Brandon Miller (lacrosse)
Encyclopedia
Brandon Miller is a goaltender for the Philadelphia Wings
in the National Lacrosse League
, and the Brampton Excelsiors
in the Ontario Lacrosse Association
's Major Series
, with whom he has been a part of two Mann Cup
winning teams.
(re-named the San Jose Stealth
after the team relocated to California
). He spent the early part of his career backing up Rob Blasdell
and Anthony Cosmo, before joining the Chicago Shamrox
and earning a spot as their starting goaltender.
Chicago selected Miller first overall after San Jose left him unprotected in the 2006 expansion draft
(when Chicago and the New York Titans joined the league).
At the 2007 All-Star Game in Portland
, Miller was named to the All-Star team for the first time, as a reserve for the East squad. He split time with Matt Roik
, allowing eight goals on 34 shots to earn the win. He also assisted on one of the East team's 20 goals.
Despite Miller's stalwart play in net - he led the league in saves with 602, an average of 48.7 shots per game - the Shamrox scored the third-fewest goals in the league in 2007, and missed the playoffs with a 6-10 record.
Midway through the 2008 season with the Shamrox struggling, Miller was dealt to the Philadelphia Wings
for Roik and defenseman Brad Self.
In 2008, Philadelphia finished 10-6, and qualified as the fourth seed for the playoffs; the Shamrox finished 6-10, in last place in the East Division. The Wings took on the Buffalo Bandits
in the first round of the playoffs, but were eliminated after a 14-12 loss. Miller replaced starting goaltender Rob Blasdell for the second half of the game, allowing five goals on 21 shots and picking up the loss.
Miller split time with Blasdell again in 2009, his first full season with Philadelphia. Miller played about 60 per cent of the team's minutes, registering a 11.90 GAA and 76.94% save percentage. He also contributed offensively, registered six points - including a goal on March 28, 2009, against the Colorado Mammoth
. The team, however, struggled, finishing the season 7-9 and missing the playoffs.
Philadelphia again missed the playoffs in 2010, finishing last in the East division with a 5-11 record. Miller earned the lion's share of the playing time (a career-high 885 minutes), and as a result, faced the most shots in the league (764) and made the second-most saves (581). Offensively, he contributed 9 assists, good for second in the league behind Cosmo's 13.
He has been named Defensive Player of the Week five times in his career - once with San Jose, and twice each with Chicago and Philadelphia - and Overall Player of the Week once with Philadelphia.
.
In 2002, he teamed again with Bob Watson
in goal, and this time helped Brampton
to a Mann Cup win over the Victoria Shamrocks
, again in seven games, their second Mann Cup in five years. They lost just one game in the MSL playoffs on the way to the championship game, sweeping the St. Catharines Athletics and defeating the Brooklin Redmen
four games to one.
The Excelsiors made a third straight Mann Cup appearance in 2003, again against the Shamrocks, but were unable to repeat as champions, losing in five games.
From 2004 to 2007, Miller and the Excelsiors were defeated in the MSL finals by the Peterborough Lakers
, twice in seven games and twice in six games.
In 2008, the Excelsiors were finally able to overcome Peterborough, winning a decisive seventh game 7-2 at home in Brampton. They were easily able to overcome the New Westminster Salmonbellies
in four games, although Miller saw no action as he backed up eventual Mann Cup MVP Anthony Cosmo.
He is also a three-time recipient of the Harry Lumley Trophy - awarded to the goaltenders of the team that allowed the fewest goals in the regular season. In 2002, he shared the award with Bob Watson, and in 2007 and 2008, he and Cosmo received the award.
lacrosse for the Orangeville Northmen
.
In 2000, he shared the Dean McLeod Award - awarded to the MVP of the OLA Junior A playoffs - with Matt Vinc
, as well as the Robert Melville Memorial Trophy - awarded to the Junior A league's outstanding goaltender - which he shared with teammate Kevin Samuel.
* - Led league
Philadelphia Wings
The Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
in the National Lacrosse League
National Lacrosse League
The National Lacrosse League is a men's professional indoor lacrosse league in North America. It currently has nine teams; three in Canada and six in the United States. Unlike other lacrosse leagues which play in the summer, the NLL plays its games in the winter and spring. Each year, the playoff...
, and the Brampton Excelsiors
Brampton Excelsiors (MSL)
The Brampton Excelsiors are Senior "A" box lacrosse team from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The Excelsiors play in the Major Series Lacrosse Senior "A" Lacrosse League.-Season-by-season results:...
in the Ontario Lacrosse Association
Ontario Lacrosse Association
Ontario Lacrosse Association is a sanctioned sports body in Ontario, Canada. Empowered by the Canadian Lacrosse Association, the OLA controls and regulates Minor level, Junior level and Senior level Lacrosse...
's Major Series
Major Series Lacrosse
Major Series Lacrosse is a Senior A box lacrosse league based out of Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. Most of the players in the league play or have played in the National Lacrosse League. Each year, the playoff teams battle for the right to compete against the...
, with whom he has been a part of two Mann Cup
Mann Cup
The Mann Cup is the trophy awarded to the senior men's lacrosse champions of Canada. The championship series is played between the Western Lacrosse Association champion and the Major Series Lacrosse champion...
winning teams.
