Leukemia not keeping Hampshire's Miller off ice

Nick Miller is excited for the day he can walk into a local ice rink — along with his gear and a stick or two — to play a game.

Even if it's not for another year.

Miller, 15, who lives in West Dundee and is a freshman at Hampshire High School, was diagnosed with a form of lymphoid leukemia on Oct. 19, 2009. He had been playing for the Leafs Hockey Club, based in Dundee, at the time but stopped immediately after the diagnosis. He returned to playing a year later, but was forced off the ice because of the risk for severe concussions and his compromised chemotherapy brain situation, he said.

“I was scared (after the diagnosis) because I didn't know what would happen to me or what they would do,” said Miller, who played right wing,

“The day after being diagnosed, I had surgery to place a central line port in my chest. This line is primarily used to delivery the chemotherapy drugs right in my main artery and is for long-term use, three years. In the beginning, I was blasted with a lot of chemotherapy that included three different types and injected through my central line port, leg muscles and into my spine to treat my brain.

“The first six month was the hardest.”

He lost his hair, missed school and lost a lot of weight.

“After the first year, the treatment intensity was reduced and I went into the maintenance phase, which is less intense and allowed my hair to grow back,” he said. “The maintenance phase will hopefully last two years.”

Doctors say he should finish with his chemotherapy next February.

“In the beginning (after the diagnosis), I was feeling so bad and scared with everything happening that, as I started to feel better, I really missed playing and hanging out with my teammates,” Miller said.

But the Chicago hockey community, and beyond, certainly has skated in and supported him. Former Blackhawk Denis Savard, for instance, heard about Miller's condition and visited him in the hospital — and also invited Miller to be his guest at a Blackhawks' game and a Stanley Cup party. Mario Lemieux also took Miller out to lunch, he said.

“The Leafs Hockey Club and my team have been amazing. They sent me letters and raised funds for my medical bills,” Miller said. “The whole hockey community has been very supportive and caring in many ways.”

Miller still spends countless hours every week at an ice rink. His three brothers still play and Miller has taken to officiating this season — and the officiating community certainly has taken to him, starting with Jack Raslawski, the director of officiating for the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI), who is quick to assign Miller most games that he wants to officiate.

“I was nervous,” officiating my first game this season, Miller said, “but felt better and better as the game went on. I really liked getting back on the ice and skating.”

Miller has officiated about 25 games this season.

“I have been able to ref several games with one of my best friends. It's fun when you get to ref with people you know,” Miller said. “I like getting back on the ice, being part of the game and making some money.”

Miller said he is determined to advance to the top-tiered Level 4 official, and then work the higher-level, faster-paced games when he is more experienced.

But still, he added, “I can't wait into walk in the rink one day to play a game.”