NEW YORK - Before he even stepped on the Madison Square Garden ice Thursday, K'Andre Miller received a text from his mother, Amy Sokoloski. Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and raised in Hopkins, Miller began ice skating at the age of two. Physically, he's loaded with a ton of tools, size, skating. He's posted seven points in that span and is up to 23 (five goals and 18 assists) for the season. Click here for the upcoming schedule and to learn how to subscribe. Thats natural. There's a lot of things to like. You can cancel at any time! It's always been a big part of me.". A converted forward, he has a big 6-foot-4, 211-pound frame, raw athleticism and tremendous skating ability. Minnesota, and he was raised by single mother Amy Sokoloski in Hopkins. "A first-round pick like K'Andre -- you don't just want good players but good people. Amy is related to Timothy Richard Sokoloski and Viona Ranae Sokoloski as well as 3 additional people. My old high school coach, football coach actually, always used to say, Key, skys the limit. We're excited about the person, the player, the whole package.". K'Andre Miller was named the national rookie of the month on Thursday by the Hockey Commissioners Association, recognizing the Badgers defenseman for starting his collegiate career with seven points in six games. News: 2 days ago Miller logged a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout win over the Wild. Bold predictions for the second half of the NHL season: No Kane trade? Top 25 under 25 . He probably came as far as anybody (last year) as a player, said Seth Appert, Millers head coach with the NTDP. He's a fixture on many of USA Hockey's international tournament teams. The Rangers may not have to wait much longer to see what Miller can bring to the table at the next level. "I didn't feel like I was really ready or prepared for that next step yet," Miller says. 341 following. [8] He appeared in six games and recorded one assist for Team USA, who finished the tournament in fifth place. But three days before it began, he broke both of his hockey sticks, which have become pretty expensive these days. Click here for the upcoming schedule and to learn how to subscribe. The main culprits were Panarin and Alexis Lafrenire, who were charged with three giveaways apiece. I never wanted to play D because you wanted to be the guy scoring goals. He would be available to sign and join the Rangers' youthful defense corps after his college season concludes. The progress in becoming a high-level defenseman, Appert said, came from Millers coachability and willingness to adapt even when the assignments werent glamorous. But we just kept throwing him out there and throwing him out there, and he got better and he started to be more confident.. Youre an elite athlete. Miller's time at Wisconsin has shown him what it's like to be part of a rebuild, too. K'Andre Miller has "tools that people only dream to have," said Chris Drury, assistant general manager of the New York Rangers, who selected him 22nd overall in the first round of the 2018 NHL draft. "I knew deep down she was hurting as much as I was being away from my best friend.". He just took what skates they gave him and he went about his business like it didnt faze him one bit, Drury said. Top 25 under 25 . Normally, he would have joined the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate, for the remainder of their 201920 season, but by the time he left Wisconsin, the COVID-19 pandemic had already forced the suspension of both the NHL and AHL seasons. That part has required a bit of a learning curve, and there have been a few bumps along the way. Undrafted team captain Peter Tischke is likely to have a pro career waiting for him after his senior season. MADISON, Wisconsin -- K'Andre Miller, a sophomore defenseman for the Wisconsin Badgers' men's hockey team, has a star quality about him that is unmistakable, whether he's on He was primarily a forward, modeling his style of play after Mikko Koivu, but switched positions when Minnetonka High School needed another defenseman. 1 overall pick from the 2020 NHL Draft would jump from the third line to the first, along with taking Kreider's net-front position on the top power-play unit. That's already a career high, with 39 games to go. Through his first six games, Miller had seven points and led the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with a +9 plusminus. It's always been a big part of me.". Games like these, I know she's not in the stands, but I feel her presence and I think that's everything in a mother-son relationship like that. She worked hard to allow her only child to achieve his dreams, and her example has stuck with Miller and drives him. Miller, 19, is one of the most interesting prospects outside of the NHL today because of his current development trend and how he was shaped into the person he is today. MADISON, Wisconsin -- K'Andre Miller, a sophomore defenseman for the Wisconsin Badgers' men's hockey team, has a star quality about him that is unmistakable, whether he's on the ice or off. K'Andre Miller's unique path to becoming a top Rangers blue-line prospect, Arizona Coyotes debut new 'Desert Night' jerseys. Hes a perfectionist, and it was kind of hard on him. Yet he knew hockey was always going to win out as his sport. "I was hoping one of them was able to get it to me. After the murder of George Floyd, he voiced his support for the Black Lives Matter movement. "I knew deep down she was hurting as much as I was being away from my best friend.". I dont think it was something KAndre really wanted to do at first.. The 22-year-old defenseman has had several visits from his mother, Amy Sokoloski, since he made his arrival on the Rangers scene last season, but Tuesday will be something He was on the ice with Fox, the Rangers' best defenseman and Norris Trophy candidate, in what has become a preferred late-game pairing for head coach Gerard Gallant. Miller, 19, is one of the most interesting prospects outside of the NHL today because of his current development trend and how he was shaped into the person he is today. And he credits the lessons she taught him, the people