Aces: Miller's Back For Third Season With ECHL Club

Expect signings of Alaska Aces players for the upcoming season to start trickling out, as one did today when the ECHL club announced the return of defenseman Bryan Miller, one of the league’s elite offensive blueliners.

Miller, 26, who will be in his fifth pro season and third season with the Aces, said he agreed to return to the club at his end-of-season meeting with former coach Keith McCambridge shortly after the Aces fell in the Kelly Cup Finals to South Carolina.

“I told Keith, ‘Look, I don’t want to go anywhere,’ ‘’ Miller said. “I wasn’t interested in going to Europe – maybe a few years down the line. I said, ‘If you guys want me back, I’m here.’ He said, ‘Let’s do it.’ ‘’

New Aces coach Brent Thompson – McCambridge’s replacement after Mac took an assistant coaching job with Manitoba of the American Hockey League – is familiar with Miller. Miller was in training camp with AHL Peoria the last two seasons, when Thompson was an assistant there, and Miller played three games for Peoria last season.

“He’s a good piece of our puzzle in trying to get back to the Finals,’’ Thompson said.

Miller last season earned 10-30—40 totals in 61 regular-season games with the Aces and ranked seventh in scoring among league blueliners. His 5-21—26 totals on the power play ranked fourth among league defensemen. Miller also played those three games for Peoria and six for AHL Providence.

Miller is the Aces’ third announced signing. Also back is captain Scott Burt. And the Aces previously announced the signing of former Aces and UAA winger Justin Johnson, acquired in a trade with Cincinnati.

For more on Miller’s signing, check out Wednesday’s edition of the dead-trees Daily News.