Jim Mill named assistant to the GM in Minnesota

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that executive vice president of hockey operations Jim Mill has been named assistant to the general manager of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild.

Mill will report to general manager Chuck Fletcher and help oversee the day-to-day operations of Minnesota’s hockey operations department. Mill will also serve as general manager of the Houston Aeros, the Wild’s affiliate in the AHL.

Mill leaves the league office after 11 seasons during which time he managed all facets of the AHL’s hockey operations department including the AHL’s officiating program, recruiting, hiring and assigning on-ice officials to supplement those in the National Hockey League officials development program. Mill also oversaw the league’s disciplinary process for fines and suspensions, developed and executed the regular-season league schedule and coordinated the scheduling of playoff games with all participating teams. He also served as the league secretary to the AHL Board of Governors.

“On behalf of our teams and our Board of Governors, I would like to thank Jim for his 11 years of invaluable service and dedication to the American Hockey League,” said Andrews. “We are elated to see a most deserving member of our organization get the ability to demonstrate his talents at the next level, and we offer our sincerest best wishes to Jim and his family.”

A native of Hartford, Conn., Mill begins his new role with the Wild immediately.

In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives and broadcasters of all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 84 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the eighth year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2008-09.