Remembering Greg Millen
Greg Millen, a Don Mills native, was drafted in the sixth round of the 1977 NHL Draft by Pittsburgh after a junior hockey career with the Peterborough Petes, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Toronto Marlboros. During his NHL career, Millen played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings amassing over 600 games played. Greg was best known for his rare right-handed catching stance.
Millen spent three seasons with the Penguins, four with the Hartford Whalers, six with the St. Louis Blues, one with the Quebec Nordiques, two in Chicago, capping his time in the crease with the Detroit Red Wings.
Known for his consistency and poise under pressure, Millen earned a reputation as a reliable and technically sound netminder during a high-scoring era. Though he never captured a Stanley Cup, his strong playoff performances and leadership made him a valued presence in every locker room he joined.
After retiring from professional hockey in 1992 after 14 years in the NHL, he traded in his goalie pads for a headset, beginning a long and celebrated career in broadcasting. He spent over 30 years in the booth sharing his love for the game as a colour commentator with Sportsnet and CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. Millen covered the Ottawa Senators in their inaugural season, served as a colour commentator for Hockey Night in Canada, the NHL on Sportsnet and also worked on Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs broadcasts.
Millen’s initial entrance into the world of broadcasting began at the nation’s capital via fellow Petes alumnus Bob Gainey.
“I worked for Bob as a goalie coach, as I started my broadcasting career in Ottawa, so I had two jobs coming out from hockey. He was a huge influence on me in my transition and I owe a lot to him for that. It’s funny you know at one point I had to make a decision and Bob in his low very stern voice says, ‘Greg I think perhaps you should go into television.’ I don’t know if he was telling me I was a horrible coach or if I should go into television.”
Millen spent 11 years with the Senators before becoming the colour commentator for the Toronto Maple Leafs alongside Joe Bowen. He maintained that regardless of the team he was with, the opportunity to be involved with the sport he was raised on will always be a blessing.
During his broadcasting career, Millen covered three Olympic Games, two World Cups of Hockey, twelve Stanley Cup finals, and twelve NHL All-Star games.
Legendary broadcaster Bob Cole specifically requested that Millen be his analyst for Cole’s final broadcast, ending Cole’s 50 year commentating career on Hockey Night in Canada.
“Greg left an indelible mark on the sport as everyone who had the pleasure to know him, watch him, and listen to him. With his infectious passion for the game, sharp insights, and quick wit, Greg was a trusted and familiar voice in the homes of millions of Canadians for more than 30 years.” – Sportsnet PR said in a statement.
Greg was not only revered at the rink, he was also a pillar in the community. He built and established summer goalie camps in Peterborough and co-founded the Peterborough Profession Hockey Alumni Association (PPHAA). Greg lived by his motto: “There’s no ‘I’ in TEAM” and he was truly a team player. His passion for mentorship led him to complete a Masters of Leadership from the University of Guelph. He went on to become an instructor of Leadership Development at Fleming College.
During his post-NHL career, Millen became synonymous with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames having been a broadcaster for all three clubs. Most people knew him for his storytelling on a game night or as an instructor at Fleming College however before becoming a sports media personality and educator, he was a Peterborough Pete and disciple of Roger Neilson.
Like many Petes alumni, Millen credited his early understanding of character and the formation of his own moral compass to legend Roger Neilson. In identifying the spark that drew the masses to Neilson, Millen quickly pointed out his former coach’s humanity.
“He was a teacher, but a teacher in life, not a teacher in hockey. Hockey was the bonus. Anybody who came across Roger and throughout his time would say the same thing, he had an incredible sense of humanity to him. He cared about people and that’s why he was so successful. To this day at times we have lost humanity in our game, and these days we remember it is the most important thing of any coach.”
Neilson’s known adoration for education and requirement for his players to either attend school or work while playing for the maroon and white, resonated with Millen. The former goalie returned to school in 2015 at the University of Guelph and completed his masters in leadership.
“It was something I wanted to do, circling back to Roger’s influence.”
During his time at Fleming college, Millen taught numerous students and worked closely with Western University’s Ivey School of Business doing extensive research on character development. He built his own consulting firm “Millen Leadership,” offering seminars and interactive workshops that work to shift leaderships and corporations’ behaviour so that they can align with their values, character virtues and competences.
Greg Millen was a husband, father, grandfather, teacher, life-long learner, professional hockey player, broadcaster and community staple in Peterborough, Ontario. Millen was also a proud Peterborough Petes alumnus, long-time Sportsnet broadcaster and 14-year NHL veteran.
He was a loving and devoted father to his children Allie, Emily, Caroline and Charlie. Affectionately referred to as “Papa” by his eight grandchildren: Beau, Pippa, Beatrice, Oscar, Louie, June, Wallace, and Penelope. Greg is survived by his high school sweetheart and life partner, Ann Millen; this summer would have marked their 45th wedding anniversary.
Greg Millen was a humble and respected figure in hockey, known for his steady goaltending, insightful broadcasting, and unwavering dedication to the game and those around him. He leaves behind a legacy of humility in Peterborough and beyond. He will be dearly missed by all in the Petes family.
A replay of Greg Millen’s Celebration of Life can be seen by clicking here.
