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It’s been a double-provincial summer for Raider Carson Miller

Jun 20, 2018 | 10:00 AM

Over recent years, Hockey Canada has encouraged hockey players to try their hands at other sports and not focus on hockey for 12 months every year.

Carson Miller has taken that advice to heart.  

After his sophomore year with the Prince Albert Raiders, Miller used his offseason to compete in provincials in two different sports, track and field and field lacrosse.

Miller was in Prince Albert June 1-2 for the track provincials, where he finished 13th in the senior boys’ tetrathlon, completing his personal goal of finishing in the top half. He also finished fourth with the Yorkton Fighting Pikes field lacrosse team at the provincials over the weekend in Saskatoon, scoring two goals and an assist in three games as a midfielder.

“I like to use it as a fun way to train. You can go to the gym and pump as many weights as you want and that’s great, it’s good for you, but nothing is the same as natural workouts from other sports,” Miller said. “You get to get into it mentally. I like playing other team sports besides hockey. Every team has different life lessons you can learn.”

Miller said track and field lacrosse not only keep him in shape throughout the summer, but the other sports also help his hockey skills.

“Track and field is more a power and grit, mind over the obstacles you have to face. It’s you against other opponents,” Miller said. “Lacrosse is more hand-eye, using that peripheral vision to look at players around the field and similar to that hockey sense you have. There’s physical contact that comes in hockey too. It’s a similar sport and is definitely compatible.”

Miller has been participating in track since Grade 2. He was first introduced to field lacrosse two years ago, but couldn’t play last year as he was recovering from shoulder surgery. Despite his temporary absence from the sport, Miller was named as an all-star midfielder in the tournament.

Last season with the Raiders was his first since the surgery, and his numbers took a hit as a result. He scored just one goal and nine points in 69 games played, below his standards considering he scored twice in three games as a 15-year-old call up during the 2015-16 season. In his first full rookie year in 2016-17, Miller had seven goals and 19 points in 46 games.

But, after an active and refreshing offseason, Miller said he feels healthier than ever and is excited to get back at it with the Raiders.

“I just want to get it started already. I’m looking forward to what’s going to come on in the fall,” Miller said. “I feel great physically, the best I’ve probably been. I just have to gain a little bit more weight and muscle because I’ve been doing so much cardio with track and lacrosse.”

Miller said he is going to start hitting the weights and getting more hockey-related training as the season approaches. He’s currently preparing for a week-long trip to Minnesota, then he plans to move to Saskatoon in order to train with other players and friends, including Raiders forward Cole Fonstad.

 

Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW