Mitchell Miller

**Mitchell Miller** (born on December 20, 2001 in Sylvania, Ohio) is an American former junior ice hockey defenseman who was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the 4th round (111th overall) in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft; however, after his past convictions for severely bullying a developmentally disabled African-American teenage boy resurfaced, the Coyotes and the University of North Dakota severed ties with him.

## Playing Career

Starting in 2018, Mitchell played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He played two games during the 2017–18 season, staying with the team for the entire 2018–19 season. During the season, he was called up to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to play in the 2018 World Junior A Challenge. After the end of the 2018–19 USHL season, he was traded to the Tri-City Storm.

He had committed to play for the Miami University men's ice hockey team and was expected to join the Red Hawks for the 2019–20 season; however, he de-committed from the school and opted to spend the 2019–20 season playing for Tri-City where he finished the season with 33 points. He also earned an all-USHL first team selection (an honor bestowed on the best players in the league as determined by the votes of the league's general managers).

Mitchell was once again called up to the United States junior team for the 2019 World Junior A Challenge where he had two goals and four assists in six games. In May 2020, he committed to play for the University of North Dakota men's ice hockey team.

At the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the Arizona Coyotes used their first pick (111th overall) to select Mitchell; however, on October 29, 2020, the Coyotes renounced his draft rights. The following day, he was dropped from the University of North Dakota hockey team.

## Controversy

In 2016, Mitchell and a classmate were found delinquent in an Ohio juvenile court on charges of assault and a violation of the Ohio Safe Schools Act.

The pair were accused of forcing a developmentally disabled African American classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers to eat a piece of candy that they had wiped along the inside of a urinal. Surveillance video also captured them kicking and punching Isaiah.

The bullying incidents resurfaced after The Arizona Republic published an in-depth report on Mitchell on October 26, 2020. The Republic exposé also revealed that Mitchell would frequently refer to him as the "*N-word*" or "*brownie*".

The Coyotes initially defended him, citing their desire to "*be a part of the solution in a real way*" and to help Mitchell grow from this incident and eventually become a leader against bullying and racism. Although Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong did not draft Miller, he expressed the team's desire to provide him with a second chance.

Despite apologizing to all thirty-one NHL teams, Mitchell never apologized to Isaiah or his family according to the Republic. In a letter addressed to the Coyotes, Isaiah's mother, Joni found Armstrong's comments demeaning to her son, stating that while Mitchell's classmate apologized to Isaiah, Mitchell himself was unwilling to show contrition.

A juvenile court magistrate in Ohio concluded that Mitchell had no remorse for his actions against Meyer-Crothers and was merely upset that his reputation would be damaged by the situation.

As a result of the exposé, the Coyotes received widespread criticism for drafting Mitchell which ultimately led to the Coyotes renouncing their draft rights to him and cutting all ties with him.

Mitchell was subsequently dropped from the University of North Dakota hockey team on the orders of the university president Andrew Armacost; however, he was still in good standing academically and was allowed to continue attending classes at the university.