a record breaking 112 points and earned the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs. Stavanger swept both Rosenborg IHK and Lillehammer IK in four games, earning the club's third consecutive playoff final appearance. On April 13, 2012, the Oilers won game six of the finals and became Norwegian Champions. Ryan, with 9 goals and 21 points, finished 3rd on the league leader board for the playoffs. On April 9, 2012, the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association awarded Ryan, The Golden Helmet, an award given to the league's top point scorer. He was also appointed the Right Wing on the Team of the Year, a fictional team put together after votes from all the players in the league, alongside Stavanger Oilers DefencemanTim Kunes. As a free agent on April 22, 2012, Ryan left Norway and signed a contract with HC Red Ice of the Swiss National League B. In scoring 30 points in just 24 games, on January 15, 2013, he signed a contract until the end of season with EHC Biel of the Swiss National League A. After parts of two seasons with Biel, MacMurchy signed in the German DEL, agreeing to a one-year deal with ERC Ingolstadt on June 27, 2014. In the 2014–15 season, MacMurchy helped the club return to the Championship finals, however was injured during the post-season. In 42 regular season games he contributed with 52 points, placing second on the team. On June 10, 2015, MacMurchy signed a two-year deal with fellow DEL competitors, Adler Mannheim. After four seasons in the DEL, MacMurchy left as a free agent to return to Switzerland, agreeing to a one-year deal with EHC Kloten of the Swiss League on July 6, 2018.