she put in his life and how she let him go at 16 years old to put himself in a better position to pursue his dreams. [4], After registering five goals and 11 assists during his second season with Minnetonka, Miller left his high school to join the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP). And he is a centerpiece in the Rangers' rebuild and attempt to reenter contender status over the next few years. They may have been Granato's biggest wins since he returned to the program in 2016 after a long NHL coaching career. Youve got to get pucks in the corners and stuff like that. K'Andre Miller's unique path to becoming a top Rangers blue-line prospect, Arizona Coyotes debut new 'Desert Night' jerseys. NEW YORK - Before he even stepped on the Madison Square Garden ice Thursday, K'Andre Miller received a text from his mother, Amy Sokoloski. Hopkins native K'Andre Miller", "Rangers Trade Up to Nab Defenseman K'Andre Miller", "K'Andre Miller is first Minnesotan taken, 22nd overall by Rangers", "Rangers select defenseman K'Andre Miller at 22", "Eau Claire hockey star Emberson verbally commits to Wisconsin", "K'Andre Miller Impressing in First Year at Wisconsin", "Miller named HCA National Rookie of the Month", "Miller named HCA National Rookie of the Month for December", "Wisconsin Badgers' K'Andre Miller named a finalist for Big Ten's freshman of the year award", "Wisconsin Badgers' K'Andre Miller suspended for violation of men's hockey team rules", "Rangers' K'Andre Miller: Suspension lifted, set for opener", "K'Andre Miller signs entry-level contract with Rangers", "K'Andre Miller signs with New York Rangers after sophomore season with Badgers men's hockey team", "Rangers sign ex-Wisconsin defenseman K'Andre Miller", "Amid seasons uspension, the signing of K'Andre Miller is a bright spot for New York Rangers", "K'Andre Miller earns NY Rangers' roster spot: 'I've never been so prepared for a season', "K'Andre Miller offers Rangers a bright spot despite a blown lead in Pittsburgh", "Wraparound: Eichel finally enters goal column as Sabres defeat Rangers 32", "K'Andre Miller's confidence builds as he does 'heavy lifting' for New York Rangers", "How New Divisions, Schedule Will Work in 202021 NHL Season", "Rangers miss playoffs, struggles against East elite among reasons", "Rangers' K'Andre Miller looks to build on stellar rookie season", "K'Andre Miller may have found something in Rangers' last few games", "Big Goals: Ovechkin ties Hull, K'Andre Miller goes coast-to-coast", "Wisconsin Badgers' weary K'Andre Miller sees World Juniors experience as steppingstone for 2020 tournament", "Rangers prospect K'Andre Miller weighs in on George Floyd's death and his own experience with racism", "Rangers Prospect K'Andre Miller Faces Racial Abuse in a Team Video Chat", "Rangers' K'Andre Miller speaks out after being target of racist Zoom hack", "Behind the scenes with the Wisconsin Badgers' future NHL stars", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=K%27Andre_Miller&oldid=1134461547, 20th-century African-American sportspeople, 21st-century African-American sportspeople, Ice hockey players from Saint Paul, Minnesota, National Hockey League first-round draft picks, Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey players, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 18 January 2023, at 20:37. KAndre Miller drafted with mom by side a dream come true - YouTube 0:00 / 0:32 KAndre Miller drafted with mom by side a dream come true SPORTSNET 775K subscribers Moments like those have added up over the years: The mom who made it all possible and the kid who used to draw nets on the wall in his building's parking garage where he'd shoot tennis ball after tennis ball. ", 2020 NHL draft rankings Just prior to the season, Miller was suspended for an unspecified violation of team rules, causing him to miss an intrasquad game. Juniors Jack Berry and Johan Blomquist and freshman Daniel Lebedeff will vie for the starting goalie job for the Badgers. One time, Miller was preparing to head to Winnipeg, Manitoba, for a tournament Miller described as a "pretty big deal" in his hockey-playing life at that point. "Obviously, with these coaches [at Wisconsin], you're not going to find that anywhere else. Playing on the team's under-17 squad during the 201617 minor ice hockey season, he recorded three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 54 regular season and tournament games. And everything that we asked him to do as a coaching staff, he went and delivered upon.. [30], After aging out of under-18 tournaments, Miller represented the United States junior team at back-to-back IIHF World Junior Championships (WJC). The communication arts major had a conversation with his academic advisor about it and is taking a few classes this semester that he hopes will help him learn some more of the ins and outs of doing charitable work. With alumni that include Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios and current NHL standouts Ryan Suter and Ryan McDonagh, Wisconsin is essentially "Defenseman U." "Every team does their homework -- we're no different," Drury says. His Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Miller is already taking steps in that direction while in school. It was just a quick shot on net and the boys did a great job of screening and getting the puck back and giving us one more chance. Miller entered this season as one of two unanimous selections to the preseason All-Big Ten first team. Add in humility. Miller left Wisconsin after two seasons to sign a contract with the Rangers. Helling climbed the ranks in a different sport in a different era, but the commonalities between him and Miller make the connection real. It wasnt that he didnt want to do it, Urick remembers. Defensively, the more and more he plays at high levels, like at the World Juniors and in college, he's getting better and better.". That part has required a bit of a learning curve, and there have been a few bumps along the way. This kid just showed up, put his head down, went to work and never said a word.. "We didn't come from the richest family. 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