Mitchell Miller (ice hockey): Difference between revisions

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He's been playing in Slovakia, a pro league
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| position = [[Defenseman (ice hockey)|Defense]]
| shoots = Right
| league = [[SlovakKontinental ExtraligaHockey League|SVKKHL]]
| team = [[MHkAk 32Bars Liptovský MikulášKazan]]
| former_teams = [[MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš]]
| draft = 111th overall
| draft_year = 2020
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| career_end =
}}
'''Mitchell Miller''' (born December 20, 2001) is an American professional [[ice hockey]] [[Defenceman|defenseman]] for [[MHkAk 32Bars Liptovský MikulášKazan]] of the [[SlovakKontinental ExtraligaHockey League]] (KHL). He was drafted 111th overall by the [[Arizona Coyotes]] in the [[2020 NHL Entry Draft]], but had his draft status revoked after it emerged that he had repeatedly subjected a disabled black classmate to extreme [[bullying]] throughout multiple years of grade school.<ref>{{Cite web |last=dale.miller@theindependent.com |first=Dale Miller |title=Family speaks out about son's treatment by hockey player |url=https://theindependent.com/sports/local/family-speaks-out-about-sons-treatment-by-hockey-player/article_5d881908-1122-11ec-9c24-b35e836307b1.html |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=The Grand Island Independent |date=September 8, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> A commitment to join the [[North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey|University of North Dakota]] was also ended as a result of Miller's past conduct, and in 2021 he re-joined the [[Tri-City Storm]].<ref name="ca.sports.yahoo.com">{{Cite web |title=Renounced NHL draft pick Mitchell Miller joins USHL team amid vile bullying saga |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/mitchell-miller-tri-city-storm-renounced-nhl-draft-pick-joins-ushl-team-despite-vile-bullying-saga-203136291.html |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=ca.sports.yahoo.com |date=August 25, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> In November 2022, he signed an entry-level contract with the [[Boston Bruins]], but the team parted ways with him two days later after intense backlash.<ref name="Bruins Update"/>
 
==Early life==
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On November 4, 2022, Miller signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the [[Boston Bruins]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bruins sign renounced Coyotes draft pick, Mitchell Miller, to entry-level deal | url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/bruins-sign-renounced-coyotes-draft-pick-mitchell-miller-to-entry-level-deal/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Sportsnet.ca |language=en}}</ref> The next day, NHL commissioner [[Gary Bettman]] stated that Miller was not eligible to play in the NHL, adding, "I can't tell you that he'll ever be eligible to come into the NHL."<ref name="clark">{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Ryan S. |title=Bettman: Bruins signee Miller 'not eligible' in NHL |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34954408/gary-bettman-bruins-signee-mitchell-miller-not-eligible |website=ESPN.com |access-date=16 September 2023 |language=en |date=5 November 2022}}</ref>
 
On November 6, 2022, the Bruins parted ways with Miller following considerable pressure from fans and current Bruins players.<ref name="Bruins Update">{{cite web |title=Bruins Issue Update On Mitchell Miller |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-issue-update-on-mitchell-miller/c-337296694 |website=NHL.com |date=November 7, 2022 |publisher=NHL |access-date=7 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wyshynski |first1=Greg |title=Cam Neely says Bruins 'failed' in vetting Mitchell Miller |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34971594/cam-neely-says-bruins-failed-vetting-mitchell-miller |website=ESPN.com |access-date=7 November 2022 |language=en |date=7 November 2022}}</ref> The club stated it had severed ties with Miller, although he was still technically under contract with the Bruins at the time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shilton |first1=Kristen |title=Bruins make new policies in wake of Miller signing |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/35306927/bruins-announce-new-policies-wake-mitchell-miller-signing |website=ESPN.com |access-date=23 December 2022 |language=en |date=22 December 2022}}</ref> As of December 23, 2022, he had earned over $116,000 from that contract.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gallant |first1=Colin |title=Boston's Mitchell Miller Debacle Leads To Changes In Organization |url=https://clutchpoints.com/bostons-mitchell-miller-debacle-leads-to-changes-in-organization |website=ClutchPoints |access-date=9 February 2023 |language=en |date=23 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Insider drops major Mitchell Miller bombshell |url=https://www.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news/insider-drops-major-mitchell-miller-bombshell |website=HockeyFeed |access-date=18 March 2023 |language=en |date=23 December 2022}}</ref>
 
