The Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) is proud to announce Truro Bearcats forward Luke MacMillan as Scholastic Player of the Year.
The award, sponsored by RBC, is presented to a worthy recipient in each of the ten member leagues in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). MacMillan, as the 2018-19 winner for the MHL, will receive a $1,000 bursary from RBC. He also qualifies for a $5,000 national award through Hockey Canada, which will be presented to the player who is judged to be the top student-athlete in the CJHL.
“The Maritime Junior Hockey League is proud to select Luke MacMillan for this award,” says MHL Board Chairman/President Dave Ritcey. “It was a difficult decision by the selection committee. MacMillan’s continued excellence in the classroom, on the ice, and in his community shows an outstanding commitment and is proof positive that players in the MHL can and do maintain a high standard of performance.”
On the ice, the 19-year-old from Brookfield, N.S. recently completed his third season as a member of the Truro Bearcats. MacMillan has missed just six regular season games over that time. He played 47 this season in an ever increasing role for the club.
During high school at South Colchester Academy in Brookfield, MacMillan maintained a grade average well above 90 percent all three years. He’s continued those strong academic now into his second year in the Engineering Program at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill, with a cumulative grade point average above 4.0 for his three terms. He plans to continue his degree at the Sexton Campus in Halifax with an eye on either becoming a mechanic or civil engineer.
MacMillan’s academic honours are a lengthy list, including the Dean’s List, Honours with Distinction, Valedictorian, Queen Elizabeth II Medal, Ron O’Flaherty Scholar-Athlete Award, Lieutenant Governor Award, and a Canada-Wide Science Fair Silver Medal. He was also the winner of the Bob Boucher Hockey Assistance Fund for 2017-18.
His devotion extends not only to the game and school, but to his community. After taking part in the local CC Riders Soccer Program, MacMillan has spent the past three years as a coach. He’s also volunteered with the local CanSkate Program, and has been involved in 4-H, including in the woodsman team.
“Luke MacMillan has represented Bearcat Hockey and the MHL with integrity and class for the last three years,” says Truro Head Coach and General Manager Shawn Evans. “As a player, he has won the Bearcats Unsung Hero Award all three years he has played here and is already a league champion (2016-17). We are very proud of his academic achievements. Luke is proof that you can have a good Junior A career in the MHL while continuing your education and working toward your future after hockey. He is an excellent role model for current and new Bearcats/MHL players.”
MacMillan will be honoured with a formal presentation of this award at a later date.
The Bob Boucher Hockey Assistance Fund winner for 2018-19 will also be revealed at a later date. The final three MHL awards, the Community Spirit Award, the Roger Meek Executive of the Year Award, and the Moe Bent Builder’s Award, will all be announced at the MHL Draft in Edmundston in June.
Story courtesy of themhl.ca :
James Faulkner
Director of Communications
Maritime Hockey League
jfaulkner@themhl.ca