Miele had 14 points in 18 games with the Redhawks
but was limited to just one assist in six postseason
contests. |
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Key Statistics: While
academic issues kept Miele from joining Miami until
Christmas break, he made good use of the first half
of the season. In just 29 games with the USHL’s
Chicago Steel, Miele knocked in 30 goals and added 11
assists for 41 points en route to breaking the Steel’s
career goal-scoring mark. After joining the Redhawks,
Miele continued his torrid pace, scoring a game-winning
goal in his first game and finishing with a 6-8—14
line in 18 games.
What He Does: One of
Miele’s best assets is his ability to see and
process what’s going on around him on the ice,
a skill which elevates his own play and the play of
his linemates. Miele will be forced to take on a more
prominent offensive role with the graduation of Nathan
Davis and Ryan Jones, and will rely on his vision to
spread the puck to potential linemate Tommy Wingels
and scoring threats Carter Camper and Justin Mercier,
as well as picking the right spots to take advantage
of his effective scoring touch.
The Bigger Picture: Joining
a team in the middle of a season can be a challenging
feat for all sides involved, especially a team which
had only lost three of its first 24 games. At that point
in the year, each element of a successful team has bonded
into a unique chemistry, and even a very talented addition
could throw that chemistry into a state of unbalance.
Fortunately for the Redhawks, Miele, according to assistant
coach Chris Bergeron, came in with “his mouth
shut and his ears open” and quietly earned the
respect of his teammates. While he may never be the
most vocal leader in the locker room, the coaching staff
at Miami knows it can count on Miele to lead by example
on the ice.
Miami assistant coach Chris Bergeron
on Miele: “Losing guys like Ryan Jones
and Nathan Davis, we lost a lot of scoring and the onus
is on guys like Andy Miele. We think he can score a
lot of goals and a lot of points, play on the power
play and be one of the top guys to pick up the slack.”
—
James V. Dowd |
