Billy 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). After several years with the Canadian national team, including playing at two World Championships and the 1968 Winter Olympics, winning a bronze medal, MacMillan made his NHL debut in 1970 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played for Toronto, the Atlanta Flames, and New York Islanders between 1970 and 1977, and retired from playing in 1978. He became a coach during his final year, spent in the minor CHL and moved to the NHL in 1979 when he became an assistant coach for the Islanders. He was named the head coach of the Colorado Rockies in 1980, also serving as general manager the next season. MacMillan stayed with the team as they relocated in 1982 to become the New Jersey Devils, and was let go early in the 1983–84 season. Billy is the brother of Bob MacMillan.

Billy MacMillan
with the St. Michaels Majors, c. 1961
Born	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

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]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1959–60	St. Michael's Buzzers	OHA-B		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1959–60	St. Michael's Majors	OHA		2	0	0	0	0		5	0	1	1	0
1960–61	St. Michael's Majors	OHA		46	7	12	19	31		7	1	1	2	4
1960–61	St. Michael's Majors	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—		4	2	1	3	0
1961–62	St. Michael's Majors	OHA		32	14	15	29	0		9	12	2	14	41
1961–62	St. Michael's Majors	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—		5	1	0	1	7
1962–63	Sudbury Wolves	EPHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1962–63	Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons	MTJHL		32	25	12	37	11		10	9	11	20	9
1962–63	Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—		6	1	4	5	18
1963–64	St. Dunstan's University	MIAU		11	25	11	36	17		—	—	—	—	—
1964–65	St. Dunstan's University	AUAA		20	25	—	25	12		—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Canadian National Team	Intl		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1966–67	Canadian National Team	Intl		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Ottawa Nationals	OHA Sr		20	13	8	21	20		—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Canadian National Team	Intl		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	Canadian National Team	Intl		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Tulsa Oilers	CHL		3	1	6	7	0		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Canadian National Team	Intl		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		76	22	19	41	42		6	0	3	3	2
1971–72	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		61	10	7	17	39		5	0	0	0	0
1972–73	Atlanta Flames	NHL		78	10	15	25	52		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	New York Islanders	NHL		55	4	9	13	16		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	New York Islanders	NHL		69	13	12	25	12		17	0	1	1	23
1975–76	New York Islanders	NHL		64	9	7	16	10		13	4	2	6	8
1976–77	Fort Worth Texans	CHL		12	1	7	8	2		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Rhode Island Reds	AHL		2	1	1	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	New York Islanders	NHL		43	6	8	14	13		12	2	0	2	7
1977–78	Fort Worth Texans	CHL		59	5	13	18	26		14	2	2	4	2
NHL totals				446	74	77	151	184		53	6	6	12	40

International

Medal record
Representing Canada
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Games
	1968 Grenoble
World Championships
	1966 Yugoslavia
	1967 Austria

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1966	Canada	WC		7	2	2	4	6
1967	Canada	WC		7	3	2	5	0
1968	Canada	OLY		6	1	2	3	0
Senior totals				20	6	6	12	6

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	4	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

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database