K'Andre Miller facts for kids

Quick facts for kids K'Andre Miller
Miller (left) with the New York Rangers in 2023
Born	(2000-01-21) January 21, 2000 (age 25) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Left
NHL team	New York Rangers
NHL Draft	22nd overall, 2018 New York Rangers
Playing career	2021–present

K'Andre Miller (born January 21, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey player. He plays as a defenseman for the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Rangers picked him in the first round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, as the 22nd overall player chosen.

Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Miller started skating at age two. He first played as a forward, looking up to Mikko Koivu. He later switched to defense when his high school team needed one. After two years at Minnetonka High School, he joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. He spent two seasons there, playing in the United States Hockey League and in international games. These included the 2016 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and the 2018 IIHF World U18 Championships.

After the development program, Miller played two seasons for the Wisconsin Badgers. He also played in two IIHF World Junior Championships. Miller then signed a contract with the Rangers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he joined the team for the 2020–21 season. As a new player, Miller became a key part of the Rangers' young team. He played over 20 minutes per game and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

K'Andre Miller: A Rising Hockey Star

Early Life and Hockey Beginnings

K'Andre Miller was born on January 21, 2000, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He grew up in Hopkins with his mother, Amy Sokoloski. He started ice skating at age two with help from his uncle. Soon after, he began playing ice hockey. Besides hockey, Miller was a child actor and model for companies like Target. He also played American football for coach Rick Helling, a family friend and former baseball player.

Miller first played as a forward on his youth hockey teams. His favorite player was Mikko Koivu, a longtime captain for the Minnesota Wild. He decided to switch to defense when his team at Minnetonka High School needed an extra player for that position.

After his second year at Minnetonka, Miller joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP). He played for the under-17 team in the 2016–17 season. He scored three goals and made 14 assists in 54 games. He also played 34 games in the United States Hockey League (USHL), adding seven more assists. The next year, he moved up to the NTDP's under-18 team. He scored nine goals and 29 points in 58 games. In 22 USHL games, he had four goals and 12 assists. This made him one of the top defensemen in the USHL.

College Hockey Journey

After his time with the NTDP, Miller was chosen by the New York Rangers in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 22nd player picked overall. This made him the first player from Minnesota chosen in that draft. Before the draft, the Rangers traded up to get this pick. Two years earlier, Miller had already decided to play college hockey at the University of Wisconsin for the Wisconsin Badgers.

The new Wisconsin coach, Tony Granato, wanted to build the team around young defensemen. Miller played with another new player, Ty Emberson. In his first six games, Miller had seven points. He also led the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with a +9 plus–minus rating. He scored the Badgers' first goal of the season in a 3–0 win. By the holiday break, Miller led his team with 17 points. He was also named the National Rookie of the Month twice. His season ended early due to a leg injury in February. Still, he finished with five goals, 22 points, and a +7 rating. He was also named to the 2019 All-Big Ten All-Freshman Team.

For the 2019–20 season, Miller was one of only two players picked for the preseason All-Big Ten First Team. He was briefly suspended for breaking team rules but returned for the first game. His second season was not as strong as his first. He scored seven goals but had fewer points overall. His defensive play also struggled, leading to a −7 plus–minus rating. On March 16, 2020, Miller decided to leave college hockey. He signed a contract with the Rangers after two seasons. In 62 college games, he had a total of 40 points.

Becoming a Pro Hockey Player

Miller's contract with the Rangers started in the 2020–21 season. He would normally have joined the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' minor league team. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had stopped both the NHL and AHL seasons. This made it unclear if Miller would start with the Rangers.

Rookie Season Success

Rangers coach David Quinn was impressed by Miller in training camp. Miller made the Rangers' team for the 2020–21 season. He was even paired with Jacob Trouba, one of the team's top defensemen. Miller got his first NHL point in his fourth game. It was an assist in a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Four days later, he scored his first goal against the Buffalo Sabres.

Playing with Trouba, Miller quickly became a regular player for the Rangers. He played over 20 minutes each game. He also helped on both the power play and penalty kill units. The Rangers struggled that season and missed the playoffs. However, Miller, Alexis Lafrenière, and Kaapo Kakko were seen as a strong group of young players. Miller finished his first season with five goals and 12 points in 53 games. He played an average of 21 minutes per game. He was also named to the NHL All-Rookie Team for 2021.

Facing Challenges on the Ice

Miller's 2021–22 season started slowly. He had only one goal and one assist in his first 13 games. He was also removed from the penalty kill unit for a time. His first goal of that year came in November. He skated the puck all the way across the ice and scored against the Florida Panthers.

During a game in January 2023, Miller scored a goal with only one second left. This tied the game against the Dallas Stars. He became the fourth defenseman in Rangers history to score such a late tying goal.

In February 2023, during a game against the Los Angeles Kings, Miller received a penalty. He was suspended for three games due to unsportsmanlike conduct. Miller later said the incident was accidental.

Representing Team USA

Miller's time with the NTDP allowed him to play for the United States in international tournaments. He played in the 2016 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. He had one assist in six games for Team USA, which finished fifth. Two years later, he played in the IIHF World U18 Championship. He helped Team USA win a silver medal. He scored one goal and had two assists in seven games.

After turning 18, Miller played for the United States junior team in two IIHF World Junior Championships (WJC). In the 2019 tournament, he had limited playing time due to illness. He had one assist in six games. Team USA lost to Finland in the final game, earning Miller another silver medal. The next year, Miller was an alternate captain for Team USA. He played the most minutes of any American defenseman. However, Team USA lost to Finland in the quarterfinals. This was the first time in five years they did not win a medal at the WJC.

Off the Ice: Personal Life and Advocacy

K'Andre Miller is biracial. He has spoken out about racism in hockey and in North America. In March 2020, after signing with the Rangers, Miller was part of a video chat. A hacker interrupted the chat and used racist words. The NHL, the Rangers, and Miller's teammates spoke out against this. Miller later said that he had faced similar racist incidents throughout his hockey career. He chose to keep playing because he loves the sport. After the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Miller supported the Black Lives Matter movement.

Miller went to the 2018 NHL draft with his mother, former baseball player Rick Helling, and Helling's daughter, Jordyn. When Miller played for the Minnesota Blades, he helped coach younger teams. Helling's daughter was on one of these teams. Helling also coached Miller when he played football in high school. Miller sees Helling as an important mentor in his life.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2016	United States	U17	5th		5	0	1	1	0
2018	United States	U18			7	1	2	3	4
2019	United States	WJC			6	0	1	1	0
2020	United States	WJC	6th		5	0	2	2	2
Junior totals					23	1	6	7	6

Awards and Honors

Medal record
Representing  United States
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Silver	2019 Canada
World U18 Championships
Silver	2018 Russia