On June 28, 2012 the lacrosse world lost a great man, Chris Sanderson. Now on Jun 8, 2013 (345 days) later we mourn the passing of another. Kyle Miller passed away at the very young age of 31 after a long battle with Osteosarcoma cancer. Miller, an Orangville, Ontario native, was actually inspired to play goalie after seeing Sanderson, a native of the same town, doing it at the University of Virginia. Miller had also helped fundraiser for Sanderson during his battle with cancer.
Kyle’s brother Brandon (goalie for the Philadelphia Wings) tweeted around 4am Saturday “It’s with extreme heavy hearts that after years of pain & tremendous fight, my brother Kyle Miller has passed,”
My daughter and I along with other Philadelphia Wings fans had the honor of meeting Kyle during the 2012 season and to look at this young man then and to see his attitude, one would never know the battle he was fighting. Even while battling this deadly disease, Kyle made sure he talked to any fan that wanted to speak with him, take pictures with him, etc. Below is a little something about Kyle from his website www.kylemiller35.com
Kyle’s dedication and love for the sport of lacrosse was unparalleled. In high school, Kyle was driven and focused to take his talent as a lacrosse goalie to the next level In 2002, Kyle landed a scholarship at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, where he planned to study and play as a starting goalie for the Cornell Big Red lacrosse team. That was, until the unthinkable happened and everything Kyle had worked to achieve was brought to a halt. After experiencing an injury to his right leg, Kyle was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma cancer, the same form of bone cancer that took the life of Canadian hero, Terry Fox.
“Kyle underwent treatment, including chemotherapy and extensive surgery in Toronto, ON. Within two years of being diagnosed with cancer, Kyle returned to the lacrosse field where he helped his team, Cornell Big Red, to win his first of four Ivy League Championships.
After graduating from Cornell in 2006, Kyle played for The Canadian National Team at the game’s highest level, the World Lacrosse Championships. Kyle and his team won Gold for Canada in the championship game, an accomplishment that hadn’t been made by Canada in 28 years.
Since winning Gold in 2006, Kyle has retired from the sport of lacrosse, but has dedicated his career and life to telling his story of passion, survival and triumph to audiences across the country. Kyle teaches groups to identify and achieve personal success by turning their passion into action!
In October 2011, Kyle was diagnosed with a recurrence of Osteosarcoma cancer when Metastases were found in and surrounding his left lung.
As the news came out of Kyle’s passing the social media network was a buzz.
Dan Dawson of the Champion Rochester Knighthawks tweeted “Thinking of the entire Miller family. Kyle was a hero to us all and his legacy will never be forgotten” #Beatit
@NLLnetwork Kyle Miller…Forever a Hero and a Champion Rest in Peace.
Joe Walters and Dylan Evans of the Rochester Knighthawks: Thoughts and Prayers are with the Miller family
Every one from NLL Commissioner George Daniel, Paul Rabil, The MLL, Phladelphia Wings, Zack Greer, and the list goes on..
Will Harrington of the Ohio Machine (MLL) and Philadelphia Wings(NLL) posted the following on his facebook.
It’s loss that teaches us about what truly matters in life. The lacrosse community and the world as a whole lost an amazing person today, but the number of lives that Kyle D. Miller changed and the number of hearts that he touched is something that cancer could never take away. I know that I will play today with a tear in my eye and a heart full of love for someone who made such an impact on my life. RIP Kyle. #BeatIt
I reached out to Teddy Jenner former Shamrock player in the WLA as well as a career in the NLL from 2002-2007 as well as the host of Off the Crosse-Bar weekly radio show airs Tuesday nights www.teamradio.ca click the 1410 link on right, and he had the following to say about Kyle:
“I’m not sure there are enough words to describe Kyle. He was an inspiration to so many people that he never met. That legacy could go beyond what he ever imagined when he first set out on his speaking engagements. Kyle was more than just a goalie. He was a young man that knew he had a great ability to talk to young people and relate to them. His story is one that never got the coverage it deserved but all he did was smile, educated fight his ass off as long as his body would let him. He touched thousands of people’s lives and all of us who met him and knew him are better because of it.
Kyle will be missed everyday but his mark on our lives will last forever.
Today the lacrosse world lost a brother, a friend, a warrior and a champion.
R.I.P Kyle Miller #35 One day we will all #BEATIT and we will have you to thank.
Until we meet again…
Good-Bye my friend.
