Terrier recruit profile: Kieran Millan (updated)

We begin looking at BU’s 2008 recruit class by updating the Kieran Millan profile posted in February.

Millan (video interview-click on This Week in the AJHL-Dec. 14) spent the past two seasons with the Spruce Grove Saints. The Edmonton native had a standout rookie season, posting a 2.61 GAA and a .919 save percentage and being named to the AJHL South Division all-rookie team. Shortly after being selected for the league’s 2007 all-star game, he committed to BU for 2008.

Millan’s second AJHL season got off to a slow start largely thanks to an injury and aided by an inexperienced Saints roster. By season’s end his stats were a respectable 3.04 and .904 and he went into the playoffs playing his best hockey of the season. Millan led the Saints to a sweep of Lloydminster and a seven-game win over a Grand Prairie team the Saints had failed to beat once in the regular season. The playoff run ended against powerhouse Ft. McMurray, but Millan’s post-season numbers were a shiny 2.19 and .923.

We asked Spruce Grove coach and general manager Steve Hamilton to assess Millan’s development in his two seasons in the Saints’ net. His candid comments offer a strong vote of confidence in the future Terrier netminder:

Kieran is going to be an outstanding D-1 goaltender. His greatest
asset has always been his ability to play his best hockey when it
matters the most. Our three-round play-off run this spring showed the evolution he has undertaken over the past two seasons with our club. He gave us a chance to win every night...I mean that literally.

Our goaltending coach, Dustin Schwartz, and Kieran really had a
great relationship and I give Kieran a ton of credit for opening himself up to the idea of progressive change and improvement. He had some early season struggles..which I think ultimately served as a tremendous catalyst for the growth he has shown. Kieran has a very calm demeanour to balance his aggressive goaltending style.

He will challenge shooters and force them beat him rather than wait for the puck to overwhelm him. His lateral mobility and skating is second to none at any level. He has the tools to be a dominant Division One goaltender for the Terriers. I wish him the greatest success.

Earlier this year, Gord Montgomery, sports editor of the Spruce Grove Examiner, provided his own scouting report on Millan:

Kieran's main strength is his play recognition. He's able to read what is about to happen and make the correct move when required, most often in time. He has quick feet and covers the net from side-to-side extremely well and his glove hand is fast. If he has one weakness, it's perhaps his penchant to go down too quickly at times on shots, leaving the top of the net empty. Since he's not an overly big goalie, dropping too fast can cause problems but he more than makes up for that with his other skills. As for him handling the puck outside of the crease, in all honesty he's better off letting the defence play it instead, but given some time to work on that part of the game I'm sure he can improve.

Prior to Spruce Grove, the 5-11 Millan played AAA Midget for the Edmonton Gregg Distributors, and was named top goalie in Western Canada’s 2005 Ice Mania Tournament.