Veteran Netminder Returns For 18th NLL Season
Oakville, ON – Toronto Rock Owner, President and GM Jamie Dawick today announced the re-signing of goaltender Brandon Miller to a one-year contract. The coming season will be Miller’s 18th in the NLL and 5th season as a member of the Toronto Rock.
The signing is pending league approval.
“I’m really excited, more so than in recent memory to be honest,” explained Miller. “The past couple of years, when I’ve re-signed, it has almost felt like just another season and you just expect to play. But for some reason, the way the season went last year, the youth and the new feeling around the team, the new guys coming in and (Tom) Schreiber winning rookie of the year, Latrell Harris and the impact he had, the young guys from out west, it was just a different vibe, and it got me all pretty optimistic about things. When the contract offer came in this year, it got me more excited than I have been since my first few years in the league.”
After a stellar 2015 season that saw Miller backstop the Rock to a Champion’s Cup final appearance, the 38-year old from Orangeville, ON battled through a hip injury in 2016 and worked his way back from the IR in 2017. Miller underwent surgery in the summer of 2016 and by midway through the 2017 season was back on the Rock active roster. However, it wasn’t until the end of March that he saw any minutes, but his play in relief in a late season game against Buffalo, clinched the Rock a home playoff game.
“It might be part of why I’m more excited than usual to get the contract done,” said Miller of the comeback from hip surgery. “It was the first time going through a serious injury for me and having surgery at 37 last summer, I thought this might be the end. At times I was frustrated that it took longer than expected to come back, but after some time when I did come back, things started feeling really good, better than I had in recent years. It’s another big reason why I’m so excited, I felt rejuvenated through recovery process maybe because I wasn’t sure it was all going to come together again, I’m very happy it did.”
Miller went on to play one of his best games in recent memory during the post-season, allowing just five goals, once again in a relief situation, in Toronto’s 18-10 first round playoff win over the New England Black Wolves. Finally healthy, the veteran proved he could still get the job done, especially in clutch moments.
“I’m sure there were some questions about his future,” said Dawick. “But Brandon having the surgery last summer and working his way back, he’s finally healthy and proved to everyone that he can still play at a high level. I think he’s been recharged now that he’s back to feeling like himself in the net again. He’s excited about the upcoming year and working with Rosey with a focus on winning.”
Approaching two decades in the league, Miller has enjoyed stops along the way in Albany, San Jose, Chicago and Philadelphia before landing with the Rock at the 2014 NLL trade deadline.
In other goaltending news, Steve Fryer better known to his teammates as ‘DEEP’, recently signed with the Colorado Mammoth after spending the bulk of the last four seasons on the Rock practice roster.
“I wish Steve nothing but the best,” said Dawick. “He has a great opportunity ahead of him in Colorado and we wish him well.”
2018 Season Tickets are also on sale now. Please visit torontorock.com/tickets or call 416-596-3075 to purchase or for more information.
