Family Day has special meaning for Vernon WHL player

Kelowna’s Prospera Place will have a large contingent of Vernon fans present on Family Day Monday, to see a top local WHLer.

The Tri-City Americans make a rare visit to Kelowna to take on the Rockets in a 2 p.m. matinee.

Vernon’s Deagan McMillan is in his third season with the Americans and is on track to surpass last year’s points total, which got him a lot of attention from NHL scouts.

McMillan, from the Okanagan Indian Band, is one of about a dozen First Nations players in the Western Hockey League.

The 6′ 2″, 185 pound centre has 15 goals and 17 assists in 52 games. His 2022-23 campaign saw 17 goals and 30 assists over 65 games.

“He is focused on the game, but excited to play in front of friends and family,” Deagan’s father, Dave McMillan, told Vernon Matters.