Director of Athletics and Recreation Chris Huggan announced late today that the University of Prince Edward Island has hired Glen Miller as the new head coach for the UPEI Women’s Soccer team.

Miller, a CIAU Most Valuable Player and UPEI Sports Hall of Fame member, will begin his duties as head coach on January 2, 2019, and will remain working full-time with Service Canada while leading the Panther program. A soccer coach since graduating from UPEI, Miller most recently led Colonel Gray High School’s AAA girls soccer team (2008–2016), the Winsloe-Charlottetown (WC) senior women’s premier team (2016), and WC’s under-18 girls premier team (2013–15). He was named the PEI School Athletic Association Coach of the Year for 2009–10.

“I am thrilled to have Glen join our coaching staff,” said Huggan. “Glen has a tremendous soccer pedigree as a player and coach and with his knowledge of the game, work ethic, and passion, I am confident our program will go in the right direction.”

Glen Miller came to the University in the fall of 1994 and began one of the most star-studded careers as a sweeper with UPEI Men’s Soccer. He won the outstanding offensive award as a rookie, and from there, made history by being named a four-time AUAA All-Conference All-Star and a four-time CIAU All-Canadian award winner. In his final year with the squad, Miller won every possible individual award, capping off his remarkable career with the biggest and best at the national level. He was inducted into the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

“It’s a tremendous honour to be wearing the Panther colours again. I was most fortunate to be coached by, and play with, championship-calibre teammates,” said Miller. “I’m looking forward to taking our players on an amazing journey. Playing varsity soccer is a privilege to be truly grateful for, and I’m grateful to UPEI for hiring me to guide the women’s team.”

Students along with representatives from UPEI’s Alumni Association, Board of Governors, and administration will greet guests at the annual University of Prince Edward Island New Year’s Day Levee.

The UPEI Levee is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the cultural diversity of the campus community, exchange good wishes for the New Year, and kickoff UPEI’s fiftieth anniversary (upei.ca/50), celebrating 50 years of serving as a leader in education, research, and service.

The festive tradition will take place on Tuesday, January 1, 2019, from 11:30 am–1:00 pm at UPEI’s Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building on the UPEI campus. A lunch and cash bar will be provided. All are welcome!

For more information about the Levee, contact Kathy Weatherbie, UPEI Development and Alumni Engagement, at krweatherbie@upei.ca or (902) 566-0687.

AVC’s 30th annual Open House will take place on Saturday, September 29, from 10 am until 2 pm. Hosted by AVC students, faculty, and staff, this family-friendly event offers the community an opportunity to get an inside view of a busy veterinary college.

Open House features something for everyone—different kinds of animals to see, a parade of dog breeds, demonstrations and exhibits, our popular teddy bear clinic and other children’s activities, and much more.

Come and tour AVC and learn more about our facilities, our equipment, and what we do every day. We respectfully ask that members of the public refrain from bringing their pets to this event. For more information, please call (902) 566-0589.

The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, along with the Honourable Brad Trivers, PEI’s Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Change, today announced an innovative climate change adaptation project led by the University of Prince Edward Island.

The University of Prince Edward Island announced today that it will induct three members into the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame at its UPEI Sports Legacy Celebration on November 14, 2019. Tessa Roche, Vernon Pahl, and the 1984–85 UPEI Men’s Hockey team will be the 48, 49, and 50th inductees, respectively, bringing the total membership of the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame to 50.

“We are thrilled to be inducting these two fine athletes, Tessa and Vernon, as well as the 1984–85 Men’s Hockey team, into the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame during the 50th anniversary year for UPEI,” said Chris Huggan, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “It is fitting to celebrate their accomplishments while also remembering their fellow members who have entered the Hall of Fame before them, and honour 50 years of Panther Sport.”

The inductees will formally take their place in Panther history at the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame Legacy Celebration, which will be held in the UPEI Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. The gala reception begins at 6 pm, with dinner and induction ceremony to follow. Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased by dropping by the Panther Central desk or calling 902-566-0368.

All 50 members of the UPEI Sports Hall of Fame are invited to participate in the festivities on November 14, as well as an exciting weekend of UPEI Panther Sport. On Friday night, November 15, the women’s and men’s basketball teams will host Dalhousie University. Hall of Fame members will be recognized and introduced to current student-athletes and fans between games.

On Saturday, November 16, UPEI Men’s Hockey will host the national champions, UNB Varsity Reds, at 7 pm at MacLauchlan Arena, while the women’s and men’s basketball teams take to the court in the gymnasium. And on Sunday, November 17, the women’s hockey team, host of the U SPORTS national women’s championship in 2019 and 2020, will play Saint Mary’s at 3 pm.

The UPEI Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 2001 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the athletic programs at the University of Prince Edward Island, Saint Dunstan’s University, or Prince of Wales College. Each year, individual athletes, teams, and builders are inducted to honour their contributions towards the University’s athletic success or community leadership.

About the inductees

During her time at UPEI (BA 2012, MSc 2016), Tessa Roche played on both the women’s soccer and hockey teams. The foundation of UPEI Women’s Soccer from 2005–2010, Roche was a three-time AUS scoring leader, with 46 career goals. She was named a First-Team AUS All-Star five times and a First-Team CIS All-Canadian twice. Roche now works at UPEI as clinic coordinator for the SPOR-PEI Primary and Integrated Healthcare Innovation Network.

Vernon Pahl came to UPEI to focus on academics and football. In 1976, he was being encouraged by UNB, which had a varsity football program at the time, to play in Fredericton. Pahl elected to go to UPEI, feeling he would have fewer distractions at the Island university. His decision proved fruitful as he went on to be a Panther football great, CFL champion (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 1984 and 1988), and successful lawyer.

The 1984–85 UPEI Men’s Hockey team, coached by PEI and UPEI Hall of Famer Vince Mulligan, won UPEI’s first AUAA championship in exciting fashion. Bobby MacDonald scored the memorable OT winning goal to give the UPEI Panthers the 1985 title as UPEI defeated Moncton in game two of the best-of-three championship series at a packed and electrified Charlottetown Forum. The Panthers line-up included scoring talent such as Greg Gravel, league MVP the previous season; Ron Carragher; Norman Beck; and Randy Muttart. Rob Moffat and Darwin McCutcheon played great two-way defence, and the goaltending duo of Tony Haladuick and Dave Reid was solid between the pipes.