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Forums :: Blog World :: Anthony Travalgia: Even after cutting ties with Mitchell Miller, Bruins organization has faile
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monkman1967
Season Ticket Holder
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: AB
Joined: 01.12.2011

Nov 7 @ 2:40 PM ET
miller gets cut free by Boston, but Montreal keeps their dirt bag, but everyone is ok with that, he recorded took pictures of a teenage girl and shared them
Atomic Wedgie
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: God bless us Hockeybuzzers, everyone!
Joined: 07.31.2006

Nov 7 @ 2:44 PM ET
Mitchell Miller is unlikely to ever play in the National Hockey League. The Bruins unfortunately took the bullet to find that one out.
- Anthony Travalgia

I guess the question is this:

Is it really fair to continue to punish an adult for the actions he took as a 14-year-old, for which he was tried, convicted, sentenced and ultimately fulfilled all of his obligations under his sentencing?

I get that the family of the victim have not forgiven him.

If I was the parents of a kid who was bullied like this, there's no way that I would ever forgive him, either.

But that's not how the justice system works.
dothedougie
Boston Bruins
Location: DISCLAIMER: HEAVY SARCASM FILTER, CO
Joined: 10.24.2013

Nov 7 @ 2:46 PM ET
Doesn't sound like Bettman didn't approve the contract:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/...-eligible-reaj/index.html

When he was asked about his thoughts on Miller’s signing, Bettman said, “If, in fact, at some point they (Bruins) think they want him to play in the NHL, and I’m not sure that they’re anywhere close to that point, we are going to have to clear him and his eligibility, and it’ll be based on all the information that we get firsthand at the time.”

“They were free to sign him to play somewhere else, that’s another league’s issue, but nobody should think at this point he is or may ever be NHL eligible. And the Bruins understand that now,” the commissioner added.

- Atomic Wedgie


Ahh fair enough. idk man. I just read something that they rescinded the offer. Not sure how they can do that if its approved.
Atomic Wedgie
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: God bless us Hockeybuzzers, everyone!
Joined: 07.31.2006

Nov 7 @ 2:48 PM ET
Ahh fair enough. idk man. I just read something that they rescinded the offer. Not sure how they can do that if its approved.
- dothedougie

Keep reading - looks like Canada Cup solved the mystery.
dothedougie
Boston Bruins
Location: DISCLAIMER: HEAVY SARCASM FILTER, CO
Joined: 10.24.2013

Nov 7 @ 2:52 PM ET
Keep reading - looks like Canada Cup solved the mystery.
- Atomic Wedgie



I saw that. Very good. I would still be surprised if there wasn't an attempt at a lawsuit, but it seems there is a legal out to the situation.

Leafsmart
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Fredericton, N.B.
Joined: 12.18.2013

Nov 7 @ 2:58 PM ET
But Neely says he will find those responsible for those failures
- Canada Cup

And then quietly sneaks over to the office mirror.
13sundin13
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Vancouver, BC
Joined: 06.29.2006

Nov 7 @ 3:14 PM ET
miller gets cut free by Boston, but Montreal keeps their dirt bag, but everyone is ok with that, he recorded took pictures of a teenage girl and shared them
- monkman1967

I don't think what Mailloux did was as bad to be honest, though I do agree he probably should have been let go after the draft in the same way that Miller originally was. Sucks that that Habs didn't do the right thing, but that's the NHL.

I think the difference between that incident and this one is the players spoke out, specifically Bergeron and Foligno. You're dealing with some seasoned vets of high integrity, when they speak out, people listen. The Habs players and management seemed to toe the line with Mailloux so there was really no push back from anyone who could affect the decision. I don't think I've heard any player say anything about it. It also happened at the draft so there wasn't as much opportunity for anyone to speak up publicly, this happened mid season so there's opportunity for the media to speak to the players.

