In the World Junior Championships, JT Miller had two goals and seven assists to finish in the top ten in tournament scoring.
After the game, Miller told Mike Morreale of NHL.com,”I started blacking out, my heart was pounding thru my chest; Don’t think I’ve been happier in my whole life”
Following the Gold Medal game against Sweden, Chris Peters wrote at the United States of Hockey that Miller wanted redemption after the seventh place finish Team USA had in 2012. He added that after a slow start to the tournament, Miller was “excellent” at the end of the tournament.
In his wrap up of the entire tournament, Peters wrote that Miller simplified his game after some early tournament struggles and started playing to his strengths. Those strengths, Peters says, are his vision, size and skill and his play in the second half of the tournament showed a glimpse of the kind of player he will be when he reaches the NHL.
Love seeing JT MIller yell "Oh my God! Oh my God!" in disbelief after Trocheck's ENG in the gold medal game. What a turn around from last yr— Julie Robenhymer (@JulieRobenhymer) January 07, 2013
Grant Sonier of ESPN Insider, writes that Miller is the kind of player that all winning teams need. He says that Miller played a big part as a defensive forward for Team USA and most importantly, he is “the type who will give his body up for the cause.”
In the NY Post, Larry Brooks writes that the plan is for the Rangers to keep JT Miller with the Whale even though training camp is expected to open in the next 7-10 days.
Brooks writes that if Miller continues to progress then the team won’t hesitate to call him up and inject him into the lineup.
He also notes that with the crunch of the schedule it is more likely that teams may replace struggling veterans with players from the AHL.
Bob McKenzie says that Miller is a player the Rangers are considering
Adam Rotter: Miller can play center and wing and is coming off a Gold Medal winning performance for Team USA. Miller is a guy who can play in the bottom six and focus on defense as he develops as a player. Since he was drafted he has drawn comparisons, in terms of style of play, to Ryan Kesler and Mike Richards and that is how both of those players started their careers.
In his last two games, JT Miller has one goal and four assists as he helps Team USA to the Gold Medal game this weekend at the WJC.
Miller has elevated his game, according to Chris Peters at the United States of Hockey and part of that has been due to the presence of Jimmy Vesey who was promoted to his line. He also praised Miller’s size, speed and ability to get pucks to the net.
Peters says “ It doesn’t always look pretty with Miller, but he finds a way to make plays and has done so expertly the last few contests.”
In the Hartford Courant, Paul Doyle writes that Miller is a “strong candidate” to join the Rangers if the lockout is settled.
Adam Rotter: If/when the lockout gets settled and the Rangers start, I think Miller will probably be invited to training camp but I think it’s more than likely that he spends the whole season with the Whale. He is just getting his feet wet down there and should start to play better, as he has, when he returns from the World Juniors. I don’t think the Rangers want to rush Miller and will instead let him fight for what will likely be open spots in 2013-14 after the cap comes down and they make some moves.
JT Miller and Team USA defeated the Czech Republic 7-0 today to set up a rematch with Canada tomorrow at the World Juniors.
Miller had a goal and two primary assists today in the USA Win. Miller won 5 faceoffs and lost 10 and only had one shot on goal.
At the United States of Hockey, Chris Peters says that Miller seems to have “new life” in the tournament and “is looking more like the mature playmaker everyone expected him to be coming into the WJC,
http://t.co/IJHgwz2V JT Miller is jumping out of the way of Jacob Trouba's slap shot vs CZE in 1/4 final. USA won game 7-0— Grant Sonier (@GPSHOCKEY) January 02, 2013
In the tournament, Miller has played FIVE games, has TWO goals and FOUR assists, ONE penalty, a PLUS ONE rating and 12 shots on goal.
Early this morning JT Miller and Team USA lost 2-1 to Canada in the World Junior Championships.
Miller was scoreless today, won 5 faceoffs and lost 6, had three second period shots and was on the ice for both goals scored against Team USA.
Miller lost the faceoff which led to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal. RNH shot the puck past Miller who attempted to block the shot
Chris Peters writes at the United States of Hockey that this may have been his best game of the tournament but that isn’t saying much. He says that Miller needs to become the difference maker that Team USA thought he would be.
Dave Starman writes at NHL.com that Miller and the rest of the top six forwards were “invisible” today and that Miller needs to be a bigger presence in front of the net.
Yesterday, in Team USA’s 2-1 loss to Russia, JT Miller had three shots on goal and won 10 faceoffs and lost 7.
Chris Peters, of the United States of Hockey, writes that yesterday was a frustrating game for Miller who looks like he is trying to do too much on the ice.
He adds that the expectations for Miller were very high in this tournament and right now he is falling short of them.
In terms of Miller’s play with his linemates Rocco Grimaldi and Johnny Gaudreau, Peters writes that something about them is out of sync and they seem to be taking too long to make decisions. He says “There’s too much skill in that group to play as they have so far. There were probably about four total shifts where they looked like they’re supposed to.”
U.S. forward JT Miller: "It was pretty quiet [in locker room] after the game. I think the guys knew we should have won that game" #2013wjc— Mike Morreale (@mike_morreale) December 28, 2012
That goal appeared to trigger Miller as Chris Peters writes, at the United States of Hockey, that Miller wasn’t doing enough before then. Following the goal Miller used his speed, was more physical and was just more involved as the game went on.
Peters notes that his line as a whole, with Rocco Grimaldi and Johnny Gaudreau got better as the game went on along, but will need to do more as the tournament goes on. He writes “As these guys get more comfortable together, they should be more dangerous. Miller scored a nice goal and this group became a lot more threatening in the third period.”
11:28AM: Miller, who has an “A” on his jersey when Team USA wears white had the following stat line:
1 goal
9 wins/4 losses on faceoffs
2 shots on goal
+1 rating
11:24AM: JT Miller scored the seventh goal for Team USA Today in their game against Germany.
The sequence starts, 4 on 4, with Miller in the Germany zone taking a faceoff and winning it back to Seth Jones.
Jones then passed it back to Miller by the far boards and then Miller passed it cross ice to the point where Jones took a pass and fired a slap shot that went off the glass.
The puck found it’s way to Miler who brought it out to center ice so Team USA could regroup.
Miller then brings the puck into the Germany zone before having it knocked off his stick at the top of the circles.
He chases after the puck into the corner and then fires a backhand no-look pass towards the middle of the ice that is intercepted.
The German player loses the puck/miscommunicates with a teammate and Miller scoops up the loose puck at the top of the circle.
He then skates it in alone, makes a couple of moves in front of the goalie and tucks it under the goalies pad.
JT Miller dipsy-doodles in the slot and pokes one under the pads to make it 7-0 #usa with 11 left in regulation. #2013WJC— Julie Robenhymer (@JulieRobenhymer) December 27, 2012
J.T. Miller shows off those underrated hands getting past the D and stuffing in Team USA's seventh goal. #2013WJC— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) December 27, 2012
JT Miller with one quick deke to free himself in front of the German goal, slips it five-hole. 7-0 US. #2013WJC …@PWhalers alum.— MiHockey (@MiHockeyNow) December 27, 2012
n the World Junior Championships, JT Miller had two goals and seven assists to finish in the top ten in tournament scoring.
Team USA has just defeated Canada in the semi-finals of the World Junior Championships by a score of 5-1.
