Mitch Calvert
Tyler Miller’s junior hockey career keeps gaining momentum.
After collecting a three-pack of awards for his play last season with the Port Hope Predators of the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League, Miller has picked up right where he left off by nabbing player-of-the-month honours for September in the Ruddock Division, which was announced last Wednesday (Oct. 15).
Miller tallied 21 points in just nine games in September, and now has 35 points in 16 games overall. He tallied two goals and two assists in a 5-1 win over Pickering on Friday, and added an assist in a 5-2 loss to division-leading Lindsay on Sunday. It’s hard to imagine him besting his 63-point total in 46 games from a season ago, but he’s definitely on pace to do just that.
“I’m older and more experienced, and used to the level of play,” the 19-year-old reasoned.
“I like to keep my points up, but people notice more if you’re playing good defensively and that’s what I’m trying to do well this season,” Miller stressed. “[Scouts] might notice a nice goal, but if you’re backchecking hard, a hard backcheck is even better [than a goal].”
Tim Clayden, Port Hope’s director of hockey, agreed.
“His biggest improvement most nights is his willingness to play in both ends of the rink,” Clayden lauded. “Myself, knowing and seeing Tyler grow as a hockey player and a human being the past three seasons, he certainly has matured on and off the ice, and has seemingly dedicated himself to taking his game this season to a new level.”
Miller, playing out the final year of his junior eligibility, hopes to make enough of an impression this season to get an opportunity with a Division I college program in the U.S.
“There’s a lot of scouts that come down to this league,” he noted. “We had a college weekend in September and there were like 60 schools and about 10 NHL team scouts down here, so it was pretty wild.
“We sent eight or nine guys to Division I hockey or the Central League [after last season], so lots of opportunities are out here,” he enthused.
The Fort Frances resident said he’s spoken to a few schools about next season, but wasn’t willing to divulge which those were at this time.
Miller’s numbers so far this season are even more impressive considering his winger from a season ago, Chad Dunlop, graduated to the Central Hockey League. Dunlop and Miller tied for the Ruddock Division scoring lead last season, though the third member of that line, Jeremy McCarty, is back and off to a good start in his own right.
“McCarty is really smart and sees the ice well, and [new linemate Mitch] Moffatt is a big hitter with a really good shot and he opens the ice up for us,” Miller remarked. “We’ve got only five guys back from last year, a lot of new guys, but a lot of them have played Junior ‘A’ before and know what’s going on.”
Miller has factored into over half of his team’s 68 goals to date, and 23 of his 35 points have come at even strength against the best checkers his opponents can throw at him.
The Predators (9-6-1) have been off to an average start defensively, giving up 67 goals through 16 games, but Miller said management has been pro-active in trying to improve the team.
“At the start of the year, we weren’t very good defensively but we’ve already traded four guys away that were here at the start of the year,” Miller noted. “We got two new defence and a goalie, and I think things are starting to come together.
“Maybe just another forward and another defence, and we’ll be set for a solid year.”
Meanwhile, Miller’s off-ice life in Port Hope parallels well with his on-ice success, saying he has his billets, Colleen and Gavin Linn, to thank for welcoming him into their home.
“One of the best billet families down here, really nice people,” Miller said. “I don’t even feel like I’m away from home. They have a pool and a hot tub, and it’s full of food here so I can’t complain at all.”