If nobody from the Bruins stepped up, I'm sure they could have weathered the storm long enough to keep Miller on the roster like the Habs did. Thankfully Bergeron didn't let that happen and used his privilege and voice to make change. It's encouraging to see.
dothedougie
Boston Bruins
Location: DISCLAIMER: HEAVY SARCASM FILTER, CO
Joined: 10.24.2013

Nov 7 @ 3:31 PM ET
And then quietly sneaks over to the office mirror.
- Leafsmart

He will throw Sweeney under the bus before that happens.

But im hopeful both go.
Azuredoom
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joined: 01.14.2019

Nov 7 @ 3:45 PM ET
I guess the question is this:

Is it really fair to continue to punish an adult for the actions he took as a 14-year-old, for which he was tried, convicted, sentenced and ultimately fulfilled all of his obligations under his sentencing?

I get that the family of the victim have not forgiven him.

If I was the parents of a kid who was bullied like this, there's no way that I would ever forgive him, either.

But that's not how the justice system works.

- Atomic Wedgie


Absolutely, We should make sure that children who act badly should never be able to be successful in life after that mistake. This kid should live under a bridge and eat garbage for the rest of his life. Doesn't matter that he was 14 at the time.. Doesn't matter that it went to court and the legal process has concluded.

This kid would have been better off murdering somebody.. He might have had a shot at a 2nd chance then.
ProvBrewin
Boston Bruins
Location: Providence, RI
Joined: 08.23.2014

Nov 7 @ 4:00 PM ET
I saw that. Very good. I would still be surprised if there wasn't an attempt at a lawsuit, but it seems there is a legal out to the situation.
- dothedougie


Perhaps there was misleading information given out by his management team before signing the contract. They have claimed he's worked with and been involved with a bunch of groups and organizations, that have since come out and said that is untrue. I'm sure lying about your clients actions or lack thereof, in order to receive a contract is frowned upon, and will be looked at by the bruins lawyers. Everything about this situation sucks a big one.
bluemoon737
Boston Bruins
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Joined: 04.19.2019

Nov 7 @ 4:08 PM ET
Absolutely, We should make sure that children who act badly should never be able to be successful in life after that mistake. This kid should live under a bridge and eat garbage for the rest of his life. Doesn't matter that he was 14 at the time.. Doesn't matter that it went to court and the legal process has concluded.

This kid would have been better off murdering somebody.. He might have had a shot at a 2nd chance then.

- Azuredoom

The biggest issue in my opinion in terms of his second chance is that he has not, in the six years since the "END" of the bullying/assault, actually apologized to the kid or his family. Sorry, several years of direct face to face bullying/assault do not get washed away with an Instagram apology which was "required" as a term of employment. An "online" apology is appropriate for an on-line transgression. This was several years of direct face to face bullying...only acceptable mea culpa is a face to face apology (as a start).
Squeaky
Calgary Flames
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 06.26.2021

Nov 7 @ 4:36 PM ET
The biggest issue in my opinion in terms of his second chance is that he has not, in the six years since the "END" of the bullying/assault, actually apologized to the kid or his family. Sorry, several years of direct face to face bullying/assault do not get washed away with an Instagram apology which was "required" as a term of employment. An "online" apology is appropriate for an on-line transgression. This was several years of direct face to face bullying...only acceptable mea culpa is a face to face apology (as a start).
- bluemoon737


Do we know this though? It was one of the biggest issues when it came up after he was drafted. I can't see any way that he wouldn't have reached out since then to apologize. It's the number one thing on the list of things he needs to do to play in the NHL. I also wouldn't be surprised to hear he reached out and they wanted nothing to do with him.

I've seen in multiple places, including this blog, that new info has come to light but didn't see anywhere what that new info was. Is it just that people are still mad?
dothedougie
Boston Bruins
Location: DISCLAIMER: HEAVY SARCASM FILTER, CO
Joined: 10.24.2013

Nov 7 @ 4:48 PM ET
Do we know this though? It was one of the biggest issues when it came up after he was drafted. I can't see any way that he wouldn't have reached out since then to apologize. It's the number one thing on the list of things he needs to do to play in the NHL. I also wouldn't be surprised to hear he reached out and they wanted nothing to do with him.

