…a distinguished hockey performer who participated in World Championship play.
Alan “Toby” MacMillan, an Acadia grad of 1934, has often been cited as one of the university’s “best ever” hockey performers. Arriving on the Wolfville campus during the fall of 1930, he soon became a vital cog on the Fred Kelly-c~ached hockey squad that captured Valley League, Western Nova Scotia, and Provincial Intercollegiate titles.
During his ’30-’31 rookie season, he combined with the likes of “Gin!” Cain, Howie Ryan, Bob Laurence, Boyd Barteaux, and netminder Charlie Cohen to inspire the team to a “near miss” in Valley League championship play. In his junior year he performed brilliantly as Acadia -for the first time in three decades swept aside St. F.X. in playoff action. In the initial game Toby scored his club’s lone goal in a 1-all draw. In the team’s 5-1 victory, he and his teammates ably supported scoring star Neil Sanford and their acrobatic netminder “Chuck” Eaton.
The ’33-’34 hockey season was a glorious one for the Kellymen as the team won the Valley League title, emerged as Western Nova Scotia Senior champs and earned Provincial Intercollegiate laurels with 4-3 and 3-2 victories over St. F .X. and Dalhousie respectively. In competition against the Kentville Wildcats and their legendary “Chick” Marchant in the Valley League’s championship series, Toby was an offensive standout as his team gained a 9-6 total-goal decision. In subsequent senior playoff victories over the Canning Habs and the Bridgetown Hawks he shared the accolades with netminder Eaton and Orville MacCausland. In battling the legendary Truro Bearcats and their future Hall of Famers, Sammy Murdock, and Howie Ryan to a 3-all draw, the college boys received due praise from the provincial press.
A highlight of his hockey career occurred in a contest against the Kentville Wildcats when, in a penalty-ridden situation, he and goalkeeper “Chuck” Eaton held off four Wildcats for a period of five minutes -and they rarely had a stick on the puck.
Following graduation from Acadia, Toby entered Boston University where he briefly starred at centre ice for their varsity hockey squad. Soon, being declared ineligible for further intercollegiate play, he was named as an assistant coach. Subsequently, when enrolled in the London School of Economics, he performed for England’s National Team in the 1937 World Championship play in Switzerland.
Following retirement from the R.C.A.F. in 1945, with, the rank of Wing Commander, Toby returned to his beloved Prince Edward Island. Being an avid golfer, he has served that sport with distinction, being a .performer and builder of legendary status. Appointed the Royal Canadian Golf Association governor for Prince Edward Island in 1974, he served the association well for ten years. In 1984 he was the R.C.G.A. chairman for the first Canadian Senior Golf Championship ever played on the Island. In 1987, he was named to the P .E.I. Sports Hall of Fame.
It is indeed a pleasure to welcome for induction to the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame this distinguished scholar and athlete who earlier was welcomed to Acadia’s Hockey Honour Roll.
