Saturday, December 31, 2011

Steel Forward Miller Commits to RIT

Press Release

The Chicago Steel announced that forward Andrew Miller has committed to play hockey for Rochester Institute of Technology beginning next season.

"The coaching and the facilities were first class at RIT," Miller said. "They have a good academic program for my potential major of accounting or finance and it was just a great fit for me."

"RIT showed a lot of interest in me around Thanksgiving time. They called me last Tuesday evening [Dec. 20] and wanted me to fly out the next day. I saw the campus on Wednesday and made my decision the following morning."

Miller has collected 13 points (9g, 4a) while appearing in all 25 games for the Steel this season. He leads the club with nine goals. The 20-year-old recorded hat tricks in consecutive games in October, first scoring three goals on the 23rd in the 7-4 win vs. Muskegon and then tallied three in the 6-4 victory over Team USA on the 28th.

The native of West Dundee, Illinois first broke into the USHL last season scoring 11 points (5g, 6a) in 45 games with the Des Moines Buccaneers.

Miller is the second member of his family to get the chance to play college athletics. His mother, Maria, competed for four seasons at Eastern Illinois University as a member of the women's basketball team.

"My parents were very excited for me," he said. "They were kind of relieved to know where I was going to be playing college hockey next season."

Forward Woody Hudson and defenseman Alexander Kuqali of the Indiana Ice are two other current USHL players committed to play collegiate hockey at RIT.

The Rochester Institute of Technology is a member of the Atlantic Hockey conference and has six USHL alumni on the roster this season; Cameron Burt (Green Bay Gamblers), Ben Lynch (Cedar Rapids/Lincoln), Shane Madolora (Omaha Lancers), Taylor McReynolds (Green Bay Gamblers), Chris Saracino (Green Bay Gamblers), and Jeff Smith (Tri-City Storm).

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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