Truro, N.S. (May 19, 2019) – Hockey Canada, in conjunction with the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL), has named Truro Bearcats forward Luke MacMillan as the recipient of a $5,000 scholarship as Academic Player of the Year for 2018-19. He’s the fourth Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) player to win the award in its 20-year history, following Samuel MacCormick of the Bridgewater Lumberjacks in 2010, Donald Johnstone of the Truro Bearcats in 2003, and Jeff Ellis of the Charlottetown Abbies in 2002.
Each of the ten leagues in the CJHL nominated one player for the national award. MacMillan was announced as the winner on Sunday during the National Junior A Championship in Brooks, Alberta after being judged as the top student-athlete in the CJHL.
MacMillan was named the MHL Scholastic Player of the Year following the 2018-19 season and won the Bob Boucher Hockey Assistance Fund for 2017-18. He has a lengthy list of academic honours and volunteerism to local programs in the community. On the ice, the 20-year-old from Brookfield, N.S. recently completed his third season as a member of the Truro Bearcats.
“Luke follows in the footsteps of Donald Johnstone as another Bearcat to win the National Junior A Scholarship,” says Truro Bearcats Head Coach and General Manager Shawn Evans. “Like Donald, he’s a high character young man and low maintenance person to have on your team. He represents our organization with class and makes us all very proud.”
After being an honour student in high school at South Colchester Academy in, MacMillan entered the Engineering Program at the Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in Bible Hill. His strong academic record continued through his second year in the program in 2018-19. MacMillan plans to continue his degree at the Sexton Campus in Halifax with an eye on becoming either a mechanic or a civil engineer.
“We are proud to see Luke MacMillan recognized nationally for his outstanding efforts in the classroom, on the ice, and in the community,” says MHL Interim President Dave Ritcey. “The MHL places importance on education first for all of our players. MacMillan’s leadership and recognition are well earned and show the quality of student-athletes across all of our teams.”
The Maritime Junior Hockey League congratulates MacMillan on this award and is pleased to see Hockey Canada recognize his academic strength, devotion to the community, and contributions on the ice as the recipient of the national scholarship.
Story by James Faulkner, courtesy of themhl.ca