The Estevan Bruins have a lot of ground to make up, but one of the players that has helped the team make a recent climb in the standings is veteran defenceman Kade McMillen.
The 19-year-old product from Carievale, Sk., has registered at least one point in the last seven Bruins games giving him 26 on the season. That production is almost double of what the 6-foot-1, 205-pound McMillen posted in 50 games last year when he had four goals and 10 helpers as a freshman.
The durable McMillen has played in every game so far this year which is a trend he followed at the midget level when he appeared in every contest over a two-year span with the Prince Albert Mintos of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League.
During his time with the Mintos, McMillen recorded 55 points in 88 games and in his final season was named a SMAAAHL second-team all-star.
McMillen is used in a number of situations as he is third on the team in power-play assists and has set up one of the team’s three short-handed efforts this year. He brings a lot more to the team as well as he is one of the club’s alternate captains and was earlier this year named the team’s RBC Community Ambassador for his efforts off the ice.
Estevan appears to have found its stride since returning from the Christmas break having won all four of their contests and in the process outscoring their opponents 27-5 during that span. With as many as eight games in hand on teams ahead of them in the standings, the Bruins have an opportunity to make a move during the stretch run and with the continued improved play of players such as McMillen, Estevan is definitely a team to keep an eye on.
