Jackie MacMillan is the anchor of the UW women’s hockey team. The goaltender is a true captain, sporting a .933 save percentage and 1.32 goals-against average, and she has led the Badger to a 16-9-2 overall record so far this season.
Playing boys hockey since she was five, MacMillan has learned how to overcome adversity with her intense will to persevere. Overcoming obstacles and achieving high levels of success has been a pattern well rehearsed by MacMillan. Once again, this pattern is revealing itself as the Badgers are making a late-season run as they enter the playoffs.
“We are finding team chemistry and things are really coming together right now,” Jackie said about her team’s recent success.
As she attended high school in Buffalo, Minn., Jackie was a well-rounded athlete, playing four years of hockey, cross-country and softball.
A standout at all three sports, Jackie chose to pursue hockey.
“It is my favorite thing to do,” she said. “I love to be around the game.”
Jackie’s decision to attend UW-Madison was not a difficult one.
“I was blown away with the atmosphere of the school,” MacMillan said. “It’s such a great place and hockey has such a huge tradition here. I just knew I wanted to be a Badger.”
Some wonder why MacMillan chose to play goaltender, which is easily the hardest position on the ice.
“My dad played goalie at [UW-Stout], and he coached me,” MacMillan said. “Hockey runs in the blood of the MacMillan family as it does in so many Minnesotans.”
Very familiar with the responsibility of the position, Jackie says, “I think that the hardest thing about being a goalie is the pressure. I think that the hardest person on me is myself, just taking everything on my shoulders.” Jackie later went on to say, “one of my biggest fears on the ice is giving up a game-winning goal in overtime. It is the worst feeling.”
With the playoffs right around the corner, MacMillan has set high goals for herself and her team.
“I would really like to see us finish off the season strong, and to have a strong showing in the WCHA tournament,” MacMillan said. “And for myself, I would like to just continue to play constantly.”
Jackie is an English major, and will graduate in May of 2003 with hopes of pursuing nothing but hockey. If it were up to Jackie, her hockey career would not end at Madison. She has plans to use her experience in the future, either playing or coaching.
Jackie has high aspirations for her future career in hockey. She already has experience playing on the national level. Last year she played for the United States under-22 national team in Calgary, Canada.
“The greatest part about the whole experience was the first time I put on the USA jersey and represented the United States,” MacMillan said. “It gave me chills.”
Playing on the international level is something that Jackie knows she wants to do again.
“My goal after college is to play for the United States National team,” MacMillan said. “I want to keep playing as long as I can.”
Although MacMillan has received countless honors and awards throughout her playing career, she feels that one is more important than the rest.
“The greatest honor I have received is playing for the Badgers, being apart of this Badger team, just being able to put on my Wisconsin jersey.”
