MINNEAPOLIS - Some people may not know how to correctly pronounce her name, but once you see her play it's hard to forget Breck School hockey player Millica McMillen.
"I have gotten Miloka, Millika, Milaca, Militia," said McMillen on Monday.
McMillen is one of the most dominant high school girls at her defensive position in Minnesota. Her 46 points this season leads her team and has been a huge part of Breck's 24-2-1 record this season. The team is the Class-A number one seed in the Girls State Hockey Tournament, which begin Wednesday.
Breck Head Coach Chris Peterson thinks McMillen ranks with the best female hockey players the state has seen. "I've been coaching since 2000 and I don't think I've ever seen anyone with the combination of size and skill that she has in high school hockey. Period."
It's a bold statement but one her teammates agree with. Junior forward Katie Schipper, the team's second leading scorer, has been the beneficiary of Milica's ability which opens up the ice for everyone else.
"She knows when to move the puck and when not to move the puck. She can blatantly skate down the ice if she wants to but she makes the right decision 99.9-percent of the time," said Schipper.
McMillen leads the team on the ice and by her example. When she was nominated for number conference awards this year she wanted them given to her teammates instead because she believes individual awards are nothing without meeting team goals.
"I'd give them all up to win that. It would be so special to win that this year."
What she is talking about is a something that's always eluded Breck girls team -- a state title. The Mustangs finished 3rd last year after a first round loss. The team believes they have the potential to do great things if they put nine periods together and start with Chisago Lakes and then take it from there.
The Girls State Hockey tournament begins Wednesday at the Xcel Energy Center with the Class-A quarterfinals. The first round will not be televisted. However, the semifinals and finals will be televised.
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