I've seen in multiple places, including this blog, that new info has come to light but didn't see anywhere what that new info was. Is it just that people are still mad?

- Squeaky



There are texts from the mother that someone posted on the first blog about this that stated Mitchell Miller did not reach out other than what was court ordered. There wasn't even an attempt.
dothedougie
Boston Bruins
Location: DISCLAIMER: HEAVY SARCASM FILTER, CO
Joined: 10.24.2013

Nov 7 @ 4:53 PM ET
Reposting this from the other Thread for those who have not seen it or new people joining in on the discussion.

The following as a letter from the Parents of the tormented kid to Mitchell Miller, this was published.

Dear Mitchell,

We have been silent as it pertains to you and your family directly. We have been approached by many media entities over the past year or so asking us to give our side of the story. This is something that is very tough for us to deal with as it brings up all the hurt and disgust for what you had done to our son dating back to 1st and 2nd grade. Like when you used to play “Keep the Ball away from Brownie” at recess. Isaiah coming home and asking what a N---er was since you were calling him that. The antics you carried out back then could be dismissed as childish pranks by an unknowing youngster with poor moral upbringing. We pulled Isaiah out of your reach until 6th grade when you walked back into his life. Do you remember having Isaiah sit next to you on the bus, while having your bully accomplice sit behind him, smacking him on the head and punching him from behind? It was reported and nothing done. Do you remember telling him, on one of those occasions, that his BLACK family didn’t love him and that’s why he has a WHITE family? Do you remember spitting in his face and calling him an N word waiting for the bus at school? It was reported and nothing done. Do you remember throwing a snowball in his face and again calling him the N word while waiting for the bus at school? It was reported and nothing was done. You created an environment, because of your “HOCKEY” status, where kids had to do things in order to hang out with you. Isaiah was told, by you, to say before all his peers that he was “your N---a” in order to sit at the lunch table with you, otherwise, he had to sit alone. That was confirmed by other kids in the area. Always belittling him. Knowing he was an easy target because he cognitively was so far behind because of him being born alcohol and drug exposed and having FAS. You knew how much he wanted to “fit in” and have friends so you pried on him.

You picked him up and then slammed him on his back in the snow on the way to Speedway before a basketball game. Again, confirmed by others at the scene. We were notified by the school that in the 8th grade Isaiah began showing up to his 1st period class very agitated and disturbed, only to find out about your morning fight club in the boys bathroom. This is where you, again, used your HOCKEY status to get kids to grab Isaiah as he was heading to his locker and pull him into the bathroom where students would begin fighting with Isaiah as you and your friends Snapchated its entirety so you could play it back and laugh at the abuse YOU were inflicting on him daily. CONFIRMED!! Your parents had been called into the office on a few of these occasions and rather than force you to be held accountable for the things you were doing. They doubled down with you. Stating to the so-called disciplinarians “Do you know how good of a HOCKEY player Mitchell is? Something as stupid as this could RUIN his career!!” “Where is your proof? It’s their word against ours, and Mitchell would never do something like that!!” Those statements are in quotes because those are the exact statements YOUR mom made to us after she found out about YOUR push-pop inconvenience!! That led to criminal charges and a guilty plea on your part because there was a video that we still have and I’m sure many would like to see it so they can decide if it’s just a boy being a boy. You HAD to plead guilty. Your mom referred to it as kids being kids. You were 14 years old and knew what you were doing was wrong. It was so bad that 2 girls went to the principal because they were sick of watching you beat Isaiah up EVERY day and couldn’t watch it any longer. Most responsible parents would have had you come over and apologize and make amends not call my wife to say “Do you know he ran it under water after rubbing it in the urinal before he gave it to Isaiah?” As if somehow that made it less significant. Do you know how humiliating it was for Isaiah to have to get HIV and STD testing because of what you did to him? All of this has been corroborated in the police report as well as the principal telling Isaiah to stay away from you because you weren’t his friend.

