Boston Bruins have seized off their contract with now 20-year-old Mitchell Miller who bullied a black boy with a disability for years and was arrested when he was 14.
This is coming after Miller’s critics opined that he had not done enough to prove that he was actually remorseful for his actions, and they questioned the NHL vetting process.
This was not the first time Miller’s consideration has been pulled. The Arizona Coyotes drafted the Ohio native in 2020, but the team renounced its rights to him days later, after Miller’s former classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, spoke out about suffering years of abuse at Miller’s hands that culminated in a juvenile court case.
Miller used racial slurs on Isaiah and even proceeded to physically attack him, according to Isaiah’s testimony.
In a 2016 incident that led to police involvement and a court conviction, Miller and another boy made Meyer-Crothers lick a piece of candy that had been rubbed inside a urinal and they beat Isaiah.
The two boys were charged with assault and violating the Ohio Safe Schools Act and were ordered to do 25 hours of community service, write letters of apology, pay court costs and undergo counseling.
Speaking on the Incident, Isaiah’s foster mother Joni said:
“Our prayer is that Mitchell gets help and understands the magnitude of what he did for years to Isaiah and in the same regard that Isaiah can heal from the trauma. Both boys need healing.”
The Meyer-crothers had moved Isaiah to another school to avoid the bullying, but it continued after Mitchell moved to the same school in middle school.
Although Miller is a talented young man, criticism has prevented him from reaching his goal. The Boston Bruins signed him to a three-year entry-level contract, sending him to the Providence Bruins of the AHL.
Two days later, they announced that they had decided to “rescind the opportunity for Mitchell Miller to represent the Boston Bruins.”
Many Boston players have stood in solidarity with Isaiah’s family stating that if Miller is not the same 14-year-old bully, he should be able to prove that without giving a glorified apology.
