Panthers land top junior defenceman Simon Mullen
The UPEI Men’s Hockey Panthers have landed Summerside Western Capitals captain Simon Mullen, one of junior hockey’s top defencemen, for the 2026–27 season.
Mullen, a 20-year-old from Shortts Lake, Nova Scotia, joins the Panthers after a decorated junior career that included championships, international experience, and individual recognition.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound left-shooting defenceman captained the Capitals during the 2025–26 season and produced 14 goals and 54 assists in 52 games. His performance earned him top defenceman honours in both the Maritime Junior Hockey League and the Canadian Junior Hockey League.
Mullen also helped lead the Capitals to the 2026 Centennial Cup final, where they finished with a silver medal.
His resumé includes a 2025 QMJHL championship with the Moncton Wildcats and a silver medal with Canada East at the 2023 World Junior A Challenge.
Mullen combines a reliable two-way game with the vision and passing ability to drive offence from the back end. He moves the puck efficiently through all three zones and knows when to join the attack.
“I consider myself a high-IQ, reliable two-way defenceman with offensive upside,” he said.
His positive experience playing junior hockey on Prince Edward Island helped make UPEI an attractive destination.
“I felt it was a great opportunity to better myself on and off the ice as a hockey player, person, and student,” he said. “There are a good young group of guys and a well-respected coaching staff. I had a great experience on the Island in junior hockey, so I’m excited for the opportunity to play at UPEI.”
Panthers head coach Forbes MacPherson said Mullen was identified as a priority early in the recruiting process.
“Simon checks a lot of boxes for us,” MacPherson said. “He’s very competitive, has size, and is an elite passer. We feel our forwards will benefit from his ability to transition the puck out of the defensive zone, through the neutral zone, and offensively from the blue line.
“We had the opportunity to watch Simon many times last season, and we’re excited to add him to the program.”
