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Miller shines at AHL skills competition

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Manchester Monarchs defenseman Colin Miller had a day to remember at the AHL All-Star skills competition in Utica, New York yesterday, recording the competition’s hardest shot and finishing as the fastest skater in his respective drills.

Miller, a fifth round selection in 2012, shot a puck measured at 105.5 miles per hour during the CCM Hardest Shot event. It was the greatest velocity recorded in the 20-year history of the event and eclipsed the speeds generated by Oklahoma City’s Brad Hunt (101.2), San Antonio’s Alex Petrovic (100.8) and Rockford’s T.J. Brennan (100.4). For context, Shea Weber won the hardest shot at the NHL’s skills competition with a slapshot clocked at 108.5 miles per hour, while runners up Alexander Ovechkin (101.4 mph), Steven Stamkos (98.8), Brent Seabrook (98.6), Brent Burns (97.6), Dustin Byfuglien (97.3), Aaron Ekblad (95.3) and Justin Faulk (95.0) all registered velocities lower than Miller’s 105.5 miles per hour.

Miller also claimed victory in the CCM Fastest Skater contest, finishing a lap in 13.805 seconds. In 37 games for Manchester, the 22-year-old has recorded 29 points (10-19=29) and a plus-two rating.

Goalie J.F. Berube, a late addition to the event, made it to Utica from Los Angeles in time to combine with Philipp Grubauer of Hershey and Connor Hellebuyck of St. John’s to deny 16 of 18 skaters in the Panasonic Breakaway Relay in helping to preserve a 15-11 victory for the Eastern Conference All-Stars at the skills competition.

Jordan Weal also participated in the skills competition, while Nick Shore and Brian O’Neill (hand) were named to the Eastern Conference’s All-Star team – coached by Monarchs coach Mike Stothers – but did not participate. Via the Norristown Times-Herald, O’Neill, who had his hand skated over earlier this month and received 26 stitches, “expects to return to the lineup immediately following the all-star break.”

The AHL All-Star Game takes place tonight at 4:00 p.m. PT. Click here for local listings.

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