NEWS

Former Toronto Thunderbird and St. Michael's Buzzer Greg Miller (photo credit - Patrick Shanahan/Cornell Athletic Communications), now with the Cornell University Big Red, was named the ECAC's Best Defensive Forward for his performance this past season.

The Toronto, Ontario native joined the OJHL as a 16-year old member of the Toronto Thunderbirds in 2005-06 and would taste instant success, recording 12 goals and 32 points in 48 games played to finish eighth on the club in scoring.  The following year Miller would join the St. Michael's Buzzers and would spend the next three seasons from 2006-09 patrolling the wing.  Each season with the Buzzers, he would see a significant increase in his offensive output, jumping from 16 to 32 goals and 37 to 67 points during his first two years at St. Mike's, finishing tied for second in goal scoring on the club in 2007-08.  Also that season, while helping the Buzzers capture the regular season league title, Miller would be named to Team East, helping them win the CJHL Prospect Game series that was held in Winkler, Manitoba, 5-3.  Named team captain during his final season of Junior 'A' hockey, Miller would lead the Buzzers and finish fifth overall in league scoring with 91 points in 49 games played.  He would also help Team Canada East win the bronze medal at the 2008 World Junior 'A' Challenge held in Camrose, Alberta.

Below is the official press release from the Cornell University Athletics website (www.cornellbigred.com):

Senior forward Greg Miller has won the ECAC Hockey Best Defensive Forward Award and was named to the All-ECAC Hockey Third Team, it was announced Thursday night at the league's annual banquet at Boardwalk Hall. Also a member of the All-Ivy League First Team, Miller is currently tied for second in the league with a plus-18 rating, won 58 percent of his faceoffs and committed just two minor penalties in his fourth and final season with the Big Red.
 
Primarily known for his offensive ability, Miller led Cornell in scoring for a third straight season with 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points in 33 games. But Miller has also been a steady defensive presence and was named a finalist for the best defensive forward award last season, too. He has won at least half of his faceoffs in 18 of his last 23 games. Miller was on the ice for an opponent's five-on-five goal just six times in 22 league games. Off the top 26 players in plus/minus rating in ECAC Hockey, just two play for a sub-.500 team — Miller and linemate Brian Ferlin (plus-10).
 
The other two finalists for the best defensive forward award were Quinnipiac senior Jeremy Langlois and Dartmouth sophomore Tyler Sikura. The Big Red last won the award in 2009, when it was given to then-senior Tyler Mugford. Other Cornell winners of the award, which was first bestowed in 1993, include Stephen Bâby (2002 & 2003), Doug Steinstra (2000) and Brad Chartrand (1996).
 
Miller is the Big Red's first three-time leading scorer since Matt Moulson '06. He came up just two points shy of becoming the program's 48th player to reach 100 career points.