Paul Cotter says Mileena Cotter is the “real athlete” in the family after Canucks start

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Paul Cotter has been drawing attention as a free-agent signing with the Vancouver Canucks, but he insists the “real athlete” in his family is not him.

Instead, Cotter says his younger sister, Mileena Cotter, is the one to keep an eye on. Mileena is a junior midfielder with Syracuse University’s women’s field lacrosse program, and he points to her scoring history and awards.

Cotter said Mileena was named USA Today girls lacrosse player of the year and Detroit Free Press girls high school Athlete of the Year in 2024 after her Grade 12 campaign. He also noted she is the all-time leading scorer in U.S. national high school history with 472 career goals.

In talking about how Mileena’s recruiting came together, Cotter said coaches from multiple NCAA field lacrosse programs showed up at the family’s home in Canton, Michigan, on national commitment day, and that Syracuse, which he said had previously made six Final Fours in 10 seasons, ultimately won the choice.

Cotter, 26, spoke about the spotlight and his family dynamic, saying, “I am so proud of the athlete she’s become. I am so proud of the person she’s become,” adding, “She’s the real athlete in the family. There’s no doubt. She’s taken the spotlight. I’m just trying to get a little of it back right now.”

The connection between the siblings extends beyond their competitive streak. Cotter described how Mileena grew up with two older hockey-crazed brothers and would be coaxed into playing goalie for mini-sticks games in the basement, recounting that her brothers would tell her that if she stopped five shots in a row, the game would end.

Cotter also linked Mileena’s current style to Syracuse coach Regy Thorpe’s view of her temperament. Thorpe said, “She’s such a competitor. She plays every play like it’s Game 7 of the Stanley Cup,” explaining he has “kind of nicknamed her that,” and added that she plays with that same intensity consistently, including when the stakes rise.

On the field, Thorpe said Mileena scored 21 times in 19 games during her freshman season at Syracuse and that last season she had 13 goals in 20 games, describing the dip as largely a reflection of the Orange having a deeper offence after that freshman year.

Thorpe said Mileena is expected to take on a key role this season as one of Syracuse’s top midfielders, describing her as a two-way middie who contributes on both offence and defence. He also said she is part of the team’s faceoff unit and “always gets a good break on the ball.”

Cotter said he and his family have leaned into that competitive drive throughout their sports seasons, including summers spent in Maryland so Mileena could develop at a higher level, an eight-hour drive from their Canton home.

He also said he tries to stay off social media but started saving comments after signing with Vancouver this off-season, including concerns the Canucks would struggle, saying, “That’s the type of stuff that motivates you along the way,” and adding, “We had high expectations coming into this, so I’m happy with how we have started.”