Greg Millen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Greg Millen
Born	(1957-06-25)June 25, 1957 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	April 7, 2025(2025-04-07) (aged 67) Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	175 lb (79 kg; 12 st 7 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Right
Played for	Pittsburgh Penguins Hartford Whalers St. Louis Blues Quebec Nordiques Chicago Blackhawks Detroit Red Wings
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	102nd overall, 1977 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	1978–1992
Medal record Representing  Canada Ice hockey World Championships Bronze 1982 Finland

Gregory H. Millen (June 25, 1957 – April 7, 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and a well-known sports commentator. He played for 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with six different teams. After his playing career, Greg became a popular voice in hockey, working as a colour commentator for teams like the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs. He also worked on big national shows like Hockey Night in Canada.

Greg Millen's Hockey Journey

Greg Millen started playing hockey when he was young. He even played in the famous Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament three times in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Starting with the Pittsburgh Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins picked Greg 102nd overall in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft. At the time, he was playing really well for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). Before that, he played for the Peterborough Petes from 1974 to 1977.

In his first NHL season (1978–79), Greg played 28 games and looked very strong. Fans in Pittsburgh quickly loved him. Two years later, he won 25 games and almost led his team to a big playoff upset against the St. Louis Blues. They lost the final game in double overtime, which was a very close match.

Even after his great playoff performance, the Penguins let Greg leave. In June 1981, the Hartford Whalers signed him. The Penguins could have kept him, but their general manager was away. So, the Whalers got Greg, and the Penguins received two other players as a trade.

Playing for the Hartford Whalers

With the Whalers, Greg became the main goalie. He played in 55 games during the 1981–82 season. That year, he also got to represent Canada at the 1982 Ice Hockey World Championships.

During the 1982-83 season, something amazing happened. Greg's first child was born at 2 AM during a huge snowstorm. After only a few hours of sleep, he drove through the blizzard to Long Island for a game against the New York Islanders. He thought he wouldn't play, but he got the call, won the game, and then traveled to Hartford to play the Toronto Maple Leafs the very next night. He won that game too! Greg said this experience taught him that being a goalie is mostly about being mentally strong.

In the 1983–84 season, Greg played in 60 games, which was the most in the NHL. However, he couldn't help the Whalers make it to the playoffs. In the 1984–85 season, he was part of a big trade. He went to the St. Louis Blues with another player, while the Whalers received goalie Mike Liut and a forward.

Time with the St. Louis Blues

In St. Louis, Greg teamed up with goalie Rick Wamsley. They formed a strong duo. In 1986, they helped the Blues reach the Conference Finals in the playoffs. They lost to the Calgary Flames in a tough seven-game series.

During the playoffs that year, Greg started and won two games against the Minnesota North Stars. He also won the series-clinching game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played a big role in getting the Blues deep into the playoffs.

After Wamsley was traded in 1987, Greg became the main goalie for the Blues. The 1988–89 season was his best with the team. He had six shutouts (meaning he didn't let the other team score any goals), 22 wins, and started 52 games.

However, new goalies like Vincent Riendeau and Curtis Joseph started to join the team. This meant Greg was no longer the top choice. In December 1989, he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. Greg was very sad about the trade because his family loved living in St. Louis.

Moving to the Quebec Nordiques

With the Nordiques, Greg had a tough time. He only won 3 out of 18 games, and the team was in last place. He made it clear he didn't want to stay. In March, the Nordiques traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks as part of a big six-player deal.

Playing for the Chicago Blackhawks

When Greg joined the Blackhawks, they already had two goalies. But the day after he arrived, one of them was traded. Greg played ten games for the Blackhawks at the end of the season and started in the playoffs. The coach, Mike Keenan, often changed goalies. That spring, three different goalies started games for Chicago, but Greg played the most. The Blackhawks made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Edmonton Oilers.

The next season, Greg lost his starting job. Ed Belfour became the main goalie and played incredibly well. Greg only played 58 minutes the entire season. With other goalies coming up, Greg's time with the Blackhawks ended. In September 1991, he was traded to the New York Rangers.

Brief Stints with Rangers and Red Wings

The New York Rangers got Greg as an "insurance policy" because their main goalie, Mike Richter, was still negotiating his contract. Greg was the backup for the first two games of the 1991–92 season. Once Richter signed his new deal, Greg was sent to a minor league team.

After playing five games there, Greg was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings needed a backup goalie because their new goalie had gotten injured. Greg played his last ten NHL games with the Red Wings before retiring from playing at the end of that season.

Greg Millen's Broadcasting Career

After his playing days, Greg became a popular voice in hockey broadcasting. He started as a colour commentator for the new Ottawa Senators team. He worked with different play-by-play partners for 11 seasons. He also worked for CTV during the 1994 Winter Olympics.

In 1995, he joined the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, which is a very famous hockey show in Canada. After a year with another network, he returned to Hockey Night in Canada in 1999. He became part of the main broadcast team in 2007, working alongside legendary commentator Bob Cole. He covered the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals and 2008 Stanley Cup Finals in this role.

In 2005, he also started working for the Toronto Maple Leafs local broadcasts. By 2007, he was the lead television colour commentator for the Leafs. Later, he worked for Rogers Communications, appearing on various national hockey broadcasts.

Bob Cole, a broadcasting legend, specifically asked Greg to be his analyst for Cole's final broadcast, marking the end of Cole's 50-year career. Until his passing, Greg also worked on Calgary Flames broadcasts for Hockey Night in Canada and regional games.

Personal Life and Passing

Greg Millen was married and had four children. His son, Charlie, also became a goaltender and played professional hockey.

Greg Millen passed away from a heart attack in Bracebridge, Ontario, on April 7, 2025. He was 67 years old.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play