In February of 2023, the Bruins reached an agreement with Miller that permanently ended his association with the club. Miller received an undisclosed sum of money and was granted free agency, under a condition of confidentiality. The existence of the deal was not reported to the public until July 2023 in a ''[[New York Post]]'' article, which also stated that Mitchell was expected to try to play for a team in Europe.<ref name="Brooks">{{cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Larry |title=Bruins' divorce of Mitchell Miller finalized in February settlement |url=https://nypost.com/2023/07/22/bruins-divorce-of-mitchell-miller-finalized-in-february-settlement/ |publisher=NY Post |access-date=23 July 2023 |date=23 July 2023}}</ref>
 
On August 2, 2023, Miller signed with [[MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš]] of the [[Slovak Extraliga]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Former Coyotes draft pick Mitchell Miller signs with HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš in Slovakia |url=https://theathletic.com/4743832/2023/08/02/mitchell-miller-arizona-coyotes-boston-bruins-slovakia/ |publisher=[[The Athletic]] |access-date=2 August 2023 |date=2 August 2023}}</ref>
 
==Bullying incidents==
In 2016, Miller and a classmate were found delinquent in an Ohio [[juvenile court]] on charges of assault and a violation of the Ohio Safe Schools Act.<ref name="blade2016">{{cite news |title=Sylvania teen admits to assaulting classmate |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/local/courts/2016/04/04/Teen-in-Sylvania-bullying-case-admits-assaulting-classmate/stories/20160404174 |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |work=The Blade |date=April 4, 2016 |language=en}}</ref> The pair were accused and found guilty of deceiving a developmentally disabled African American classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, into eating a piece of candy that they had wiped in a [[urinal]], repeated bullying of Meyer-Crothers, and repeatedly calling him a [[nigger]].<ref>{{Cite web |titlename=Renounced NHL draft pick Mitchell Miller joins USHL team amid vile bullying saga |url=https://"ca.sports.yahoo.com"/news/mitchell-miller-tri-city-storm-renounced-nhl-draft-pick-joins-ushl-team-despite-vile-bullying-saga-203136291.html |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=ca.sports.yahoo.com |language=en-US}}></ref> <refname="Waldstein">{{Cite news |last=Waldstein |first=David |date=2022-11-05 |title=N.H.L. Commissioner Says Player Who Racially Abused a Classmate Is Ineligible |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/05/sports/hockey/bruins-miller-bettman-nhl.html |access-date=2022-11-08 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chappell |first=Bill |date=2022-11-07 |title=NHL team yanks contract of a player who bullied a Black classmate with disabilities |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/11/07/1134761991/mitchell-miller-boston-bruins-canceled-contract-bullying |access-date=2022-11-08}}</ref> Surveillance video also captured them kicking and punching Meyer-Crothers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rowland |first1=Kyle |title=Sylvania teen admits to bullying |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/local/education/2016/03/18/Sylvania-teen-delinquent-in-schoolmate-s-assault/stories/20160318178 |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |work=The Blade |date=March 18, 2016 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |lastname="Waldstein |first=David |date=2022-11-05 |title=N.H.L. Commissioner Says Player Who Racially Abused a Classmate Is Ineligible |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https:"//www.nytimes.com/2022/11/05/sports/hockey/bruins-miller-bettman-nhl.html |access-date=2022-11-08 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
 