In the time since the incident, you claim to have written an apology to us. That apology was court mandated and it was turned into the court, never to us. You claimed to not be able talk to Isaiah because of the court’s restraining order, yet two years later your family tried to get you reinstated back at the same school Isaiah was attending, which would have broke your distance regulations. After that fell through you went to a football game and when you saw Isaiah walking with some friends, you approached Isaiah standing right in his face while talking to the kids he was with. A perfect chance for you to say to Isaiah “Hey I’m really sorry for what I did to you in Junior high. I really hope you can forgive me!!” But you didn’t instead you taunted him until someone from the school came down and sent you on your way. I have seen your parents on a couple of occasions in the community. The perfect chance for them to approach me or my wife and express how deeply sorry they are for what their exceptional HOCKEY playing son did to Isaiah!! Instead they have stared at us with intimidation. They have also created a culture with a group of hockey families in this community, that somehow this is Isaiah’s fault!! That my wife and I are to blame for the issues you have experienced in YOUR life. Yet, you are not the victim here, our son is. You choose what you did over many years to our son. You made that choice! Are you aware of the American Idol 16-year-old young man, Caleb Kennedy, who got kicked off the show for taking a picture with a friend at the age of 12 who was dressed as a KKK. He was 2 years younger than your 14-year-old incident that you keep referring to as you were YOUNG. Because somehow saying you are 14 makes it less impactful. Caleb ONLY had ONE incident and he had consequences for a terrible choice. He was kicked off American Idol and he apologized not downplaying his age. He took ownership, something you still have not done.

You had a couple of years to decide that your HOCKEY career was taking off just as you had hoped and you should make amends with Isaiah before it bites you in the butt. However I’m sure you just thought hey I served my penance and my court case is sealed, that could never come back up and hurt me! I guess you are a cautionary tale that the internet doesn’t forget!! You and your parents at any time could have knocked on our door and humbled yourselves, but you didn’t. After all Isaiah deserved everything you gave him, right!! I mean we have screenshots from “your group” that say Isaiah isn’t a good kid, somehow justifying what you did to him. Posting videos of our son to somehow justify what you did to him. This isn’t remorse.

I’m very sorry that Joni and I decided to foster and adopt kids in SYLVANIA, OHIO! If we hadn’t done that to this community, they might be able to hang a sign on the way into town reading Welcome to Sylvania, Ohio - Home to Mitchell Miller of the NHL!! I would really like sit down with you and Shelly and John and apologize for the INCONVENIENCE my family and CHILD, who by the way is 19 now just like you, has caused you all. It must be devastating waking up everyday not knowing if you will be able to lace up your skates and play the game we love so much.

