NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Portland Winterhawks forward Ryan Miller makes a pass in the Medicine Hat Tigers end in the first period of a 5-0 Tigers' win on Oct. 11 at Co-op Place. The Medicine Hat product was named captain of the Winterhawks on Sunday, his third season in the WHL.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Ryan Miller made his second trip to Medicine Hat as a member of the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday. Just 24 hours later, he was named the 50th captain in franchise history.
The Medicine Hat product was presented with the C by his parents Cam and Michelle during a surprise announcement Sunday ahead of a 3-2 win at Calgary against the Hitmen.
“It’s definitely a huge honour and I take a lot of pride in being a leader, so I was thankful to hear my name,” Miller said. “It was definitely a special moment, especially with this organization, it’s such a great organization and such a great group of guys, I’m super excited.”
Miller was an alternate captain last season with the Winterhawks and last served as a captain during his second year of AA hockey in Medicine Hat. He says the new letter doesn’t change anything for him and he’s looking forward to working with the group in his third year in the WHL.
“I’ll take the same approach I’ve been doing the entire time I’ve been here, I’m not gonna change a whole lot in what I do and my personality,” Miller said. “What I’ve been doing has been obviously working so far, so I just have to stick with that and keep it going.”
The 18-year-old scored the tying goal in the win Sunday, entering play today in Edmonton against the Oil Kings with two goals and eight points in eight games. Portland, celebrating their 50th season, enter play Wednesday with a 4-4 record.
They’ve gone back and forth with wins and losses as of late, winning 9-4 Oct. 10 in Lethbridge over the Hurricanes before getting shutout 5-0 the next night in Medicine Hat ahead of the win in Calgary.
Wednesday’s game in Edmonton is the 10th of an 11-game road trip to start the season due to renovations to the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
Miller says it’s been an early test for the team that has also served as a team builder, spending more time on the bus and with one another. He’s passed the time playing cards, winning some games of poker and golf, but just enjoying his time in his third season.
He spoke with the News ahead of the Oct. 11 game in Medicine Hat, just his second time playing against his hometown Tigers.
“I’ve been pretty privileged playing in the league for my third year now, I love the organization I’m with, they’ve been awesome to me,” Miller said. “It’s definitely a lot different this time around than when I was 16 playing here.”
He’s seen maturity grow in his game, also getting a few years older. Getting more minutes and now more responsibility, it’s been step after step for the Hounds alumni. Looking back, Miller’s proud of how hard he worked at 16 to get him to this point.
“I was always working my hardest, I was coming in and trying to get better every day, even though I wasn’t playing that much,” Miller said. “That really set me up to get to where I am today.”
That work at 16 and the season that followed, put him in a place to make his NHL dream come true this June when he was selected in the fifth round, 130th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He attended Penguins development camp immediately after the draft and took part in training camp in the fall, joining Portland in time for their season opener. Miller enjoyed his training camp opportunity, smiling as he recalled meeting Sidney Crosby.
He watched the future hall of famer practise a few times and shared some conversations, relishing how hard he works every day. Miller says the Penguins gave him some things to work on and to keep in touch while he works to have a good season.
He has set his goals for what that season looks like for himself.
“Not taking a game off coming in, I know it can be a long season and especially when you start on the road, but just being prepared every game and willing to give it to my all and just trying to do my best and the results will come,” Miller said.
