AARON MILLER

AARON MILLER

NHL AND OLYMPIC DEFENSEMAN

Aaron Miller was born August 11th, 1971, in Buffalo, NY. One of six children (four brothers and one sister) to Bill and Joan Miller.

Aaron’s dad Bill played an integral role in starting young Aaron down the correct path in life. Being a youth hockey coach with the Buffalo Regals, Bill was unrelenting in his message. He would gather all his players at center ice, and, after asking and making sure they did their homework, would remind them that the odds of playing professional hockey were astronomical. His constant drumbeat was, stay in school, get an education and perhaps you will be able to play college hockey. Aaron followed his dad’s advice, playing forward for his high school hockey team at St. Francis, and also playing junior hockey for the Niagara Scenics.

After all the years of hearing “get your education,” the 6’-3” 200 lb. right hand shot defenseman was offered a full scholarship to play at the University of Vermont.

Not only was Aaron offered a full scholarship in 1989, he was also selected 88th overall by the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League draft. However, Aaron stayed in school before taking his shot at the NHL, playing four years for the Catamounts, where he scored 11 goals and 62 points in 122 college games, was a two time all-conference selection and earned Al- America honors in 1993. He graduated with a degree in business, and was later named to Vermont’s All Time Men’s Hockey Team – “The ECAC Years.”

The Rangers traded him to Quebec in 1991, and when he completed his college eligibility, Aaron started his professional career with the Cornwall Aces, the Nordiques AHL affiliate. It wasn’t long before he broke in with the big club, and on January 15th, 1994, Aaron debuted against the Washington Capitals. For the next year and a half he split time between Quebec and Cornwall. In June of 1995, the Quebec franchise moved and became the Colorado Avalanche. The 1996-97 season was Aaron’s first full NHL campaign. During the 2000-01 season, after nearly six years defending the blue line for the Avalanche, Aaron was traded for the second time in his career.

The LA Kings acquired Aaron in a deal that sent Rob Blake to Colorado. Completing his first season with the Kings, Aaron received several team awards, including best defenseman and unsung hero.

Aaron played five and a half years with the Kings and finished his 14 year professional career with the Vancouver Canucks in 2007-08.

During that professional career, Aaron represented the United States in both the World Cup and Olympic Hockey Tournaments. Winning an Olympic silver medal in 2002, Aaron fondly recalls the experience as the “best part of [his] career.”

After retirement, Aaron put his education to good use. He owns seven Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants throughout the northeast. Aaron and his wife Kristy have three children, Grace (15), Ava (12), and Sullivan (8). They currently reside in Burlington, VT

 

The biographies contained on this website were written at the time of the honoree's induction into the Hall of Fame. No attempt has been made to update these narratives to reflect more recent events, activities, or statistics.