Bill MacMillan

William Stewart MacMillan (born March 7, 1943) is a Canadian former hockey coach and player. MacMillan played and later coached in the National Hockey League (NHL). Bill is the brother of Bob MacMillan.

For the British academic, see Bill MacMillan (academic). For other people, see William MacMillan.

Bill MacMillan
with the St. Michaels Majors, c. 1961
Born	(1943-03-07) March 7, 1943 Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Right Wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Toronto Maple Leafs Atlanta Flames New York Islanders
National team	Canada
Playing career	1966–1978

Olympic medal record
Men's Ice hockey
	1968 Grenoble	Ice hockey

Early career

MacMillan grew up in Prince Edward Island and excelled at a variety of sports, including hockey, rugby, and track. He left home as a teenager for the more fertile hockey ground of Ontario. He appeared in three Memorial Cup tournaments with the powerful St. Michael's Majors junior team. He later played university hockey at the now merged Saint Dunstan's University, after returning to PEI to complete his academic studies. He subsequently appeared in various minor leagues.[1][2]

NHL career

A powerful body checker and solid defensive forward, MacMillan was a late bloomer who did not make an NHL roster until age 27. He scored a surprising 22 goals as a rookie with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but saw his playing time reduced the next season. He was selected in the 1972 expansion draft by the Atlanta Flames, playing in a checking role with the team during its inaugural season. He was then traded to the New York Islanders, where he played for an additional four years. After failing to make the NHL roster in 1977, he played one year with the Fort Worth Texans before retiring.[1][2]

Coaching career

MacMillan was hired as an assistant coach by Al Arbour with the New York Islanders for the 1979-80 season, and he helped lead this franchise to its first Stanley Cup. The next season, he was hired by the Colorado Rockies to serve a dual role as general manager and head coach. After one season, he was relieved of his coaching duties, but after the team moved and became the New Jersey Devils in 1982, he returned to a capacity behind the bench. He was fired 20 games into the following season.[1][2]

Coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season						Post season
		G	W	L	T	Pts	Finish	Result
Colorado Rockies	1980–81	80	22	45	13	57	5th in Smythe	Missed playoffs
New Jersey Devils	1982–83	80	17	49	14	48	5th in Patrick	Missed playoffs
New Jersey Devils	1983–84	20	2	18	0	(41)	5th in Patrick	(fired)
Total		180	41	112	27

References

1. "Billy Stewart MacMillan". Legends of Hockey. Hockey Hall of Fame.
2. "William Stewart (Billy) MacMillan". PEI Sports Hall of Fame. August 2013.

External links

• Bill MacMillan career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Don Cherry	Head coach of the Colorado Rockies 1980–81	Succeeded by Bert Marshall
Preceded by Colorado Rockies coaches Marshall Johnston	Head coach of the New Jersey Devils 1982–83	Succeeded by Tom McVie
Preceded by Ray Miron	General manager of the Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils 1981–83	Succeeded by Max McNab