Huskies Women’s Hockey Adds Milica McMillen to Coaching Staff
9/21/2023 7:00:00 PM | Women's Hockey
NCAA All-American, four time All-WCHA defender and former NWHL standout adds key WCHA coaching experience to Huskies staff
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Women's Hockey head coach Brian Idalski has announced the addition Milica McMillen to his coaching staff ahead of the 2023-24 season. An All-American and four time All-WCHA selection at Minnesota with professional playing experience in the NWHL and three years of coaching experience in the WCHA, McMillen will work with the Huskies defensive corps.
"We're extremely excited to add an individual with Milica's experience and proven success in this league to our staff," said Idalski, "Her experience, knowledge and passion for the sport are welcome additions to our bench. She will be a phenomenal resource for our players – we are extremely fortunate to have her back in the WCHA."
"I'm excited to be here in St. Cloud," said McMillen, "It's exciting to see how eager the players are to learn something. I'm eager to learn from the coaching staff and teach the players along the way – although I'm sure I'll learn more from them than they will from me!"
McMillen spent three seasons at Ohio State from 2017-18 to 2019-20, helping the Buckeyes to three 20-win campaigns with a combined 68-32-12 record. OSU finished top-three in the WCHA each season as she assisted with a variety of roles including game planning, recruiting, player development and budget oversight. McMillen recruited and coached five All-Americans, one WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, one WCHA Rookie of the Year, six All-WCHA honorees and two WCHA All-Rookie Team members over her three years with the program.
"Knowing the league is definitely a bonus," McMillen continued, "I'm here to keep learning, knowing that the caliber of play in this league is extremely high having played and coached here. I'm looking forward to help push the players towards playing at a higher level."
Following her terrific college career with the Golden Gophers, McMillen was selected No. 10 overall by the Connecticut Whale in the inaugural 2015 Premier Hockey Federation Draft. She spent the 2016-17 season with the New York Riveters, skating to a +3 across 18 games while providing three goals and six assists for nine points.
McMillen spent her collegiate career with Minnesota, serving as a fixture on the blue line from 2012-13 through 2015-16 while leading the Gophers to three NCAA Championships, four NCAA Finals and four WCHA Championships. She earned All-American honors as a sophomore and added four All-WCHA selections with 120 career points on 44 goals and 76 assists across 149 games played. The legendary defender skated to a +129 and scored 28 of her 44 goals on the power play. She landed third among NCAA defenders with 39 points in 2013-14 and followed with the fifth-most defender points in 2014-15.
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, McMillen enjoyed a stellar prep career at Breck School with 278 points in six seasons of hockey. She was invited to the 2011 USA Hockey National Festival and skated for Team USA at the Twelve Nations Cup in Finland as a member of the U18's and added Gold at the Junior World Championships.
McMillen replaces former Gophers teammate and St. Cloud State assistant coach Mira Jalosuo, who recently accepted a professional coaching position with Minnesota PWHL franchise.
"We're super excited for Mira and the opportunity for her to coach professional women's hockey," said Idalski, "She will do great things and I am honored to call her a friend."
Information regarding single game and season tickets can be found at scsutickets.com. For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
"We're extremely excited to add an individual with Milica's experience and proven success in this league to our staff," said Idalski, "Her experience, knowledge and passion for the sport are welcome additions to our bench. She will be a phenomenal resource for our players – we are extremely fortunate to have her back in the WCHA."
"I'm excited to be here in St. Cloud," said McMillen, "It's exciting to see how eager the players are to learn something. I'm eager to learn from the coaching staff and teach the players along the way – although I'm sure I'll learn more from them than they will from me!"
McMillen spent three seasons at Ohio State from 2017-18 to 2019-20, helping the Buckeyes to three 20-win campaigns with a combined 68-32-12 record. OSU finished top-three in the WCHA each season as she assisted with a variety of roles including game planning, recruiting, player development and budget oversight. McMillen recruited and coached five All-Americans, one WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, one WCHA Rookie of the Year, six All-WCHA honorees and two WCHA All-Rookie Team members over her three years with the program.
"Knowing the league is definitely a bonus," McMillen continued, "I'm here to keep learning, knowing that the caliber of play in this league is extremely high having played and coached here. I'm looking forward to help push the players towards playing at a higher level."
Following her terrific college career with the Golden Gophers, McMillen was selected No. 10 overall by the Connecticut Whale in the inaugural 2015 Premier Hockey Federation Draft. She spent the 2016-17 season with the New York Riveters, skating to a +3 across 18 games while providing three goals and six assists for nine points.
McMillen spent her collegiate career with Minnesota, serving as a fixture on the blue line from 2012-13 through 2015-16 while leading the Gophers to three NCAA Championships, four NCAA Finals and four WCHA Championships. She earned All-American honors as a sophomore and added four All-WCHA selections with 120 career points on 44 goals and 76 assists across 149 games played. The legendary defender skated to a +129 and scored 28 of her 44 goals on the power play. She landed third among NCAA defenders with 39 points in 2013-14 and followed with the fifth-most defender points in 2014-15.
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, McMillen enjoyed a stellar prep career at Breck School with 278 points in six seasons of hockey. She was invited to the 2011 USA Hockey National Festival and skated for Team USA at the Twelve Nations Cup in Finland as a member of the U18's and added Gold at the Junior World Championships.
McMillen replaces former Gophers teammate and St. Cloud State assistant coach Mira Jalosuo, who recently accepted a professional coaching position with Minnesota PWHL franchise.
"We're super excited for Mira and the opportunity for her to coach professional women's hockey," said Idalski, "She will do great things and I am honored to call her a friend."
Information regarding single game and season tickets can be found at scsutickets.com. For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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