Thursday, March 03, 2005

Another ex-Spartan joins UHL

By Brendan Savage, Flint Journal
bsavage@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6388

The Flint Generals have been trying to inject more life into their offense all season and coach Robbie Nichols thinks he might have done just that Wednesday, when he signed former Flint Spirit Kevin Miller.

Miller, 39, played four games with the Red Wings last season and 74 with the American League's Grand Rapids Griffins, for whom he scored 27 goals.

The Lansing native, who played at Michigan State with Generals Bobby Reynolds and Jason Woolley, has 150 goals in 620 NHL games. He's expected to be in the Generals lineup Friday against the Missouri River Otters.

"He's an unbelievably skilled player," Reynolds said.

"We're missing some spark offensively," Nichols said. "We're getting a lot out of Bobby and (Rob Valicevic) and Mike (Kinnie). We need some more guys to pick it up a little bit.

"Hopefully, this will give us more punch. This should add some instant offense. We've got this five-game homestand that's big for us. We need to make some noise and we need to do it now.

"We have to win right now."

While the addition of Miller should help the Generals offensively, it adds to their veteran problems.

With Miller on board, they've got 10 veterans - three more than the maximum allowed to suit up under United Hockey League rules - although Chad Grills is expected to miss another couple of weeks with a broken hand.

"Obviously, we'll be making some moves veteran-wise," Nichols said. "We have to make some changes."

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