(Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/160ec2d9-92c7-4924-94e5-b862f5217048.jpeg] (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) NHL goaltender-turned-broadcaster Greg Millen died at 67 years old on Monday, the NHL Alumni Association announced. No cause of death was announced. “It is with heavy hearts we share the sudden passing of Greg Millen today,” the NHL Alumni Association wrote in a statement [https://x.com/NHLAlumni/status/1909378431793398191]. “He was known and loved by all in the broadcasting world.” Millen played for six teams across 14 seasons from 1978 to 1992. He stood between the pipes for the Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/former-penguins-goalie-and-sportnet-broadcaster-millen-suddenly-dies], Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues], Quebec Nordiques, Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks] and Detroit Red Wings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings]. He finished his playing career with 604 games, a 215-284-89 record, a 3.88 goals-against average, .873 save percentage and 17 shutouts. In 1988 with the Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/news/news/nhl-nugget-blues-greg-millen-records-back-to-back-to-back-shutouts-in-1988], Millen became the first NHL goaltender since Tony Esposito to record three-straight shutouts. Greg Millen recorded three-straight shutouts in 1988. Afterward, Millen became a broadcaster and covered the Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators] for 11 seasons, beginning with their inaugural campaign in 1992-93. He joined Hockey Night in Canada in 1995 and worked alongside familiar voices in Bob Cole, Jim Hughson, Don Cherry and Harry Neale. Millen covered 12 Stanley Cup finals, 12 NHL All-Star Games, three Olympic Games and two World Cups of Hockey, NHL Alumni wrote. He also covered the NHL on Sportsnet, including Toronto Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs] regional games. Most recently, he covered the Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames] on Hockey Night in Canada. "Greg left an indelible mark on the sport as as everyone who had the pleasure to know him, watch him, and listen to him," Sportsnet PR said in a statement [https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/former-nhl-goalie-sportsnet-broadcaster-greg-millen-passes-away-at-67/]. "With his infectious passion for the game, sharp insights, and quick wit, Greg was a trusted and familiar voice in the homes of millions of Canadians for more than 30 years." The hockey community and old colleagues of Millen remembered him on Monday. Former NHL goaltender Mike McKenna shared how much Millen meant to him and the impact he had on his life. “Greg Millen was my first hockey hero,” McKenna wrote on social media [https://x.com/MikeMcKenna56/status/1909402948687311297]. “He's the reason why I became a goaltender. One day, Grandpa Bill took me to the St. Louis Arena for practice and took this picture [https://x.com/MikeMcKenna56/status/1909402948687311297]. Years later we became friends. Thank you, Millsy. You gave me a reason to dream.” Added Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on social media [https://x.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1909386577870041478]: “Awful day for everyone who worked with Greg. Loved hockey and his role in it. The only thing he loved more was his growing family: wife, children and, now, grandchildren. Very, very sorry for their loss.” Analyst John Shannon said many people in the hockey and broadcast community lost a great friend who put family above everything else but was so passionate about the sport. “As a player, Greg Millen accomplished something every Canadian kid aspires to do. He played in the NHL,” Millen wrote. “In fact, he played 14 seasons in the greatest league in the world. Greg worked hard every day at his craft, and that carried on when he became a broadcaster. I was proud to work alongside him in every NHL arena and at the Olympics.” The Senators also paid their respects to the longtime former commentator. “The Ottawa Senators were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Greg Millen, the first ever Sens [https://x.com/hashtag/Sens?src=hashtag_click] TV color commentator and a beloved national broadcaster,” the team said on social media. [https://x.com/Senators/status/1909391277327524139] The team remembered his memorable call in the 2017 playoffs when Erik Karlsson made a long stretch pass to Mike Hoffman, who completed "the ol' hockey school move," a one-handed tuck past Boston Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask. The Flames said [https://x.com/NHLFlames/status/1909388475251802182] they were fortunate to have him as part of the Flames on Sportsnet community. Millen is survived by his wife and four children. “To Ann and Caroline, Emily, Allison and Charlie, I am so sorry,” Shannon said. “You lost the greatest of husbands and the greatest of fathers. To the rest of Greg’s friends, I feel your pain on this day. I will miss his laugh, his stories and above all, his loyalty.”
