Miller Opts Out of Turin Olympics

Defenseman Aaron Miller, concerned about his back, has withdrawn from the United States hockey team that will play in the Winter Olympics at Turin, Italy. Miller informed Team USA officials last week.

“I need to use the time for my health,” said Miller, who played in the 2002 Olympics. “The Kings come first.”

Miller, 34, has had back problems for a couple of years. He has sat out 16 games this season and needed a series of anti-inflammatory injections to get back into the lineup. He has played in only four games since returning.

“There is still discomfort there,” Miller said. “I was out for five weeks, and it’s just not at the point where I feel comfortable. It would be selfish of me to go over there, with the travel and without my support staff.”

Miller has been a fixture on defense for Team USA the last four years. Besides the Olympics, he played in the 2004 World Cup, as well as the 2004 and 2005 world championships.

“Of course it is disappointing,” he said. “I’m thankful I had the chance to play in the Olympics before. I want to be there, but I have to take care of my health. I have to know that I can be 100%. I can’t have any doubt in my mind.”

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The Kings’ practice Sunday had a bit more intensity than usual, with forward Michael Cammalleri and defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky being separated during a drill.

Visnovsky hit Cammalleri into the boards behind the net and Cammalleri responded by slashing at Visnovsky moments later. The two then dropped their sticks and swung at each other, with teammates stepping in before the situation escalated.

Everyone was all smiles afterward.

“It’s OK,” Visnovsky said. “It was just an NHL practice.”

Said Cammalleri: “It was nothing. We were just getting some energy going in practice. We were both competing hard. I don’t think Lubo liked the slashing.”

Others took some pleasure in the moment from a hockey point of view.

“That’s like the old days,” forward Jeremy Roenick said. “There was some intensity out there, and guys were getting a little feisty. That’s old-time hockey. No one takes it personal, and it gets everybody going.”

With minimal risk. “It’s not like those guys are two heavyweights,” Coach Andy Murray said.

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Forward Pavol Demitra sat out practice with what Murray said was flu. Demitra had just returned after being sidelined 10 games because of a leg injury.

Demitra is one of four key players to return from injuries the last two weeks. The others are Roenick (broken finger), Miller and Eric Belanger (partially torn groin).

“Guys come back and play that first game on adrenaline, then it takes about four or five games to get back to playing the way they were before,” said Murray, whose team has lost 10 of its last 13 games.

“If it was at the start of the season, then that would be fine, but we don’t have four or five games now. We need Pavol Demitra back, we need Jeremy Roenick back, we need Aaron Miller back, we need Eric Belanger back. That’s the reality of our situation.”