AP Photo/Steven Senne
Boston Bruins President Cam Neely announced Sunday that they have split from recently signed hockey player Mitchell Miller, who admitted in a juvenile court in Ohio that he was repeating a black classmate with developmental disabilities at the age of 14 bullied and harassed.
Neely partially wrote:
“Based on new information, we believe removing Mitchell Miller’s ability to represent the Boston Bruins is the best decision at this time. We hope he continues to work with professionals and programs to further his education and personal growth.”
Neely also issued a public apology to that classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, and his family.
“I sincerely apologize to Isaiah and his family if this signing made you and other victims feel unseen and unheard,” Neely said. “We apologize for the deep pain and impact we have caused.”
The Arizona Coyotes initially selected 20-year-old Miller with the number 111 in the 2020 NHL draft, but revoked draft rights after news of the bullying broke through a report by Arizona Republicans Craig Harris and Jose M. Romero .
The October 2020 report states:
“Four years ago, in an Ohio juvenile court, Miller admitted to bullying Meyer-Crothers, who was tricked into licking a candy that Miller and another boy wiped off in a bathroom urinal. Meyer-Crothers had to be tested for hepatitis and HIV and STDs, but the tests came back negative, according to a police report.
“Meyer-Crothers, also 18 and now a Detroit resident, said Miller mocked him for years, constantly calling him ‘brownie’ and the ‘N-word’ while hitting him repeatedly growing up in suburban Toledo be. Other students at her junior high confirmed to police that Miller repeatedly used the ‘N-word’ to refer to Meyer-Crothers.”
“To be honest, it hurt my heart,” Meyer-Crothers said when asked if the Coyotes had called up Miller.
“It’s stupid that they (the Coyotes) haven’t gone back and looked up what happened in the past, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Miller didn’t end up with the Coyotes, but two years later the Bruins signed a three-year, $2,850,000 contract.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters that the Bruins did not approach him before signing Miller and that the league must conduct a full investigation into the bullying allegations if he is ever promoted from the minor leagues.
Jesse Montano @jessemontano_
#NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the Boston Bruins’ recent signing of Mitchell Miller. pic.twitter.com/9lOeNSEK5T
Joni Meyer-Crothers, Isaiah’s mother, spoke NBC10 Boston after the Bruins signed him.
“As far as I’m concerned, he’s a monster,” she said.
“He told our son that his black mother and father didn’t love him, that’s why he had white parents. The N-word was mentioned daily. [Miller] would ask Isaiah to sit with him on the bus and once Isaiah would sit with him he and his friends would smack Isaiah on the head non-stop and all he wanted was friends. So he was an easy target for Mitchell.”
Miller, who was born and raised in Ohio, last played for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm in 2021-22.