TROY When hockey players travel to Scotland, it's usually to play golf in the summer.

But Detroit Red Wings forward Drew Miller will leave his clubs behind, taking his skates instead, when he heads overseas on Tuesday. He has signed with the Braehead Clan of the Rapid Solicitors Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom.

It's just an opportunity to play,'' Miller said. It's kind of getting repetitive here, skating with half a team. It gives me an opportunity to play in game situations.''

He'll be playing in a 10-team league consisting of clubs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The league, in its 10th season, has been compared to the ECHL.

I'm not sure exactly where it ranks, but I think they play more of a North American style than most of the European leagues, I'm told,'' Miller said. The biggest thing is playing games and mentally preparing for a game and being in that kind of atmosphere. That's what I'm going to try to get out of it.''

The Clan plays in 4,000-seat Braehead Arena in Renfrew, about two miles outside of Glasgow.

More than 100 NHL players have gone to Europe during the lockout and openings in many leagues are scarce, particularly for grinders like Miller, who has never been to Scotland or England.

It's an area of the world I'd like to be able to see,'' he said. Gives me an opportunity to play during the lockout.''

Miller said he's not pessimistic about the NHL and NHL Players Association reaching a new labor deal in time to salvage part of the season.

It's just that I wanted to be ready when the season kicks off, and hopefully it does,'' Miller said. The AHL is playing; a lot of those guys are going to come back into the quick (NHL) camp we would have (after a settlement). I don't want to be behind those guys who've (played games). That's one of the reasons I want to go over there and stay sharp.''

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Red Wings' Drew Miller looking forward to seeing Scotland, playing hockey again