Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller announces his retirement
After eight NHL season, Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller is stepping away from the game of hockey. The 33-year-old announced his retirement on his Instagram page Wednesday morning.
“I fell in love with this game at 5 years old, I knew then that all I wanted to be was a hockey player. 28 years later, I have the same love and joy for the sport as I did then,” Miller wrote, in part. “Although my spirit for the game in there, unfortunately my body isn’t. My overall health and family are now the priority. This was not an easy decision to make but it’s time to hang up my skates.”
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Miller has dealt with a string of injuries in recent years, including a broken knee cap which cost him the entire 2019-2020 season, as well as a portion of last season due to workload management. In total, he played just 67 games over the last three seasons.
During his career, Miller recorded 71 points in 352 games, finishing with a career plus/minus of plus-79. Often the team’s main enforcer, he spent 281 minutes in the penalty box.
Undrafted out of UVM, Miller originally signed with the Bruins in 2010. He spent his first three and a half seasons as a pro with the Providence Bruins before making his debut in November of 2013. He’d go on to play all seven of his NHL seasons with the Bruins.
“I called New England home for almost 18 years. My kids were born in Boston, it’s where my wife and I started our family,” Miller wrote. “From Berkshire [School, where he played prep hockey] to UVM to Providence to Boston, the relationships with so many that have been on this journey mean the world to me. People say it a lot, there’s nothing like playing for a New England team, a statement that couldn’t be more true.”
Before retiring, Miller was set to become an unrestricted free agent when NHL Free Agency begins on July 28. Fellow blue-liners Jared Tinordi, Mike Reilly, and Steven Kampfer are also on expiring deals, while Brandon Carlo will be a restricted free agent.
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