MacMillan set to wear green and white for two UPEI teams

UPEI's varsity soccer and hockey teams are excited to announce that five-foot-ten Islander Cole MacMillan has committed to attend UPEI in September. MacMillan will join the soccer and hockey Panthers in the fall.

Head coach of the men's soccer team, Lewis Page, coached MacMillan on the 2009 Canada Games team and knows him well. 'What makes him a great athlete is his competitiveness and his work ethic. He is a great team leader who sets an example for his teammates both on and off the field. These qualities translate to any sport-whether it be in hockey or soccer,' says Page. 'From a soccer perspective, we're excited to have Cole in our program, he is a superb defender and an excellent passer. This will give our back lineup a new look this season.'

Forbes MacPherson, head coach of the UPEI men's hockey team agrees. 'Cole has the rare ability to make an impact as a two-sport athlete at UPEI. As far as hockey is concerned, he will bring a physical play and work ethic that will make our team harder to play against. He plays a style of hockey that makes it extremely uncomfortable for opponents, while also providing opportunities for him offensively.'

MacMillan is looking forward to the fall, 'I'm very excited to have the opportunity to play both hockey and soccer at UPEI, and also fortunate to be able to play here on the Island. Both are great programs with lots of Island support, and I'm just looking to earn my spot, and hopefully help improve both programs, and keep them moving in the right direction,' says MacMillan. 'It will be a very busy next few years, but I'm looking forward to the challenges it's going to bring.'

Most recently, in the 2011-12 season, MacMillan played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, and in the Junior A hockey club for the Amherst Ramblers. Currently, MacMillan is playing on the PEIFC soccer team which plays in the PEI and New Brunswick Premier Leagues.

MacMillan comes from a family of hockey greats. He is the son of former NHL'er Bob MacMillan, who played for 11 seasons from 1974-75 until 1984-85. Cole is also the nephew of former NHL'er Bill MacMillan. Cole's older brother Logan currently plays for the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League, and was selected as the first-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2007 NHL entry draft.

Season tickets for all Panther sports teams are now on sale, with the soccer Panthers home opener set for September 8 and the men's hockey hitting the ice for regular season on October 12.