The bullying incidents resurfaced after ''[[The Arizona Republic]]'' published an in-depth report on Miller on October 26, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=De la Fuente |first1=Homero |last2=Asmelash |first2=Leah |title=NHL's Coyotes sever ties with top draft pick who admitted to bullying Black classmate with disabilities |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/29/us/coyotes-mitchell-miller-trnd/index.html |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |work=CNN |date=October 29, 2020}}</ref> The ''Republic'' [[exposé (journalism)|exposé]] also revealed that Miller would frequently use the words "nigger" and "BROWNIE" to refer to Meyer-Crothers and often told him to "go pick their cotton".<ref name="expose">{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Craig |last2=Romero |first2=Jose M. |title=Arizona Coyotes top draft pick was convicted for bullying Black teen with disabilities |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2020/10/26/arizona-coyotes-top-draft-pick-bullied-black-disabled-kid-4-years-ago/3735555001/ |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=October 26, 2020}}</ref> The Coyotes initially defended Miller, citing their desire to "be a part of the solution in a real way" and to help Miller grow from this incident and eventually become a leader against bullying and racism.<ref name="expose"/><ref name="espn"/> Although Coyotes general manager [[Bill Armstrong (ice hockey, born 1970)|Bill Armstrong]] did not draft Miller, he expressed the team's desire to provide Miller with a second chance.<ref name="expose"/>
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According to the ''Republic,'' Miller apologized to the then 31 NHL teams (the [[Seattle Kraken]] had not formally joined the league at the time), but never to Meyer-Crothers or to his family.<ref name="expose"/> In a letter addressed to the Coyotes, Meyer-Crothers' mother, Joni, found Armstrong's comments demeaning to her son, stating that while Miller's classmate apologized to Meyer-Crothers, Miller himself was unwilling to show remorse. A juvenile court magistrate in Ohio concluded that Miller had absolutely no remorse for his actions against Meyer-Crothers and was merely upset that his reputation would be damaged by the situation. As a result of the exposé, the Coyotes received widespread criticism for drafting Miller.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cluff |first1=Jeremy |title=Arizona Coyotes criticized by fans, media for drafting player convicted of bullying |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2020/10/26/arizona-coyotes-under-fire-controversial-mitchell-miller-nhl-pick/6048698002/ |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=October 26, 2020}}</ref> This ultimately led to the Coyotes renouncing their draft rights to Miller and cutting all ties with him.<ref name="nyt"/><ref name="espn"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Romero |first1=Jose M. |last2=Harris |first2=Craig |title=Arizona Coyotes cut ties with controversial draft pick Mitchell Miller |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2020/10/29/arizona-coyotes-renounce-rights-controversial-pick-mitchell-miller/6073962002/ |accessdate=October 30, 2020 |work=The Arizona Republic |date=October 29, 2020}}</ref> A day later, Miller was dropped from the University of North Dakota's hockey team as well. According to UND president [[Andrew Armacost]], school officials and Miller's family mutually agreed that Miller should no longer be on the team.<ref name="dropped"/>
 
More details about the bullying surfaced after ''The Independent'' published a detailed letter from the Meyer-Crothers family, reiterating that Miller has not apologized to the family, and detailing further accusations about Miller's behavior, including repeated use of the word "nigger", spitting in Meyer-Crothers' face, and smacking and punching Meyer-Crothers on the school bus starting as early as 1st grade.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Dale|title=Family speaks out about son's treatment by hockey player |url=https://theindependent.com/sports/local/family-speaks-out-about-sons-treatment-by-hockey-player/article_5d881908-1122-11ec-9c24-b35e836307b1.html |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=The Grand Island Independent |date=September 8, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |titlename=Renounced NHL draft pick Mitchell Miller joins USHL team amid vile bullying saga |url=https://"ca.sports.yahoo.com"/news/mitchell-miller-tri-city-storm-renounced-nhl-draft-pick-joins-ushl-team-despite-vile-bullying-saga-203136291.html |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=ca.sports.yahoo.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Miller claimed that his court-mandated apology letter was read to the Meyer-Crothers family, but the Meyer-Crothers family informed the Bruins that the apology was only made through social media.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brehm |first=Mike |title=Bullying victim Isaiah Meyer-Crothers releases statement on former Bruins signee Mitchell Miller |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/bruins/2022/11/09/mitchell-miller-bullying-victim-isaiah-meyer-crothers-statement-bruins/8314807001/ |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Maxwell |first1=Scott |title=Erik Karlsson has spoken to Leafs, Hurricanes, Penguins, and Kraken while awaiting trade |url=https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/erik-karlsson-has-spoken-to-leafs-hurricanes-penguins-and-kraken-while-awaiting-trade |website=Daily Faceoff |access-date=7 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
 
==Career statistics==
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| 60 || 39 || 44 || 83 || 75
| 5 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 4
|-
| [[2023–24 Slovak Extraliga season|2023–24]]
| [[MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš]]
| [[Slovak Extraliga|Slovak]]
| 19 || 6 || 23 || 29 || 12
| — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [[2023–24 KHL season|2023–24]]
| [[Ak Bars Kazan]]
| [[Kontinental Hockey League|KHL]]
| 32 || 3 || 10 || 13 || 8
| 5 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 0
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"| USHLKHL totals
! 15432 !! 513 !! 8210 !! 13313 !! 1358
! 115 !! 20 !! 3 !! 53 !! 60
|}
 
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[[Category:2001 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Ak Bars Kazan players]]
[[Category:American men's ice hockey defensemen]]
[[Category:Anti-black racism in the United States]]
[[Category:Arizona Coyotes draft picks]]
[[Category:Cedar Rapids RoughRiders players]]
[[Category:MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš players]]
[[Category:Ice hockey players from Ohio]]
[[Category:People from Sylvania, Ohio]]