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So.Mn.Fan -> RE: RE:Gopher Hockey (4/21/2008 8:15:46 PM)
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Hockey forward Joey Miller, a former two-sport standout at Wayzata High School, verbally committed to the University of Minnesota on Friday.
Miller played for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL this season and was second on the team in goals with 23 and points with 49 in 62 games. The Musketeers' season ended Thursday with a loss in the playoffs.
North Dakota also was recruiting the 5-11, 195-pound Miller. He turned down a full scholarship offer from St. Lawrence.
Details of his Minnesota offer will be worked out after Gophers coach Don Lucia, who left Saturday for Florida, returns from a week of coaches' meetings.
"I don't care about [scholarship details] so much," Miller said. "[Lucia] offered me a spot, and I verbally committed. I want to be part of the team."
Tony Lucia, Miller's best friend, is a Gophers sophomore forward. Tony Lucia, Don's son, and Miller were hockey teammates from Pee Wees through high school.
"I want to be a Gopher more than I want to be a pro; hockey is so big in Minnesota," Miller said.
Miller's father, John, played football for the Gophers in the mid-1970s. Minnesota also recruited Joey for football. As a senior running back, he rushed 39 times for 252 yards as Wayzata beat Cretin-Derham Hall 28-24 for the Class 5A title in the 2005 Prep Bowl. His image is painted on a mural at the Metrodome.
But Miller wanted to play hockey, not football in college. "That's the whole reason he played juniors for two years," said Rose Miller, his mother.
Miller is the Gophers' 10th recruit for the 2008-09 season, and Don Lucia said he still wants to add two goalies, one on scholarship, the other as a walk-on.
Very happy for Mr Miller.
He was gritty and a fierce competitior in every game I've seen him play, football or hockey.
This team needs more of that.
I hope people save the "Lucias buddy" whining and let him prove himself, because he most likely will.
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