"I've never left home. I've always played here at home -- either it's been the Bruins or the Bears. So, it'll be a different experience, for sure. I think it'll be cool to wear a different jersey for once."
Estevan has seen its fair share of great hockey talent roll through the Bruins program. We've seen it with former NHLer Alan May, who billeted with the Pierson family, and most recently with Calgary Flames defenceman Brayden Pachal. Both players have long left the Energy City to pursue bigger careers in the sport. Now, it's Jackson Miller's turn.
According to his Elite Prospects profile, the former Bruins goaltender started with the U15 Estevan Bruins AA back in 2017. Moving up in the ranks, he made his way into the Estevan Bears in 2019 and played for two and a half seasons before he started playing in the SJHL. His next move? Guarding the net for the Swan Valley Stampeders in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
The Estevan Bruins have announced goalie, Jackson Miller (‘04) has been released to the Swan Valley Stampeders of the MJHL to complete the future considerations for Jamie Valentino.
— Estevan Bruins (@estevanbruins) August 13, 2024
The Bruins would like to thank Jackson for his dedication to the club over the last two years! pic.twitter.com/ZlDv0uuV63
When asked what he'll miss about playing for Estevan, Miller said playing with the friends he grew up with. "When I was younger, playing with my buddies that I grew up with. Then, when I moved up to Midget, [I] got to play with my buddies again for my first year playing for the Bears. So it was just [...] good to stay with them and play hockey with your buddies, I suppose."
It's a theme that we've all heard before: sports are as much of a mental game as it is physical. That's a lesson that he's learned and applied through all of his years playing hockey in the city.
"It's important to work hard. That's really all [my coaches] kind of preached is that you work hard and give it your all. If you screw up, you screw up. Just go be better, I guess, and just be a little bit better every time."
His time in Estevan has wrapped up, but Miller shared that home will always be with him. He said that he'll be taking a shutout puck with him when he moves to Manitoba.
"Just thanks for the support, everyone -- coaches, parents, schools, friends, family. Just thanks for everything, really."
When asked about what he'll really miss the most since he won't find either of them in Swan River, he only had two things in mind: barbecue from Beatz Eats and Tower Cafe pizza.