Breck's Opperman, McMillen Ink Commitments

senior Grant Opperman spent his youth in awe of the Mustangs' boys hockey players who came before him. To see the Breck tradition—which has produced collegiate and professional talent—he simply needed to open his eyes.

Future professionals like Blake Wheeler, Peter Mueller and Robby Dee were there to emulate, to motivate.

“You look up to them, and you see them in the hallway,” Opperman said. “You don’t say anything to them, but you look at your buddy and you say, ‘That was Robby Dee or Blake Wheeler.’ It’s exciting to be on top of the class and hopefully kids look up to you.”

On Wednesday, he had his chance.

Opperman and Mustangs girls hockey standout Milica McMillen signed commitments to Division I colleges in a packed Samuel A. Salas Commons. Opperman, who plans to attend Dartmouth, signed a verbal commitment to play Ivy League hockey. McMillen, headed to the University of Minnesota, signed her National Letter of Intent. Friends, family and faculty were on hand to witness the event.

For the two standouts, it was officially the next step in their hockey careers.

McMillen is Breck’s all-time leading scorer. The six-time letter winner reached state in her first year on the team and has not exited the postseason short of the section championship since.

She is coming off a season in which she scored 21 goals and 23 assists. But she isn’t satisfied. Instead, she’s prepared to improve for the next level.

“I’m really hoping to get better this year. I’m trying to get quicker, stronger,” McMillen said. “I know the next level is a big jump. As for the season, we’re looking to win state this year. I thin we can really do that this year.”

Opperman scored 27 goals and 36 assists last year, including 10 points in the postseason. He said he wanted to play for an Ivy League school, and Dartmouth was the right fit for him.

“I was just out there last weekend,” he said. “Pretty campus, the guys are good and the rink is cool. It’s just the whole package for me.”

Both McMillen and Opperman signed their letters side by side after a brief introduction from Breck athletic director Brett Bergene. 

Bergene, who has seen both players come up through the program, was excited to see them make the next step in their careers.

“You see these kids come into our program—Grant did bantams his ninth grade year,” Bergene said. “To see him come in as a sophomore excited to put on the Breck sweater, and just the way he’s done it, to see him get rewarded for that is really fulfilling.

“Milica, too. She’s a great hockey player. To see her be rewarded for all that hard work,” he said. “No one’s put more time into hockey than her.”

Both players have one more year to enjoy the Mustangs tradition, but each is ready to take the next step in their careers.

“It really means a lot,” McMillen said. “I grew up wanting to go (to Minnesota), so when the opportunity presented itself I jumped at it.”