A Penticton Vees forward from more than 12 years ago has returned to the city鈥檚 hockey team in a new role.
Mark MacMillan has been named one of the Vees鈥� assistant coaches ahead of next season, the team announced Wednesday, May 31.
The 31-year-old joins the team after spending the last year and a half as the general manager and head coach of the Summerland Steam in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. He previously played 40 regular-season games for the Vees during the
鈥淗aving played for the Vees and watching the success the organization has had over the years, I am very excited to join the coaching staff,鈥� MacMillan said. 鈥淚 am looking forward to sharing my experiences both as a player and a coach with our team to aid in their development as players and people.鈥�
The Penticton-born MacMillan was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Draft.
He would go on to play parts of two seasons with the AHL鈥檚 St. John鈥檚 IceCaps, from 2015 to 2017.
鈥淚 am very excited to have Mark join our staff, as he checked all the boxes of what I was looking for in this position,鈥� said Fred Harbinson, the Vees president, general manager and head coach.
鈥淎s an alum, Mark will be able to relate to our players as he utilized the BCHL as a platform to develop, be drafted to the NHL, and move on to the NCAA and pro hockey.
MacMillan joins the Vees鈥� staff after the team announced that former assistant coach Steve Cawley would be stepping away from the bench and transitioning into a senior management position.
READ MORE: MacMillan hired as head coach of Summerland team
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