Sonny Milano
First-round pick who won the Calder Cup with Lake Erie Monsters.
Frank "Sonny" Milano (born May 12, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey winger for SC Bern in Switzerland's National League. The Columbus Blue Jackets picked him 16th overall in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Milano grew up in Massapequa, New York, rooting for the New York Islanders and idolizing Ziggy Palffy. He started skating at age two after watching his sister during her figure skating lessons. At 15, he left home to play for the Cleveland Barons' Midget Minor Tier 1 team, recruited by coaching director Tim Alexander. He attended Portledge School for his freshman year before moving to Rocky River High School while playing for the Barons. During the 2011–12 season, he led the entire Tier 1 Elite Hockey League with 44 goals and 43 assists for 87 points in 40 games. He tried out for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in January 2012 but didn't make the team.
Rated a top prospect for the 2014 draft, Milano trained with the NTDP during the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons and was invited to the 2013 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game. He had committed to Boston College, but on August 16, 2014, Eagles head coach Jerry York announced Milano intended to sign a pro contract with the Blue Jackets, ending his college eligibility. He played for the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL during the 2014–15 season, signing a three-year entry-level contract with Columbus on September 11, 2014.
On March 23, 2015, Milano finished his OHL career and was assigned to the AHL's Springfield Falcons, recording five assists in 10 games. After training camp, he was reassigned to the Lake Erie Monsters for the 2015–16 season. He tallied 12 goals and 27 points in 48 games before an emergency recall to the NHL on March 30, 2016. He got his first NHL assist in his second game on April 2, helping the Blue Jackets beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5–1. He played three NHL games before returning to the AHL, finishing the regular season with 14 goals and 31 points in 54 games, tied for fifth in goals and sixth in points for the Monsters. In the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs, he had four goals and four assists in 17 games as the Monsters won the championship.
Milano attended the Blue Jackets' 2016 development and training camp and was initially assigned to the Cleveland Monsters.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1996-05-12
- Birth Place
- Massapequa, New York, U.S.
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 0
- Weight Lb
- 205
- Position
- Winger
- Shoots
- Left
- Team
- SC Bern
- League
- NL
- Former Teams
- Columbus Blue Jackets / Anaheim Ducks / Washington Capitals
- Ntl Team
- USA
- Draft
- 16th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Milano began skating at age two after watching his sister during figure skating lessons. He grew up a fan of the New York Islanders, with Ziggy Palffy as his favorite player. At 15, he left home to play for the Cleveland Barons' Midget Minor Tier 1 team after being recruited by coaching director Tim Alexander. During the 2011–12 season, Milano led the entire Tier 1 Elite Hockey League with 44 goals and 43 assists for 87 points in 40 games. He tried out for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in January 2012 but did not make the team. He later trained with the NTDP during the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons and was invited to the 2013 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game. Milano was committed to Boston College but instead signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets on September 11, 2014, and played for the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL during the 2014–15 season. He made his professional debut with the Springfield Falcons in the AHL on March 23, 2015. Milano was a key contributor for the Lake Erie Monsters during their 2016 Calder Cup championship run, recording four goals and four assists in 17 playoff games. He scored his first NHL goal on October 6, 2017, in a 5-0 shutout of the Islanders. Milano suffered a torn oblique muscle in January 2018 and missed four to six weeks. He accepted the Blue Jackets' qualifying offer to remain with the team through the 2019–20 season.
Reader's Guide
Milano's career illustrates the path of a highly touted prospect who transitioned from junior hockey to the professional ranks after forgoing college eligibility. His early dominance in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League and subsequent training with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program marked him as a first-round talent. Though he did not immediately secure a permanent NHL roster spot, Milano's contributions to the Lake Erie Monsters' Calder Cup victory in 2016 demonstrated his ability to perform in high-stakes playoff environments. His NHL tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets was characterized by frequent assignments between the AHL and NHL, reflecting the team's depth at forward. Milano's first NHL goal came against his childhood favorite team, the New York Islanders. Injuries, including a torn oblique muscle, interrupted his momentum, but he continued to produce at the AHL level, leading the Cleveland Monsters in points and assists during the 2016–17 season. His career ultimately took him to SC Bern in Switzerland, continuing his professional journey outside North America.
Did You Know?
- Milano began skating at age two after seeing his sister skate during her figure skating lessons.
- He led the entire Tier 1 Elite Hockey League with 87 points in 40 games during the 2011–12 season.
- He won the Calder Cup with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2016.
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