Spotlight on Marley McMillan

Senior forward Marley McMillan(St. Paul, Minn.) has been a mainstay on the front line for the Big Green during her three-plus years with the Big Green. Even though she doesn't put up the big numbers to earn postseason awards, she has always been a factor in the big wins for Dartmouth.
    Case in point, last season after a tough 2-1 loss to Colgate on Jan. 4, McMillan came out and made huge plays against Cornell to push the Big Green to an 8-0 domination of the Big Red. She posted a goal and assist, but it was where the goal and assist happened. She opened the game with her first of the season, just 1:34 into the first period and then hustled on the fore check, stealing the puck and finding teammate Jenna Cunningham in front for the score. Her hustle started a five-goal first period attack.
    "Marley epitomizes what it means to be a team player," said head coach Mark Hudak.  "From the first time watching her play when she was in high school, I knew we would be a better team and better school if we had someone like her here at Dartmouth."
    She finished last year with two goals and five assists for seven points and the line of her, Carrie Thompson and Sarah Toupal was tops on the team with a record of 9-4-5 when the three were together on the ice. 
   "Marley was our first recruit committed that year--she started what would be one of our strongest classes recruited," mentioned Hudak.  "Marley brings energy, skill, leadership and a passion for the game off of which others feed and she has filled many roles since her freshman year, all of them well.  As a senior I expect her to use all that she's learned in helping us have another very successful year."

Why Dartmouth?

Dartmouth was the only college I enjoyed visiting. After visiting a handful of colleges for my brother, and a few for myself, I grew entirely restless of the "college process." Visiting Dartmouth, however, was different. Surrounded by wilderness, intimate and beautiful as well as home to the perfect combination of great academic and athletic programs, I immediately fell in love with the college and the people. It seemed to be made especially for me, and after visiting it the summer after sophomore year, I was determined to go here. I hardly looked anywhere else, and the first day I was able to commit to going here, July 1st, 2004, I did.

Favorite memory as a member of the team?

I have so many wonderful memories as a member of this team ­ Beating Harvard 4-1 my freshman year after having a tough time throughout the season, the skits that the Freshman put on for the team about the team at the end of last year, getting the call on the bus last year letting us know that we had made it to the NCAA final eight, missing an open netter on a breakaway in practice last year and turning around to find my entire team lying on the ice in hysterical laughter ­ those are just a few.
 
What do you like most about playing in Thompson Arena?

My favorite thing about playing in Thompson Arena is the fans; Although some might say that we don't have a lot of fans, we have an extremely large and supportive fan base compared to a lot of the Women's hockey teams in the nation. Stepping out onto the ice and knowing that there are friends, family and even people we don't know at all cheering for us and supporting us in our efforts means a lot, and also pumps us up to play.
 
When did you first start to skate and who was the one who got you interested in the game?
 
I first started skating when I was five and in Kindergarten. I remember pushing around a little orange cone during "free skate" at a local arena. My dad, who played for Colby College, is really who got me as well as my three brothers into hockey. I actually started playing in Kindergarten, stopped playing except for on outdoor rinks with my brothers and dad, and then started playing competitively again in fourth grade.

Favorite movie to watch on the bus with your teammates?

I think my favorite movies to watch on the bus are Miracle, although this one is always inspiring and terrifying because we know we'll probably be doing herbies the next day, Ace Ventura Pet Detective, and the homemade highlight videos Holley Tyng makes of our team. These videos, though more sort of pre-game videos, get us excited to play by reminding us how hard we work together and how much fun we have doing it.

Who would play you in a movie and why?

That's a tough question. I can't really think of anyone more apt to play me in a movie than myself! The only person I can think of would be Jim Carrey, although I don't really think that would work with the whole gender reversal, but he's the only person I can think of who can make the same facial expressions!

Dinner with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?

I don't know! Maybe Barack Obama, Herb Brooks, or some broadway star, like Idina Menzel or Kristin Chenoweth. The first two I would want to talk to just to find out what kind of people they are, and the second two I would want to meet because they are incredibly talented, and the leading ladies of the industry I want to pursue. Maybe they could give me some tips or connections! I would also say maybe an author, like Ernest Hemingway or Sylvia Plath, but they were such good writers as a result of the pain they experienced in their lives, and I think it would probably be more terrifying to talk to them than anything.

What away trip or arena do you like playing in the most?

It's sort of a love hate relationship with Harvard's Bright Arena. It's always the most fun to play Harvard because they are such a big rival for us, but I hate playing in their arena. Or maybe I just like to dislike their arena because it fuels my desire to beat them. Either way, that's one of the more fun road trips, and disregarding the psychology of it all, one the more fun rinks in which to play.
 
Plans following Dartmouth?

I want to go back to Minnesota and work for a few years, and eventually go to the University of Minnesota for grad school in theatrical arts. I want to work on getting in local theatrical productions, taking singing and dancing lessons, and eventually try and get on Broadway. Minneapolis is actually a great place to start pursuing a career in theatre, so I will stay there as long as it takes to get some experience, but if I need to go to New York City eventually I will.