NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat product and Portland Winterhawks forward Ryan Miller works with a puck during warmups ahead of the WInterhawks 6-3 win Wednesday night at Co-op Place over the Medicine Hat Tigers.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
Ryan Miller grew up watching the Medicine Hat Tigers and dreaming of being at that level. Wednesday night, that dream came true for the local product.
The 16-year-old Portland Winterhawks forward was in the lineup in a 6-3 Portland win over the Tigers at Co-op Place, Miller’s first WHL game in his hometown.
“I was really excited to have a lot of people watch me play, it felt awesome to be in that moment,” Miller said.
He did not know just how many friends and family were in attendance Wednesday, but there were a lot of Portland jerseys with Miller on the back and they crowded the glass during warmups and at the end of the contest to cheer on the local kid.
Having watched warmups and the orange and black play throughout his childhood, it was an emotional experience for Miller getting to live out his dream.
“Emotions are high for sure, just extremely excited having grown up watching players on the Tigers in this rink all the time,” Miller said. “It was just surreal, growing up watching players play in this rink and we practised (Tuesday) to just get a feel for the ice, haven’t played on it in quite a bit. So I was (eventually) pretty used to that.”
The last game he played at Co-op Place was as a member of the SEAC Tigers in 2020-21. He played for the Northern Alberta Xtreme U15 team the year after that leading to Portland drafting him 66th overall. He made the move back home last season to the Dunmore-based South Alberta Hockey Academy.
Miller is one of three local kids to play minor hockey in the city, suit up for SAHA and make the WHL ranks, joining Medicine Hat Tigers Josh Van Mulligen and Shane Smith.
“It’s definitely a huge moment for me, coming into the ‘Dub’ as a 16-year-old, not too many 16-year-olds make it,” Miller said. “I just think if I keep going, keep doing what I’m doing and focusing a little bit more, then I’ll probably make it.”
He’s had a slow start to the season, with Wednesday’s game being only his first contest on the year giving him a combined six WHL games dating back to last season. Miller underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason after SAHA’s year wrapped up, limiting his start time to this season.
He was able to rehab his shoulder in Portland and is excited to be back in game action and says the team made it easier for him to handle being out.
“It’s kind of tough just watching other players play, you just want to get out there so bad,” Miller said. “Just being dialled in every night, every day, this is the game I want to be in.
“There’s a lot of older guys and how they prepare for games and every day they show up to the rink ready to practise, they’re pretty much dialled in every single day.”
Miller has also been able to learn from one of the more experienced head coaches in the Western Hockey League, with Mike Johnston at the helm of the Winterhawks. He considers himself lucky to work with Johnston who likes Miller’s work ethic.
“It was disappointing last year when we found out he had to have shoulder surgery and he wouldn’t be available to us until November,” Johnston said. “He’s just started playing for us but the one thing about Ryan is, and people around (Medicine Hat) know this, he’s one of the hardest working kids.
“He’s going to have a good career in our league, because he works so hard. He’s got skill, but I just love his work ethic and how every day he brings it.”
