BY MATT MACKINDER
Clarkston News Editor

Dan Fife tried but didn’t succeed with Tim Miller.
Miller, a 33-year-old Davisburg native, grew up playing hockey and basketball in Clarkston and Fife, the legendary Wolves basketball coach, wanted Miller to focus on the court instead of the ice.
Now in his 12th pro season playing hockey, and seventh overseas, after four seasons at NCAA Division I University of Michigan, Miller figures he made the right choice.
“Dan Fife was a great mentor as he had gone to Michigan also,” Miller said. “Even though he did try to talk me out of playing hockey to continue playing basketball, I’m pretty sure I made the right decision on that one.”
This season, Miller is skating his second season for the Heilbronn Falcons in Heilbronn, Germany. He has also played for German teams in Krefeld, Straubing, and Bremerhaven.
“I love playing in Germany – it’s a beautiful country and has great hockey,” Miller said. “The leagues are very professional with very passionate fans. COVID has changed a lot over here. This year, it seems to change week by week and financially, it is going to be a very trying time for every organization.”
Prior to the 2014-15 season when Miller first ventured to Germany, he played 228 games in the American Hockey League, mostly for the Chicago Wolves, and also saw action in 93 ECHL games. Undrafted, he has also played more than 250 games in Germany.
“I initially decided to go to Germany once I found out I would be able to get my German passport through my family history,” said Miller. “That made me more valuable because each team is only allowed a certain amount of foreign players. My last year in the American League, I had been traded three times and decided it was time to move on and try something new.
“I’ve had some amazing off-ice experiences here. First and most important, I met my girlfriend here four years ago and that has been amazing. On top of that, I love to be able to travel to different landmarks that have so much history in Germany, whether it’s from World War II or even before then. It’s also amazing to be able to drive a couple hours and be able to see countries like Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands.”
That said, Miller said there is no place like home.
“I’m usually only able to fly home for about 3-4 weeks during the summer to visit my family,” Miller said. “It’s not much time but we take advantage of every minute, starting with the tradition of going from the airport straight to the Woodshop for dinner.
“The best thing about growing up for me in Clarkston was how close-knit all of our friends were and still are. We are all spread out throughout USA and Europe but still manage to all see each other and stay in close contact.”
Miller, who went to Springfield Plains Elementary and was at Clarkston High School for two years before moving to Omaha, Neb., to play in the United States Hockey League for the Omaha Lancers, said the biggest influence or impact he had with teachers growing up was Jeff and April Kosin.
“I’m still in contact with the family and they were amazing to me during my young hockey days in helping me keep up with schoolwork and doing what was necessary to keep my hockey and school on the right track,” said Miller. “Our family considers the Kosin’s family friends and am still in contact with them.”
Going to Omaha also helped bring Miller back home.
“Playing in the USHL was a great learning experience for me and really challenged me to improve my game and also grow off the ice living away from family and friends,” said Miller, who graduated from U of M with a psychology degree. “The college recruiting process was an exciting time and I had almost decided to go to some other schools, but Michigan was one of the later schools to offer me a scholarship and as soon as they did, I decided to sign there (in 2005). That was a dream come true and an experience I wouldn’t change for anything.”
Miller noted that being on the other side of 30, he knows his time on the ice may be in the home stretch.
“I plan on playing possibly one more season while my girlfriend finishes up her master’s program here,” Miller said. “I still love to play the game and it will be crazy to be done when I officially decide to. Hockey has been my life since I was three, but I am also looking forward to a new challenge, though.”