Across the storied history of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, countless student-athletes have left their mark on the ice and have continued to excel in their post-collegiate careers. In this special Alumni Spotlight series, the WCHA will highlight former players around the league who have made an impact and gone above and beyond in their respective professional careers.

In the seventh installment of this series, the WCHA is highlighting North Dakota's Margot Miller, who is now an Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner. During her time at North Dakota, Miller appeared in 132 games and recorded 15 goals along with 24 assists through her four seasons. Miller was named to the WCHA All-Academic team three times and earned the WCHA Scholar-Athlete award twice. 

After playing in the WCHA, Miller went on to complete nursing school and began her professional journey as a registered nurse. At nursing school, Miller spent seven years working in the emergency department, which also included navigating through the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, Miller pursued advanced education and earned her credentials as a Nurse Practitioner. For the past five years, Miller has specialized in orthopedics, where she finds great fulfillment in helping athletes and active individuals return to the activities they enjoy. Miller is still actively involved in the hockey community as she has coached high school girls' hockey for the past 13 seasons. Miller is currently the Director of Girls Hockey in Grand Forks, North Dakota. "I am passionate about growing the game and passing on my experiences," said Miller. 

How did playing college and or professional hockey prepare you for your current career? 
Playing college hockey taught me discipline, time management, and resilience-skills that I use every day in my career as an orthopedic nurse practitioner. Balancing a demanding athletic schedule with academics mirrors the intensity and responsibility of patient care. It also taught me how to stay calm under pressure, communicate effectively, and be a part of a team. 

What was your favorite memory from playing in the WCHA?
Some of my favorite memories would include the energy of playoff weekends-the intensity, the travel, the shared focus with teammates. There's something special about walking into a rink knowing what's at stake, and every game is important in the WCHA. I also enjoyed the little moments in the locker room and long bus rides, the grind of the WCHA schedule, and the hard practices often stick with me more than the big wins.

What advice would you give to your college self?
Don't be so hard on yourself. One game doesn't define you. Trust your preparation and enjoy the process more. Invest in your future off the ice-academics, relationships, and exploring career interests. Every part of that experience will serve you down the road.

What advice would you give to current WCHA players? 
Take it all in because it goes by fast. Prioritize recovery and take care of your body now. Prepare yourself for the physicality and difficulty of the WCHA. Lean into the uncomfortable moments-those are where the growth happens. Also, remember you're more than just a hockey player. Your time in the WCHA is building you for life after sport, whether you realize it or not.

What was the most rewarding part about playing in the WCHA?  
Competing at the highest level with and against some of the best players in the world. The pride of representing your school and doing something bigger than yourself is incredibly rewarding. Building and forming relationships through sweat, sacrifice, and success

What do you know now that you wish you had known when you were playing?
How important recovery, nutrition, and mental health truly are. I used to push through everything without realizing how much smarter I could train and take care of my body. Taking moments to slow down to appreciate your accomplishments,  not many will experience what we get to experience playing in the best league in college hockey. You don’t have to “have it all figured out” while you’re playing. Enjoy the grind, your time is short, don’t take it for granted.

WCHA Alumni Spotlight Features
Emma Yanko, Minnesota Duluth
Gabby Billing, St. Thomas
Baylee Stevenson (Gillanders), Minnesota
Sadie Lundquist, Bemidji State
Sheri Hudspeth (Maisonneuve), Minnesota State
Rachel Herzog, St. Cloud State

For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league on X and Instagram @WCHA_WHockey, and online at wcha.com.