Our Santa Clarita’s hometown hockey player, defenseman Kevan Miller, has been signed with the Boston Bruins to an entry-level contract.

“It feels great. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to play Hockey professionally especially in the NHL,” said Miller.

Miller grew up in Santa Clarita with a passion for playing hockey. After attending Sulphur Springs Elementary and La Mesa Junior High, Miller was a student at Canyon High when he showed the interest and talent to join Junior Varsity.  At the age of 16, he landed an interview with Berkshire, one of the top prep schools in Western Massachusetts and was immediately welcomed in. The rest is history.

Miller played at the University of Vermont, where he skated in 144 games over his four-year career with five goals and 25 assists for 30 points. He appeared in six games for the Providence Bruins last year on a tryout basis and registered nine penalty minutes.

This season, he has played in five games for the P-Bruins with 0-2=2 totals and seven penalty minutes. Miller attended Boston’s full training camp this preseason but was released to Providence’s camp on September 23. Originally, he joined the Boston organization as an undrafted college free agent last year.

The sport of hockey is challenging and requires a player to be as mentally prepared as they are physically. With a limited number of professional and minor league teams, player hopefuls have to bring 110 percent.

Miller brought 200.

“I enter the game confident and focused,” he said. “I usually dribble a soccer ball to get my mind centered and clear. You have to let go of all problems outside of the rink, otherwise it will not only affect the game for you, but for your team.”

“As a parent, you want your child[ren] to be happy. When Kevan was five, he told me he wanted to play for the NHL,” said Kathy Miller, Kevan’s mom. ”To see him go through all that he has and get as close as he is… It’s overwhelming. The anticipation that comes as he gets closer and closer to his dream is just enormous.”

Click below for the full interview with Kevan Miller by Kyle Jellings
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