National Lacrosse League
Miller started his career in 2001 with the Albany AttackAlbany Attack
The Albany Attack was the name of a franchise which played in the National Lacrosse League from the 2000 season through the 2003 season. The Attack played in the former Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York...
(re-named the San Jose Stealth
San Jose Stealth
The San Jose Stealth were a member of the National Lacrosse League, the professional box lacrosse league of North America from 2004 until 2009. They played at the HP Pavilion at San Jose, which is also the home of the NHL's San Jose Sharks and the AFL's San Jose SaberCats. They relocated to San...
after the team relocated to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
). He spent the early part of his career backing up Rob Blasdell
Rob Blasdell
Rob "Blazer" Blasdell is a lacrosse goaltender who plays for the Edmonton Rush in the National Lacrosse League.-Professional career:...
and Anthony Cosmo, before joining the Chicago Shamrox
Chicago Shamrox
The Chicago Shamrox were a professional lacrosse team that played in the National Lacrosse League in the 2007 and 2008 NLL seasons. Home matches were played at the Sears Centre in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The team's ownership group was headed by Kevin Loughery Jr., the son of...
and earning a spot as their starting goaltender.
Chicago selected Miller first overall after San Jose left him unprotected in the 2006 expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
(when Chicago and the New York Titans joined the league).
At the 2007 All-Star Game in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Miller was named to the All-Star team for the first time, as a reserve for the East squad. He split time with Matt Roik
Matt Roik
Matt Roik is from Dunnville, ON is a professional lacrosse goaltender for the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League...
, allowing eight goals on 34 shots to earn the win. He also assisted on one of the East team's 20 goals.
Despite Miller's stalwart play in net - he led the league in saves with 602, an average of 48.7 shots per game - the Shamrox scored the third-fewest goals in the league in 2007, and missed the playoffs with a 6-10 record.
Midway through the 2008 season with the Shamrox struggling, Miller was dealt to the Philadelphia Wings
Philadelphia Wings
The Philadelphia Wings are a member of the National Lacrosse League, a professional box lacrosse league in North America. They play at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
for Roik and defenseman Brad Self.
In 2008, Philadelphia finished 10-6, and qualified as the fourth seed for the playoffs; the Shamrox finished 6-10, in last place in the East Division. The Wings took on the Buffalo Bandits
Buffalo Bandits
The Buffalo Bandits are a team in the National Lacrosse League . They play at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York. The Bandits played in the Major Indoor Lacrosse League from 1992 to 1997, until the MILL turned into the NLL in 1998....
in the first round of the playoffs, but were eliminated after a 14-12 loss. Miller replaced starting goaltender Rob Blasdell for the second half of the game, allowing five goals on 21 shots and picking up the loss.
Miller split time with Blasdell again in 2009, his first full season with Philadelphia. Miller played about 60 per cent of the team's minutes, registering a 11.90 GAA and 76.94% save percentage. He also contributed offensively, registered six points - including a goal on March 28, 2009, against the Colorado Mammoth
Colorado Mammoth
The Colorado Mammoth are a member of the National Lacrosse League. They have played at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, United States, since the 2003 season....
. The team, however, struggled, finishing the season 7-9 and missing the playoffs.
Philadelphia again missed the playoffs in 2010, finishing last in the East division with a 5-11 record. Miller earned the lion's share of the playing time (a career-high 885 minutes), and as a result, faced the most shots in the league (764) and made the second-most saves (581). Offensively, he contributed 9 assists, good for second in the league behind Cosmo's 13.
He has been named Defensive Player of the Week five times in his career - once with San Jose, and twice each with Chicago and Philadelphia - and Overall Player of the Week once with Philadelphia.
Brampton Excelsiors
In the NLL's offseason, Miller competes for the Brampton Excelsiors in the Ontario Lacrosse Association's Major Series Lacrosse league. He joined the team in 2001, helping them to a Mann Cup appearance, where they were beaten in seven games by the Coquitlam AdanacsCoquitlam Adanacs
The Coquitlam Adanacs are a Canadian box lacrosse team based in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The Adanacs play in B.C.'s seven team Western Lacrosse Association , whose champion competes against Ontario's Major Series Lacrosse champion for the Mann Cup every September.The Adanacs originally started...
.
In 2002, he teamed again with Bob Watson
Bob Watson (lacrosse)
Bob "Whipper" Watson is a former goaltender for the Toronto Rock in the National Lacrosse League and is regarded as one of the best goaltenders ever to play indoor lacrosse Watson won six NLL Championships with the Rock, and was named Championship Game MVP in both 2003 and 2011. Watson was named...
in goal, and this time helped Brampton
Brampton, Ontario
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. As of the 2006 census, Brampton's population stood at 433,806, making it the 11th largest city in Canada. It is also one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, with an average...
to a Mann Cup win over the Victoria Shamrocks
Victoria Shamrocks
The Victoria Shamrocks are a Senior A box lacrosse club, based in Victoria, British Columbia. The team competes in the 7-team Western Lacrosse Association .The Shamrocks have won the Mann Cup 8 times...
