Wranglers’ Miller makes speedy transition to ECHL’s small rinks

Although Wranglers left wing Eric Lampe won the fastest skater competition at last year's ECHL All-Star Game, he might not be the speediest skater on his squad this season.

That distinction may belong to Las Vegas left wing Adam Miller, who claimed the league's fastest skater crown in 2010.

"He thinks he's faster, but I don't believe it," Miller said with a smile. "Just look in the record books and see whose time was better. I beat him."

Indeed, Miller streaked to the title with a time of 14.29 seconds in Ontario, Calif., while Lampe clocked in at 14.44 seconds in Bakersfield, Calif.

Despite the numbers, the friendly debate over who's faster likely won't be settled anytime soon.

"He keeps reminding me that he was faster," Lampe said. "I tell him it was because his ice was clean and mine was dirty.

"We just give it back to each other and kind of joke about it, but we both have good speed."

Among the ECHL's leading scorers with 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) in 37 games, Miller appears to be hitting the stride that saw him rack up a franchise-record 86 points (33-53) in the 2009-10 season.

After spending last season overseas on the spacious rinks in Sweden and Finland, Miller needed a little time to transition to the closer confines of North America.

"Adam is all about creating space for himself out there with his speed," Las Vegas coach Ryan Mougenel said. "When you come back here, the rink gets smaller and time gets smaller, and you're getting a body every time you touch the puck.

"It's definitely an adjustment. It usually takes a couple weeks to get back into it, and that's what Adam did. Now he's got his confidence back and he's playing great."

A turning point for Miller took place Nov. 5 in Idaho, when he was a healthy scratch.

"Sometimes you need to sit back and watch. He needed that," Mougenel said. "I think it was the best thing for him. It was a wake-up call for him to sit in the stands in Idaho, and he came back and was a much better player."

Miller, 27, said he understood why he was benched and used it as motivation.

"It's part of the game. I played really bad, and I take all the responsibility in that call," he said. "It kind of fired me up."

The fourth-year pro has been on a tear, compiling 20 points in his past 14 games.

He notched a hat trick Jan. 7 in a 7-4 victory at Colorado to extend his season-high point streak to 11 games. The run ended in Wednesday's 6-0 loss at Ontario (Calif.), but Miller bounced back to score the tying goal late in Friday's 2-1 home overtime win over the Reign.

He didn't score Saturday for Pacific Division-leading Las Vegas (23-11-4, 50 points) in its 3-1 victory over second-place Ontario (19-13-4, 42) before a crowd of 6,728 at Orleans Arena.

"Some guys have a knack for scoring, and he definitely does," Mougenel said. "He's always a dangerous fellow out there."

The 6-foot, 198-pound Miller joined the Wranglers late in 2007-08, shortly after wrapping up his senior season at Ferris State in his native Michigan.

He made an instant impact, scoring 24 points in 29 games, including the playoffs, as he helped Las Vegas to its lone appearance in the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals, which it lost in six games to Cincinnati.

Miller, who delivered the goal in the Wranglers' 1-0 win over the Cyclones in Game 2, said this year's team also is capable of making a title run.

"I think we have a better mix of guys here right now that could make -- should make -- that run this year," he said.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.