J.T. Miller's Grit and Skill is a Good Fit in Plymouth

It’s too bad Whalers forward J.T. Miller doesn’t get paid by the mile.

As a member of the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor over the last two seasons, Miller played all over the United States against United States Hockey League and college teams.  He also played for Team USA on the world stage in several tournaments.

There were no breaks before or after the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft this summer and his selection by the New York Rangers in the first round (15^th overall).

As a first round pick, Miller made all his Ranger commitments this summer as well, going to New York’s Rookie Orientation, playing with the team’s entry in the NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City and attending the Rangers training camp before reporting to Plymouth.

Miller didn’t look tired as he spoke before practice on Tuesday.

“I had a crazy summer and a pretty busy September as well,” he admitted.  “But now I’m finally settling in with my team and am looking forward to playing well this season.”

Miller clicked immediately on a line with Mitchell Heard and Tom Wilson in the Whalers’ 6-2 win over Erie last Saturday.  The line created and sustained offensive pressure deep in the Erie zone, beating defenders to the puck all game long.  Heard’s goal in the second period won’t win many style points, but was the result of the line winning battles for the puck and then making plays.

See the highlights of the Whalers win against Erie.

The current en vogue term is Puck Luck, but most forward lines make their own luck by winning one-on-one battles in the gritty areas of the ice.  That’s what every Plymouth line did last Saturday to wear down the Otters.

“I thought (as) a line we would have a lot of chemistry and get pucks down low and use our size and skill to create some room,” Miller said.  “Hopefully, we’d get pucks in the net.  (The forecheck) gave us more confidence throughout the game. We knew what we had to do against that team - if we got pucks down deep, we’d be successful.  Everyone was building off that and we had a good game as a result.”

Miller comes to Plymouth as advertised – a power forward who plays with skill and grit. 

“I’m going to try to use my size and my skill to my advantage down low," Miller said. "I try to protect the puck and make room to make skilled plays to make something happen for my line.”

WHALERS BRING IN OTTAWA ON FRIDAY, LONDON ON SATURDAY: Plymouth faces two undefeated team this weekend at Compuware Arena, facing Ottawa (2-0) on Friday and London (2-0) on Saturday.  Both games start at 7:05pm with Friday being the Whalers first $5 Friday sponsored by 99.5FM WYCD.

The 67's have a Red Wing connection with Petr Mrazek in goal.  Detroit selected Mrazek in the fifth round (141st overall) in the 2010 NHl Entry Draft.  Mrazek is now in his third season with the 67's and has compiled a 2.85 goals against average and .916 save percentage in 84 career games with Ottawa.

Neate Sager of Yahoo! Sports Junior Hockey profiled Mrazek earlier this season:

"Ottawa 67's star goaltender Petr Mrazek didn't need to spend as much time at home in Ostrava, Czech Republic, as he did after his first season in Canada.

That might be a sign of how Mrazek, 19, who might be the Ontario Hockey League's best goalie, has come of age and why the Detroit Red Wings got a potential steal when they selected him 141st overall in 2010. Mrazek, on his best days, is enough of a treat to watch that 67's owner Jeff Hunt might worry about a drop-off in concession sales at the Ottawa Civic Centre because his goalie's show-stopping saves are sweeter than any of the goodies on sale. On top of that, Mrazek has obsorbed that a goalie has to be the most upbeat person in an OHL team's dressing room — roll with the punches on the ice, upbeat off it, because if the player with the highest-pressure job isn't unnerved, how can anyone else be?"

See the rest of the story.

Ottawa just received 57-goal scorer Tyler Toffoli back from the Los Angeles Kings and he is scheduled to make his Ottawa debut on Friday.  Toffoli scored his 50th goal of the year last season at Compuware Arena on Feb. 25 in the Whalers 4-3 win over Ottawa.

Don Campbell of the Ottawa Citizen profiles Toffoli.

On Saturday, the Whalers renew festivities with London.  Before the game, the Whalers and Knights will acknowledge the family of Ian Jenkins in a ceremonial faceoff. Jenkins - a London draft choice from the area - passed away last spring in an accident. But Jenkins remains an inspiration to a lot of people.

Former Whalers goalied Jake Patterson is a backup goaltender with London and decided to wear number 35 as a tribute to Jenkins.

While rookie Max Domi is generating a lot of interest in London, goaltender Michael Houser starts the season hot for the Knights, allowing just one goal in his first two games.  Never drafted, Houser is playing for a pro contract. 

After Saturday's game, Plymouth hits the road, playing in Peterborough on Oct. 6, Kingston on Oct. 7, Ottawa on Oct. 9 and Windsor on Oct. 13 before returning home to face Niagara on Fri. Oct. 14.

Plymouth plays in the annual Pink Out! for Breast Cancer Awareness on Sat. Oct. 15 against Sarnia.