Checking In with Tim Miller
9/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Forward Tim Miller represents the half way point of this years freshman class as we have already gotten to know five of his classmates and have five more after him. Millsy, as he is known by amongst his teammates, is a forward who likes to play a physical game. He also enjoys working hard on the penalty kill.
| | Miller |
As Miller and his teammates prepare for their first exhibition games in less than two weeks, he took a moment to discuss a few things off the ice. Amongst other things, he made it known that hes not related to the Millers from Michigan State and he still brags to his best friend about his pee wee gamewinner.
On his roommate Andrew Cogliano ...
"I didn't know him before coming here. I talked to one of my good buddies from last year, Brock Bradford (Boston College), and he and Andrew had played together on the Canadian team. He said he was a really good guy, so I asked him if he wanted to be roommates and it worked out from there. We talked a couple times over the summer just to get to know each other a little bit. We played against each other a long time ago."
On his pre-game routine ...
"I usually get to the rink about 3 hours before just because I hate being rushed to do anything. I like to have as much time as I need to stretch, put all my equipment on and all the other things that need to get done before a game."
On when he began playing hockey ...
"I started playing when I was four. I started playing because my parents got my brother into playing. He's two years older than me. He was having fun with it so I decided to pick it up too. He played juniors at Compuware and then with the Plymouth Whalers a little bit. He's not playing now. He's going to school."
On his siblings ...
"I have seven half brothers and sisters and then my brother and me. I'm the youngest. My dad has nine kids. The oldest ones are in their 30's and married. I see them a lot and we get along well. They live in Minnesota now."
On where he played as a kid ...
"I played for the Birmingham Rangers for a couple years. As soon AAA started for our age group I played for Little Caesar's for four years. My dad works for Compuware, so it was a huge deal but I moved over to play for Compuware. I played with Zac MacVoy on that team. Then I was all set to play for Compuware's junior A team but then they folded. I went into the draft and tried to figure out which teams would be the best to go to. I was told either Omaha or Green Bay (both of the United States Hockey League). Omaha ended up drafting me. At that time it was a big decision whether I was going to the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) or go to college. I decided to keep my college eligibility and go to Omaha."
On why he chose college hockey over major juniors ...
"I talked to a lot of people about it. Obviously the ultimate goal is to play professionally. They said, 'if you're going to make it, you're going to make it whether you play college hockey or semi pro in the OHL. You might as well get a degree while you're playing hockey and go to college.' That really influenced me. On the other hand, some coaches were telling me that my style was OHL because I fought a lot last year. I enjoy school though. I'm going to love it here. I can already tell."
On his hometown and his relationship to the Michigan State Millers ...
"Davisburg is right near Clarkston. I actually tell people I'm from Clarkston. It's around Flint and White Lake. I went to Clarkston high school for two years. All the time people ask me if I'm related to any of the Millers that played at Michigan State. I just say, 'No, I'm the first Miller with my head on straight, going to Michigan.' There's no relation. Neither of them (his parents) went to Michigan or Michigan State, or even Michigan schools. My dad went to a small school in Chicago but we're all Michigan fans."
On committing to Michigan ...
"I was talking to New Hampshire a lot. That was the first school I started talking to, but I talked to Michigan State a little bit. But Michigan was about it. As soon as Michigan got involved, that was where I wanted to go. I think they started talking to me at the beginning of hockey season last year. I committed in the fall. I have the letter (of commitment) in a frame."
On his first game at Yost ...
"I have never been to Yost before. The only time I had seen Michigan play was the Michigan versus Michigan State game at the GLI about four years ago. I came to State's arena to see Michigan play State last year, when our team was playing in Indiana. I'll be so nervous playing at Yost for the first time. I won't be able to hear anything. Hopefully after a few shifts, I'll feel a little better. It's going to be exciting. I just don't want to fall running down the stairs coming out."
On Michigan players who have played for the Omaha Lancers ...
"I talked to (Jed) Ortmeyer a few of times down there. While the whole NHL thing was trying to get figured out, he was down there at the beginning of last year. Before he started playing in the AHL, he skated with our team. I talked to him a lot about Michigan, obviously he just loves it. I remember I asked Coach Hastings about (Jason) Dest and (Tim) Cook and guys from Michigan, and he said he just loved them. He said they were great players and that I'd fit in real well here."
On Omaha teammate Brandon Naurato committing to Michigan as well ...
"He committed a little bit after me. I was talking to him about it, and I knew that they still needed a couple more players. Naurato was injured at the beginning of the season, and he came back on fire. He was looking really good at the end of the season. I was excited for him, and we were excited about playing together for another four years."
On his favorite Michigan player ...
"I really like Ortmeyer because he wasn't drafted. It was all about hard work for him and that's what got him to where he is now. He's a great guy off the ice. I was talking to him about Michigan hockey and everything else. I saw him this summer. I went back to visit Omaha and I skated with him a couple of times."
On his style of play ...
"I don't know. People have told me they think I play like Keith Primeau, style-wise, physical, but can score. Obviously, I'll contribute any way I can for the team. I love being on the penalty kill. I take pride and do whatever I can to help the team out. I like working on the boards. I played center for a bit last year, but I play whereever I'm needed."
On his favorite goal ...
"Probably my favorite goal I've scored was before pee wees. I was playing against my best friend, Brandon Gentile, who's going to Michigan State now. He was on the Lakeland Hawks and I was on Birmingham. I didn't know him then, but our team had gotten killed the last time we played them, like 9-1. We were in the finals in districts. We went into overtime, and he was on the ice and I walked him on a one-on-one and just went in and scored on a breakaway. I still give it to him about that."
On how people can tell if he's having a good game ...
"Usually, if I'm having a good game, I'm playing really physical. Finishing every check I can. That usually helps me with getting scoring chances, opening things up for me, helping open up space for my teammates. As long as I'm playing physical, I feel like I'm in the game, ready to go."
On how quickly he can name his 10 classmates ...
"Andrew Cogliano, Jason Bailey, Jack Johnson, Danny Fardig, Mark Mitera, Brandon Naurato, Tyler Swystun ... Travis Turnbull ... Billy Sauer ... oh man ... MacVoy.
Miller moved through the the list of names consistently but, like many players before, got stuck on the final three. After a few moments he finished in a respectable 23 seconds.
Checking In with ... Schedule
Sept. 12 -- forward Jason Bailey
Sept. 13 -- forward Andrew Cogliano
Sept. 14 -- forward Danny Fardig
Sept. 15 -- defenseman Jack Johnson
Sept. 16 -- forward Zac MacVoy
Sept. 19 -- forward Tim Miller
Sept. 20 -- defenseman Mark Mitera
Sept. 21 -- forward Brandon Naurato
Sept. 22 -- goaltender Billy Sauer
Sept. 23 -- forward Tyler Swystun
Sept. 26 -- forward Travis Turnbull
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
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/ Ice HockeyBack for Another Season, Hughes Using Summer to Relax, Recharge
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Monday, April 07
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