You see Mitchell you are crushed by the freeze of your HOCKEY career for something that you did as a youngster so long ago. The one-time incident as you reported countless times to all NHL teams and the reporters asking you about it, BUT never thought to send a letter or reach out to YOUR VICTIM who at that time was now 18 (no longer a restraining order). But as I have stated earlier it goes much deeper than the one time you finally got caught on TAPE and Shelly and John couldn’t sweep it under the rug for you. The Inconvenience you spoke about for Isaiah was constant reminders all through school and still to this day, the attacks, the counseling, the depression, the thoughts of suicide, the acts of aggression so that this didn’t happen to him again, the isolation and thoughts that your illusion was true and that it was somehow his fault. What you have done to Isaiah, he will live with for the rest of his life. Questioning his existence. Coach Noreen said his decision didn’t have to do with hockey? Really? He and their organization are part of the problem and not the solution. For the coach to make this statement “We also wanted to make sure that we had the infrastructure for Mitchell himself because as hard as anyone thinks it might be what Mitchell has gone through the last year - and probably what he’s going to go through this year - it is unlike what most young athletes will have to through in their lives.” I would have to agree with some of that because most athletes, actually MOST PEOPLE wouldn’t do what you have done. Your coach is making it out like you are a victim, when in all reality YOU DID THIS! Your coach also referred to it as an off-ice incident. Again, don’t call it what it is because we will minimize what it really is. Our son still has nightmares about the abuse at your hands. I guess inconvenience isn’t really applicable for what Isaiah has gone through now is it. At this point Mitchell, no community service at your best friend’s mom’s school, no diversity training, no feeding homeless people will change what you did! As the magistrate said back then, I don’t think you get it Mitchell. You are sorry for what is happening to you, not for what you did. This also was the consensus of many of the NHL teams, they didn’t see true remorse for your action. More like it was just a minor indiscretion. You just waited too long. Had you taken ownership years ago or even a year ago and your parents not demonized us to OUR community, I would gladly have patted you on the back for a job well done!! Can’t wait to see that sign as I drive into OUR community!! But it took your career crashing through the ice for you to realize that in your own words, “I was unable to reach out to them after the incident, but I think eventually I will definitely reach out and obviously say I’m sorry for all the inconvenience I caused when we were 14 with their family and the child.” When you read it all back and look at it from the other side it’s truly sickening, and the fact that you still can’t fathom the pain and damage you caused by your constant hazing and pranks saddens me deeply!! We will continue to pray that God will convict your heart and your family’s.

Prayers,
Squeaky
Calgary Flames
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 06.26.2021

Nov 7 @ 5:04 PM ET
Reposting this from the other Thread for those who have not seen it or new people joining in on the discussion.

The following as a letter from the Parents of the tormented kid to Mitchell Miller, this was published.

- dothedougie


That was from when he was let go by the Coyotes.

Does Boston not have anyone doing PR? It would have been real easy to at least take off some of the sting from the signing. Step 1, ensure he at least attempted to apologize. Step 2, "suggest" he donate a portion of his salary to a relevant charity. Step 3, at a minimum, have the Bruins match the donation.
dothedougie
Boston Bruins
Location: DISCLAIMER: HEAVY SARCASM FILTER, CO
Joined: 10.24.2013

Nov 7 @ 5:24 PM ET
That was from when he was let go by the Coyotes.

Does Boston not have anyone doing PR? It would have been real easy to at least take off some of the sting from the signing. Step 1, ensure he at least attempted to apologize. Step 2, "suggest" he donate a portion of his salary to a relevant charity. Step 3, at a minimum, have the Bruins match the donation.

- Squeaky


https://www.wcvb.com/arti...-mitchell-miller/41888540

Plenty of other articles like it if you just look. Victims mom said that an apology came only recently over snapchat. There was no contact from the time he was let go from the Yotes, until he though his hockey career was going to be impacted. THEN he chose to reach out because he knew it was going to negatively impact him if he didnt try.

Believe what you want. This kid isnt worth it.
Squeaky
Calgary Flames
Location: Calgary, AB
Joined: 06.26.2021

Nov 7 @ 5:32 PM ET
https://www.wcvb.com/article/bullying-victims-mother-confused-how-all-this-happened-with-bruins-mitchell-miller/41888540

Plenty of other articles like it if you just look. Victims mom said that an apology came only recently over snapchat. There was no contact from the time he was let go from the Yotes, until he though his hockey career was going to be impacted. THEN he chose to reach out because he knew it was going to negatively impact him if he didnt try.

Believe what you want. This kid isnt worth it.

- dothedougie


I don't have enough information to believe anything. I'm just saying it was incredibly stupid on the Bruins' part to not realize it was going to be a PR disaster and not do the bare minimum to lessen that blow.
Nasty_Duck
Boston Bruins
Location: ON
Joined: 06.20.2012

Nov 7 @ 6:05 PM ET
He’s been put on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination. Since his contract was registered, the PA could grieve on his behalf
- Canada Cup


That would be a total cluster-frank
Nasty_Duck
Boston Bruins
Location: ON
Joined: 06.20.2012

Nov 7 @ 6:06 PM ET
You sure do bring a lot to the table , don't you?
- Bourque1970



Nasty_Duck
Boston Bruins
Location: ON
Joined: 06.20.2012

Nov 7 @ 6:10 PM ET
Absolutely, We should make sure that children who act badly should never be able to be successful in life after that mistake. This kid should live under a bridge and eat garbage for the rest of his life. Doesn't matter that he was 14 at the time.. Doesn't matter that it went to court and the legal process has concluded.

