True Grit

Grand Rapids alum Micah Miller gives Huskies a competitive edge

By: Aaron Paitich

FOR MICAH MILLER, EVERY PUCK BATTLE IS PERSONAL. Every game, every shift, every footrace—Miller wants to win.

And he wins a lot.

The Grand Rapids product and two-time State Champion (Bantam AA and high school) is now one of St. Cloud State’s leaders, on and off the ice. That grit is a big reason why the fans, players and coaching staff love having Miller on the squad.

MHJ//What areas of your game are your really looking to improve this season?

Micah Miller//I was in St. Cloud the entire summer just trying to get faster and stronger. I’m working a lot on offensive skills like zone entry and scoring abilities in tight areas.

MHJ//Any tips for kids who want to score more goals?

Miller//I’ve been practicing it and working at it every day. You have to work on scoring constantly, especially as you get older. The competition gets better and better. Get your shots off quickly. Once you get a pass, shoot it quickly. Work on this whenever you can.

MHJ//You’re very strong on the puck and in 1-on-1 battles. How did you develop these skills?

Miller//It was something I always took pride in. I was usually a smaller guy in Peewees and Bantams, so I took it personally when guys tried to knock me off the puck. It’s all about getting the low center of gravity and just having more than the guy you’re going up against.

MHJ//How do you maintain that competitive edge going into every game and every puck battle?

Miller//It’s huge. It’s easy to do if you love the game. It’s something you should always work on and you should always want to beat the guy you’re going up against. You should be going into every battle and wanting to come out with the puck.

MHJ//Outdoor hockey is big in Minnesota, but it’s huge in Grand Rapids. Were you a rink rat?

Miller//Yeah, for sure. When I got to Grand Rapids ,the friends I got to know, we’d either go to outdoor rinks or somebody’s backyard pond or something. Outdoor rinks was a big part of growing up.

MHJ//You won the 2014 Bantam AA State Tournament. What do you remember most about that year?

Miller//It’s weird. Most of the things I remember from that year are stories and little fun things that would happen in the locker room. You mostly remember the stuff with your teammates that happens before and after games. We’ve been friends for how long? We lost our first game in Regions and we had to win out and go through the back door to get to State. I think we just had a really competitive group and we all had the same goal in mind.

MHJ//Which coaches have influenced you the most?

Miller//There’s not just one coach. Ever since I start-ed playing hockey in Rapids, every single coach I had—Squirts, Peewees, Bantams, high school—they’ve helped me out so much. I really appreciate what every single one of them did for me. The relationships that I built with them definitely helped me a lot in getting where I am today.