Carson Miller was taken by the Prince Albert Raiders in the first round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft with the 21st pick. Along with Cole Fonstad (fithth overall) and Spencer Moe (28th overall), Miller is part of a young Prince Albert Raiders forward corps, that is not short on talent. Recently, Mathew Barzal, Keegan Kolesar and Ethan Bear, finished off what they had helped build with the Seattle Thunderbirds after all being taken with the first 25 picks of the 2012 Bantam Draft. Miller is hopeful that the Raiders trio can help start building something like that in Prince Albert.
“Getting drafted in the first round, I’m sure was about getting pushed by all those other guys in the WHL. Being a first round pick and getting that opportunity to build a core, just like all those other great teams, is a great thing. I look forward to what we are going to do since we have great coaching and opportunities here,” Miller said.
Miller had an amazing start in the WHL, scoring two goals in three games, while playing as a 15-year-old in 2015-16. He did not take that great start for granted. “It was definitely something special. Just how comfortable the older guys made me feel. The respect they showed to me, even as a younger guy. They showed me the way, right off the start. I’m sure the learning step, I took that first year, definitely carried over to my 16-year-old year.”
He scored seven times and added 12 assists, in an injury-shortened season as a 16-year-old.
He continues to look up to the older guys on the team over his past two seasons in the league. Guys like Kolten Olynek, Tim Vanstone and Cavin Leth helped pave the way for him.
“It was a different year last year, but they held us together like glue and I had a ton to learn from those guys last year and now this year, have three more to get the privilege of learning from.”
The 5-foot-10, 158 pound forward has moved around a lot this year, playing throughout the lineup and in different positions. “I take pride in playing all three positions. I like to play with different guys and there is a lot to learn, as well as different positives you can take from different linemates. I’ve moved around from left wing, to center, to right wing and that is from the coaching that is pushing me to do that. It’s been a good experience and has stuck with me.”
Miller suffered a shoulder injury last year, that ended his season early and required off-season surgery. He is finding the mental aspect of the injury tougher to overcome than the physical side. “Hockey is a roller coaster, just like life is. I’m sure it had a lot to do with my injury and my shoulder surgery. It’s definitely a mental battle and I still deal with it now. I’ve learned a ton and I will continue to learn in my time here in the WHL.”
Miller is a team-first guy through and though and this has not made it easier to find himself not scoring as much as he used to. Miller has no goals and two assists in 21 games this year. “I’m a guy who cares a lot on the ice and I give it all for my teammates. When something like that is bothering me or hurting me, I can’t give it my all, it really bothers me. Playing injured and having to think twice about things I should not have to, it really bothered me more than it should have. This year, after the surgery, I’m feeling better and just moving forward.”
Miller is a talented play-maker on the ice, but his injury has created a tough situation that he will need to overcome. This is on the forefront of the Yorkton, Sask. native’s mind. “To do my best for the team, I think I need to get my confidence back up. I need to have that swagger going and get back to the goal scorer that I always have been. Right now, I just need to contribute and do other things until that comes back. I look forward to it.”
Miller came out of the Yorkton program and is extremely tight with the guys he grew up with. “It was pretty cool for me. Our team was just a close team. We had twelve guys, all going to the same school and living two blocks away. We played road hockey together all night. We won about seven league titles, seven years in a row together. We were brothers and hung out every day together. It was really special in that sense.”
The team, which WHL fans should note included Kaeden and Keenan Taphorn of the Kootenay ICE, Brett Kemp of the Edmonton Oil Kings, Kaleb Bulych of the Vancouver Giants, Kaedan Korczak of the Kelowna Rockets, Carson Sass of the Red Deer Rebels, Nolan Maier of the Saskatoon Blades and Tristyn De Roose of the Moose Jaw Warriors, is as tight-nit as they come. “When we come back for Christmas, we always meet up. In the summer we train together and go to lakes together. We are best friends through hockey and we are keeping it up together.”
Miller put up 107 points in 28 games in his last year in bantam and if his blazing start as a 15-year-old is a sign, he has the talent to be an elite play-maker in the WHL. He is doggedly trying to regain this form after his injury and could soon be part of a still young and very talented group in Prince Albert.