This kid would have been better off murdering somebody.. He might have had a shot at a 2nd chance then.

- Azuredoom


So... he's prevented from living his life by... what? If he's not playing in the NHL his life is over?

I'm sure most Leafs fans would be quite happy if he signed with Toronto. amirite?
bluemoon737
Boston Bruins
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Joined: 04.19.2019

Nov 7 @ 6:20 PM ET
That was from when he was let go by the Coyotes.

Does Boston not have anyone doing PR? It would have been real easy to at least take off some of the sting from the signing. Step 1, ensure he at least attempted to apologize. Step 2, "suggest" he donate a portion of his salary to a relevant charity. Step 3, at a minimum, have the Bruins match the donation.

- Squeaky

The mother has made it clear, the other kid came to the house and apologized in person. Miller has never done that. He only recently reached out via the internet right before signing the Bruins contract. Neely wouldn't answer the question about if Miller has if fact worked with organizations related to bullying as has been stated by his camp. Clearly there are legal issues being dealt with related to the contract termination.

I don't see any "reasonable" way Sweeney keeps his job...we shall see.
Cooleus
Joined: 04.13.2021

Nov 7 @ 6:47 PM ET
Cancelled. I guess the KHL is his career path now.

Meanwhile...google the behaviour of guys like MacTavish, Gilmour, Patrick Kane, half the NBA and NFL. Seems like some guys get 2nd chances and others don't.
Nasty_Duck
Boston Bruins
Location: ON
Joined: 06.20.2012

Nov 7 @ 8:02 PM ET
Cancelled. I guess the KHL is his career path now.

Meanwhile...google the behaviour of guys like MacTavish, Gilmour, Patrick Kane, half the NBA and NFL. Seems like some guys get 2nd chances and others don't.

- Cooleus


Well this isn't the NBA or NFL, so that point of your argument is worthless.

As for your Gilmour example... never charged. It was alleged.


Mahewman
Season Ticket Holder
Boston Bruins
Location: NH
Joined: 07.01.2009

Nov 7 @ 10:15 PM ET
Cancelled. I guess the KHL is his career path now.

Meanwhile...google the behaviour of guys like MacTavish, Gilmour, Patrick Kane, half the NBA and NFL. Seems like some guys get 2nd chances and others don't.

- Cooleus


No one bats an eye at Casey Desmith or Varlamov. Not to mention the endless cover ups by Hockey Canada. I’m intrigued if that story ever blows up. Lots of big names on the 2003 and 2018 teams.. What did mason mctavish do?
Azuredoom
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joined: 01.14.2019

Nov 7 @ 11:32 PM ET
So... he's prevented from living his life by... what? If he's not playing in the NHL his life is over?

I'm sure most Leafs fans would be quite happy if he signed with Toronto. amirite?

- Nasty_Duck


He was convicted of assault. A judge deemed it was worth community service. He served his "time". If you don't agree with the punishment that is a different issue


So who gets to decide what he can and can't do for the rest of his life. you? the mob?

At what age can a kid do something horrible that you will hold against him for the rest of his life? He was in grade 8.. What if he was in grade 4.. do the actions of a 10 year old also qualify for you to denounce a kid for the rest of their life?

Don't get me wrong or twisted here.. What the kid did was horrible and I am in no way saying he was anything but 100% wrong to do it.

In the same vein you can bet that the NHL is doing everything that they can to keep the details of the Hockey Canada incident quiet.. It would be terrible to make this outcry at this kid and then allow a bunch on current NHLers to play after committing Sexual Assault..
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