Feature Series: Brandon McMillan
r (Over the course of the season Kelownarockets.com will present profiles of members of the Kelowna Rockets written by longtime Rockets writer Dana Soleski. Here, in the first Kelowna Rockets Feature Series piece, we present a look at Brandon McMillan.)
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r By Dana Soleski – Kelownarockets.com
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r Brandon McMillan has found himself in a variety of situations lately.
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r Usually a forward, the Delta native and draft choice of the Anaheim Ducks (3rd round, 85th overall in 2008) became a full time defenseman in sparking the Rockets to last spring’s WHL Championship and Memorial Cup appearance.
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r This summer, he attended Team Canada’s World Junior Orientation Camp, playing forward, as a first step towards a possible appearance for his country this coming holiday season.
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r He followed that up with a successful training camp with the Ducks where he suited up for two pre-season games (again, at forward) while leaving a solid impression.
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r Upon his return to Kelowna, he quickly racked up 15 points in eight games when, alas, he suffered a foot injury, missing six games before returning to the lineup last Friday night.
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r “I blocked a shot in the second period against Prince George (October 10th),” explains Brandon. “It’s a hairline fracture on the side of my foot.”
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r “For the first week, I had a cast on and after that I used a ‘robo’ boot which helps keep the foot stabilized while walking,” he says.
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r McMillan put up nearly two points per game in his first eight game, tracing his early season offensive output to a variety of sources.
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r “I’ve been playing with two good linemates in Lucas Bloodoff and Stepan Novotny and they’ve been going to the right spots. Other than that, I’m just trying to use my speed as much as I can. And, I feel like I’ve got more time with the puck to make a play.”
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r Ironically, McMillan’s tremendous skating speed and mobility was the reason the Rockets moved him back to defense last winter. And, it’s also the reason his long term future lies as a forward despite his stellar play on the blue line.
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r As a defenseman, he’s able to get to the shoot-ins and get his team transitioned to offense ahead of a forechecking surge – an element that was missing from the Rockets’ back end at the time. At forward he’s able to back off defenders at the opposition blue line and open up skating room for his mates by driving hard to the goal or ranging wide.
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r No doubt his time with the Ducks has had a positive influence on his play.
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r “My time with the Ducks was big for my confidence,” he says. “It showed how hard I have to work if I want to make the NHL and that in itself is a big motivator. Also, playing at that level has helped me be more poised with the puck. I played with a variety of linemates – Joffrey Lupul, Troy Bodie (former Rocket), George Parros. I even took a shift with Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu. That was pretty exciting. After camp, they told me to come back to Kelowna, play hard every night, stay focused and use my speed at every opportunity.”
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r The tough memory of his team’s loss in the Memorial Cup Final last May has given him a sense of unfinished business.
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r “It was upsetting to go all that way and lose,” he says. “But, we took it and learned from it. I wasn’t a good feeling, certainly, but if we get there again we’ll remember. We have a different team in Kelowna this year. We had so many big name players last season. Now we’re just a hard working group who knows we have to come and play hard for 60 minutes each night.”
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r As for the World Juniors, McMillan’s prior experience with Canada’s Under-18 National Team is a feather in his cap. However, he’s cautious and careful not to look too far ahead at this point.
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r “A chance to play in the World Junior would be huge for my career. It’s what every kid dreams about and everyone across the country watches it. Obviously, I’d love to be there.”
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