Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

No place like home for Wranglers center

Adam Miller Wranglers

Stephen R. Sylvanie / Special to the Las Vegas Sun

Wranglers forward Adam Miller pictured here on Nov. 1, netted a hat trick and an assist Sunday to lead the Las Vegas Wranglers past the Alaska Aces 4-2.

Next game

  • Opponent: Idaho Steelheads
  • Date: Friday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
  • Where: Orleans Arena

Expanded hockey coverage

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Las Vegas Wranglers forward Adam Miller converses with a teammate during a stoppage in play against the Thunder at the Orleans Arena on October 31.

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Adam Miller skates against the Stockton Thunder at the Orleans Arena on October 31.

Adam Miller presumed his hockey season was over when his Ferris State team was eliminated from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs in March.

But that very night, Miller's agent called saying he would have Miller signed to a professional team from the East Coast Hockey League within 24 hours. The agent told him it would either be the Idaho Steelheads or the Las Vegas Wranglers.

"I was really hoping it would be Las Vegas for sure," Miller said. "Then (Wranglers) coach (Glen) Gulutzan called me. It was a Sunday night. The Wranglers played Alaska the next night so I flew in that morning, got to the Orleans Arena around 4 p.m. for the pregame skate and was on my way."

Miller had good reason for being excited. Nearly his entire family had relocated to Southern Nevada from Michigan in recent years.

Miller was already familiar with Las Vegas after making multiple trips here as a youth to visit his grandparents, Don and Avis, who live in Henderson. In 2005, his father Steve Miller, moved to Summerlin because he got a construction job.

Shortly after that, Miller's sister, Ashlee, moved to Green Valley, and so did his younger brother, Stuart.

Steve Miller, who attends every Wranglers home game and some of their away games since Adam Miller joined the team, was also in attendance for his son's final game at Ferris State.

He barely made it back to Las Vegas when he found out his son would join him in Southern Nevada within a few hours.

"I couldn't believe he was going to play right where I live," Steve Miller said. "I was super excited. I count down the days to come so I can go watch him play."

It didn't take long for Miller to ingratiate himself with his new teammates.

He scored his first professional point with an assist during a 4-3 win three days after joining the team, then his first goal two days after that.

Miller finished the final nine regular season games with three goals and five assists.

He was then integral in helping the Wranglers reach the Kelly Cup finals. He tied a team record with five points during a playoff game against Alaska on April 4, and also scored the game-winning goal in the second game of the finals. Miller finished the playoffs with four goals and 12 assists in 20 games.

"I was a little bit surprised with how well he played," Gulutzan said. "He came in with a 50-50 chance of making our roster going into the playoffs and he earned his way here. He's got great speed. Now it will be interesting to see him get a full year under his belt and see how he does."

Miller credited part of his success with having family support living in town.

"As a hockey player you're always on the road at a young age, always away from family playing junior and college hockey," he said. "But it definitely helped coming in and seeing my sister, my dad and my grandparents. It was really comforting. Las Vegas was a perfect fit for me."

Miller said he calls his father before every game and sees him after every home game. He also makes the quick drive to his father's home near the Red Rock Resort at least once a week for dinner.

"It's really nice over in Summerlin," he said. "People just think Vegas is just a wild time, but Summerlin and Henderson are really nice communities. I bring a lot of teammates with me when I go over there because I remember how hard it can be to make a nice meal."

During Thanksgiving, a large portion of the Wranglers roster is expected to head to Steve Miller's house where he and his fiancee, Julie, have extended an open invitation to anyone on the team that wants to join.

"Usually these guys are from Canada or somewhere across America and they don't have family here like Adam, so they can come and enjoy a family gathering," Steve Miller said. "They're all great kids. All the players are like family to me."

Christopher Drexel can be reached at 990-8929 or [email protected].

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