Coyotes give bully ‘second chance’

The Arizona Coyotes said they’re working to educate draft pick Mitchell Miller about diversity and inclusion after a report surfaced that he bullied a Black schoolmate beginning in junior high school.

The Arizona Republic on Monday posted an interview with Isaiah Meyer- Crothers, who said he was dismayed when he learned the Coyotes selected Miller, 18, in the fourth round of the NHL draft earlier this month. He said he and Miller grew up together in a suburb of Toledo, Ohio, and that Miller bullied him and often made racist comments toward him.

Bill Armstrong, the Coyotes’ new general manager, said he wasn’t part of the group that chose to select Miller, but that the club was aware that Miller previously had admitted to bullying Meyer- Crothers.

“Our scouts were made aware of his history and the bullying incident that occurred in 2016 when he was 14 years old,” Armstrong said. “Mitchell sent a letter to every NHL team acknowledging what happened and apologizing for his behaviour. Mitchell made a huge mistake, but we’re providing him with a second chance to prove himself. We hope that he uses his platform moving forward to raise awareness about bullying and to discourage this type of behaviour.”

Meyer- Crothers, who has developmental disabilities, said Miller used to hit him and also called him “brownie” and the “N word.”

“He pretended to be my friend and made me do things I didn’t want to do,” Meyer- Crothers told the newspaper. “In junior high, I got beat up by him. ... Everyone thinks he’s so cool that he gets to go to the NHL, but I don’t see how someone can be cool when you pick on someone and bully someone your entire life.”

The Coyotes chose Miller, a five-foot-nine defenceman, with the No. 111 overall pick in the fourth round. Last year, Miller played for the Tri- City Storm of the United States Hockey League, where he was named to the All- USHL First Team after amassing 33 points ( eight goals, 25 assists) in 44 games. He’s a freshman at North Dakota, and the Coyotes will retain his rights.

In a statement issued by the team, Coyotes president and CEO Xavier Gutierrez said the team didn’t run away from selecting Miller.

“Our fundamental mission is to ensure a safe environment — whether in schools, in our community, in hockey rinks, or in the workplace — to be free of bullying and racism. When we first learned of Mitchell’s story, it would have been easy for us to dismiss him — many teams did. Instead, we felt it was our responsibility to be a part of the solution in a real way — not just saying and doing the right things ourselves, but ensuring that others are, too.

“This isn’t a story about excuses or justifications. It’s a story about reflection, growth, and community impact. A true leader finds ways for every person to contribute to the solution. We all need to be a part of the solution.”