, again in seven games, their second Mann Cup in five years. They lost just one game in the MSL playoffs on the way to the championship game, sweeping the St. Catharines Athletics and defeating the Brooklin Redmen
Brooklin Redmen
The Brooklin Redmen are a box lacrosse team from Whitby, Ontario. The Redmen play in the Major Series Lacrosse league . The MSL, and its counterpart, the Western Lacrosse Association, represent the highest level of competitive box lacrosse in Canada...
four games to one.
The Excelsiors made a third straight Mann Cup appearance in 2003, again against the Shamrocks, but were unable to repeat as champions, losing in five games.
From 2004 to 2007, Miller and the Excelsiors were defeated in the MSL finals by the Peterborough Lakers
Peterborough Lakers (MSL)
The Peterborough Lakers are Senior "A" box lacrosse team from Peterborough, Ontario. They play in the Major Series Lacrosse league where under the current format, they compete in 20 regular season games from May through July and playoffs beginning in August and ending with the Mann Cup in September...
, twice in seven games and twice in six games.
In 2008, the Excelsiors were finally able to overcome Peterborough, winning a decisive seventh game 7-2 at home in Brampton. They were easily able to overcome the New Westminster Salmonbellies
New Westminster Salmonbellies
The New Westminster Salmonbellies are a Men's Senior 'A' lacrosse team located in New Westminster, BC. Their home arena is Queen's Park Arena. They compete as part of the Western Lacrosse Association and have won the Mann Cup 24 times, most recently in 1991...
in four games, although Miller saw no action as he backed up eventual Mann Cup MVP Anthony Cosmo.
He is also a three-time recipient of the Harry Lumley Trophy - awarded to the goaltenders of the team that allowed the fewest goals in the regular season. In 2002, he shared the award with Bob Watson, and in 2007 and 2008, he and Cosmo received the award.
Orangeville Northmen
Miller played his Junior AOLA Junior A Lacrosse League
The Ontario Junior A Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league in Ontario, Canada sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association. The playoff champion moves on to compete for the National Championship—the Minto Cup.-The teams:-Playoff Champions:...
lacrosse for the Orangeville Northmen
Orangeville Northmen Jr. A
The Orangeville Northmen are Junior "A" box lacrosse team from Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. The Northmen play in the OLA Junior A Lacrosse League.-History:The Northmen are connected to the Orangeville Northmen Jr...
.
In 2000, he shared the Dean McLeod Award - awarded to the MVP of the OLA Junior A playoffs - with Matt Vinc
Matt Vinc
Matt Vinc , is a lacrosse goaltender in the National Lacrosse League, currently playing for the Rochester Knighthawks, the Six Nations Chiefs of the MSL, and the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse....
, as well as the Robert Melville Memorial Trophy - awarded to the Junior A league's outstanding goaltender - which he shared with teammate Kevin Samuel.
NLL
| Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | Min | GA | Sv | GAA | Sv % | LB | GP | Min | GA | Sv | GAA | Sv % | LB | ||
| 2001 | Albany | 2 | 60 | 14 | 38 | 14.12 | 73.08% | 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2002 | Albany | 16 | 26 | 7 | 10 | 16.45 | 58.82% | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00% | 0 | ||
| 2003 | Albany | 15 | 113 | 21 | 71 | 11.11 | 77.17% | 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2004 | San Jose | 14 | 363 | 73 | 186 | 12.06 | 71.81% | 30 | 1 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 21.95 | 60.00% | 1 | ||
| 2005 | San Jose | 3 | 103 | 18 | 59 | 10.45 | 76.62% | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2006 | San Jose | 14 | 257 | 49 | 150 | 11.46 | 75.38% | 9 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2007 | Chicago | 15 | 865 | 177 | 602* | 12.28 | 77.28% | 20 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2008 | Chicago | 7 | 228 | 65 | 157 | 17.04 | 70.72% | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Philadelphia | 9 | 295 | 60 | 223 | 12.18 | 78.80% | 2 | 1 | 29 | 5 | 16 | 10.01 | 76.19% | 0 | |||
| 2009 | Philadelphia | 15 | 570 | 113 | 377 | 11.90 | 76.94% | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2010 | Philadelphia | 16 | 885 | 183 | 581 | 12.40 | 76.05% | 25 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| NLL Totals | 126 | 3,705 | 761 | 2,409 | 12.32 | 75.99%!! 157 !! 4 !! 45 !! 11 !! 25 !! 14.67 !! 69.44% !! 1 | |||||||||||
* - Led league
Mann Cup
| Mann Cupp | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GP | Min | GA | Sv | GAA | Sv % | ||
| 2001 | Brampton | 6 | 143 | 26 | 77 | 10.85 | 74.76% | ||
| 2002 | Brampton | 2 | 100 | 16 | 74 | 9.52 | 82.22% | ||
| 2003 | Brampton | 2 | 78 | 12 | 51 | 9.22 | 80.95% | ||
| 2008 | Brampton | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 00.00% | ||
| Mann Cup Totals | 10 | 321 | 54 | 202 | 10.09 | 78.91% | |||