K-Wings add Bradford, Miller

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets, and Head Coach Nick Bootland announced the signings of forward Erik Bradfordand defenseman Brenden Miller for the 2021-22 season.

The two Orangeville, Ontario natives join forces in Kalamazoo where they will be teammates for a third straight season. Both Bradford and Miller skated for the Brampton Beast in 2019-20, before signing contracts with the Jacksonville Icemen in 2020-21. They also suited up as teammates in 2015-16 with the Orlando Solar Bears.

Bradford, 26, tallied 33 points (11g-22a) in 44 games for the Icemen last season after totaling 89 points (30g-59a) in 94 games over the two previous seasons with the Beast. The veteran center has also suited up in parts of two seasons with the Toledo Walleye, and registered over a point per game during a 57-game stint with the Utah Grizzlies in 2016-17. He also briefly played for the Norfolk Admirals and has appeared in four career American Hockey League games for the Toronto Marlies.

Miller, 27, had 10 points (2g-8a) and 55 penalty minutes in 41 games for Jacksonville in 2020-21 after tying a career-high 31 points (5g-26a) in 59 games the previous year in Brampton. He extended his stay in Orlando a second season in 2016-17, getting a two-game AHL opportunity with Toronto that season. The following year, Miller spent the entire campaign in Kazakhstan, where he teamed up with K-Wings forward Tanner Sorenson for Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk. He then split the 2018-19 season between teams in Slovakia, Sweden and the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and Manchester Monarchs.