Bill MacMillan

A native of the Canadian Maritime provinces, forward William “Bill” MacMillan traveled to Toronto to play ice hockey with its famous junior St. Michaels Majors, which he did from 1959 through 1962 and into 1963 when they became the Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons. Along the way he won the Memorial Cup, given annually to the Canadian junior men’s ice hockey champions, in 1961.

After attending St. Dunstan’s University in Charlottetown, P.E.I. from 1963 through 1965, and playing on their hockey team (he was league MVP in 1964 and set a record 41 points in 1964-1965), he joined the Canadian national squad and skated with them until 1970. Along the way he completed his bachelor’s degree in physical education at the University of Manitoba and collected bronze medals from the 1966 and 1967 World Championships, as well as the 1968 Winter Olympics. In the latter tournament he played in six games and scored one goal.

After his stint with Team Canada, he had three games in the Central Hockey League with the Tulsa Oilers prior to being recruited by the National Hockey League and playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs (1970-1972), Atlanta Flames (1972-1973), and the New York Islanders (1973-1977). By 1977 he was splitting his time between the Islanders, the Rhode Island Reds of the American Hockey League, and the Fort Worth Texans of the CHL. After a final season as a player/coach with the Texans in 1977-1978, which included a win at the league’s Adams Cup championships and the honor of being named Coach of the Year, he retired from active player.

MacMillan, however, remained a prominent name in the National Hockey League for several years after he left the ice. He was assistant coach for the Islanders for the 1979-1980 season prior to being recruited by the NHL’s Colorado Rockies as head coach (1980-1982) and general manager (1981-1982). When the Rockies became the New Jersey Devils, MacMillan retained both positions until 1983, with former Olympic teammate Marshall Johnston at his side as assistant coach.