(Buffalo) The blocker and the pads are all well and good, but Quentin Miller’s life is also the guitar, the piano and the bass.
The Canadian prospect, who is participating in the rookie tournament this weekend, discreetly released his first musical project on Friday, entitled The Sound of my Thoughts. A work of six short pieces, all instrumental — I sing very badly. It’s better if I don’t sing! “, he warns.
It’s on Apple Music, like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber’s LPs, but the Guardian has no illusions about its number of downloads.
“It’s under the name q. miller. I tried looking and even I had trouble finding it! he says, laughing. I don’t know if people will listen to it, but that doesn’t matter, I do it for my pleasure. »
He started there three years ago. His older brother, Caleb, had bought “some $800 ‘software’ and he didn’t seem to use it, so I tried it and I loved it,” he says. .
“I started playing guitar two years ago. I learn on my own. I’m not great yet, but I’m getting by. I had a bass at my party last year. And the piano. I try to learn songs by ear. »
Music is a bit of balance in the life of Ahuntsic residents. His studio is in Quebec, where he has been playing for a year as a member of the Remparts. “We have practice in the morning, then school. I’ll be back around 3-4 p.m. Afterwards, I make a little music, I relax and that’s often where I produce. I play the guitar, I try to find chords. Often my songs aren’t that good, but sometimes they come out well! »
He assures that this time away from the rinks, watching highlights on YouTube, also benefits him on the ice.
Luckily, William Rousseau, who shared work with Miller last year, also participated in the rookie tournament, as a guest of the Boston Bruins.
The two former associates (Rousseau was traded to the Huskies in June) almost clashed on Saturday, since Miller was defending the CH net. But Rousseau occupied the role of reserve with the Bruins. The two took advantage of the warm-up to chat, before Miller delivered a 26-save performance in a 4-1 win. “I talked to him, gave him a little advice. He saw the puck well all game. For a goalkeeper, when everything seems easy, it’s because you’re playing well,” says Rousseau.
And Miller’s music? “I haven’t listened yet, but that’s the fun of having passions outside of hockey. For me, it’s aviation. It’s important to get going in hockey, especially for goalies. »
“For me, it’s aviation. » Rousseau drops the information, as if it were a banal element.
“It comes from a trip to Europe with my parents, I loved the airspace. It’s been three years, I have my private licenses, I’m in the process of doing my commercial license. I was lucky to get the bite pretty quickly. Players take certain courses just to say they are in school. Me, if hockey didn’t work, I would have that. »
He started his courses in Quebec, but will finish them in Rouyn. “Full-time, I would be six months away from starting,” Rousseau calculates. But the process is long to get hired. You do what they call crawling. You work for them, but you don’t steal. It’s about getting to know you. You start, you accumulate hours and when you reach 1500 hours, you apply to Air Canada. »
This is an interesting alternative for a goalie who, at 6’1, is considered too small by some recruiters.
“The No. 1 goal remains professional hockey. If the doors close, unfortunately, I will have my passion. It is special. I was lucky to develop this quite young. »
Last season, in Quebec, William Rousseau was in an enviable position. Number 1 goalkeeper of the Remparts, the net belonged to him. Quentin Miller therefore spent the end of the season sitting on the bench, just in case. Miller played in the Remparts’ final game of the season on March 25. Once in the playoffs, Rousseau played all of the Remparts’ 1,109 minutes of play. At the Memorial Cup, Miller was allowed just 14 minutes. Miller’s behavior during these two months without seeing action impressed Rousseau. “A lot of guys wouldn’t have done their usual preparation knowing they weren’t playing, but he was doing his drills with the balls, he was pretending he was going to play. So I knew that if I had a problem, he would be ready,” notes Rousseau. Despite this quiet end to the season, Miller was drafted at the end of the 4th round, at 128th overall, by the Habs in June. At 18, he will be able to spend the next two seasons with the Remparts. Rousseau has been ignored in the last three drafts, but still attracts the attention of teams, as evidenced by his invitation from the Bruins to come to Buffalo.
