AL MILLAR
Date of Death: 1987-12-20Date of Birth: 1929-09-18
Date of Induction: 2025-12-20
The nickname ‘Suitcase’ is common in sport for well-travelled players. Franklin Allan (Al) Millar earned his right to the name with a 20-year hockey career with 21 different teams.
Millar grew up playing minor hockey in Winnipeg, joining the Winnipeg Canadians of the MJHL at the age of 18 where he went 10-4-2 with a 3.80 GAA. He then headed east for another year of major junior hockey in the QJHL, with the St. Hyacinthe Flyers and the Montreal Nationale.
After playing semi-pro hockey with Quebec in the QSHL, where he was a Second Team All-Star in 1949/50, Al Millar signed his first professional contract with the New Haven Ramblers of the AHL on September 17, 1950. Just three months later he inked a deal with the Kansas City Royals of the USHL and a month later was dealt to the Portland Eagles of the PCHL.
After a season with Shawinigan Falls of the QSHL and an all-star season with the Charlottetown Islanders of the Maritime League, Millar began a three-year stint with the Quebec Aces, winning the Edinburgh Trophy in 1957 and earning all-star and top goalie accolades. In 1957/58 he was called up to the NHL Boston Bruins where he played in six games. That year, he also toiled with the Quebec Aces and both Springfield and Buffalo of the AHL.
Millar never returned to play again in the NHL but would head West and continue to play in the Western Hockey League for another 12 years with an assortment of teams winning top goalie and all-star recognition in the 1961/62 season with Seattle Totems. A feat he repeated in 1963/64, stepping between the pipes for 70 games with Denver Invaders. By the time Millar retired following the 1969/70 season with Rochester Americans of the AHL, he had played a remarkable 20 professional seasons with 21 teams in 11 leagues including the six games in goal for the NHL Boston Bruins.
Al Millar passed away in Dec 1987 at age 58.