EVERETT — The grieving process takes many forms.
Everett Silvertips forward Graham Millar has played most of January with a heavy heart after experiencing a pair of deaths in his family. His uncle, Ted Perry, passed away in early January after a lengthy battle with cancer. Three days later, Millar’s grandmother, Annette Dunnett, died unexpectedly after a brief illness.
For Millar, the most therapeutic activity is to continue to lace up his skates and jump on the ice each day with his teammates.
“I’m trying to keep my mind off of it and play hockey, but also be there for my family as well,” said Millar, a Penticton native who recently turned 20. “The best way to deal with it is keep your mind off of it as much as you can.”
Millar was very close to both his grandmother and his uncle, the latter of whom was a longtime school administrator, teacher and coach in the Abbotsford, B.C., school district before retiring in 2011.
Millar missed only one game during the ordeal when he was a healthy scratch at home against Saskatoon on Monday, Jan. 18. He was at the game, but the coaching staff opted to give him the day off to help him work through his emotions.
“I wasn’t playing my best hockey for the few games before that, so it was a chance to step back and digest what had happened and get ready for the game in Kamloops (last Wednesday),” Millar said.
Going to the rink each day and being with teammates has helped him advance through the grieving process, and he has responded with two of his best games of the season. Millar snapped a seven-game scoreless streak with a goal in last Wednesday’s 2-1 victory at Kamloops, and scored the lone goal on the power play in Saturday’s 4-1 loss at Red Deer.
Millar has been particularly effective on the power play this season, with seven of his goals coming this season on the man advantage. On Saturday he tipped in Noah Juulsen’s point shot — showcasing another one of his abilities.
“He’s very good at it,” Everett head coach Kevin Constantine said. “A number of his goals last year were tips on shots from the point. He doesn’t have quite as many of those this year, but I think he’s the best player on our team at being able to find a way to get his stick on the puck. He’s very, very good at it.”
Millar is on pace for the best statistical season of his career. Through 45 games he already has a career-high 11 assists, while his 11 goals are two fewer than the 13 he scored in 70 games last season. He also had seven power-play goals last season.
“I think I’ve had a couple good games, but I want to work on my even strength play,” he said. “I think I’ve been contributing on the power play a bunch, but I want to keep working hard and earning my ice time.”
In the meantime, the rink will remain a refuge for Millar as the season moves into its final third and the march toward the postseason begins for the U.S. Division-leading Silvertips.
“It takes a lot of your mental time,” Millar said. “It’s been really helpful. Basically all I do is come to the rink and play hockey.”
For the latest Silvertips news follow Jesse Geleynse on Twitter @jessegeleynse.
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