Ryan Miller (ice hockey)

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Position Goaltender
Catches Left
Nickname(s) Millsie, Miller Time
Height
Weight		 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
166 lb (75 kg/11 st 12 lb)
NHL Team Buffalo Sabres
Nationality Flag of the United States United States
Born July 17, 1980 (1980-07-17) (age 27),
East Lansing, MI
NHL Draft 138th overall, 1999
Buffalo Sabres
Pro career 2002 – present

Ryan Miller (born July 17, 1980 in East Lansing, Michigan) is an American ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. He is also the older brother of Anaheim Ducks' winger Drew Miller.

Contents

[edit] Playing career

Miller first began his hockey career in Northern California playing for the Santa Clara Blackhawks travel team. It was on this team that he decided to play in goal, rather than skating out. Miller was drafted in the 5th Round, 138th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. As a college player for the Michigan State University Spartans, Miller set the NCAA record for career shutouts and was the winner of the Hobey Baker Award in 2001. Miller became only the second Spartan in history to earn that honor. Ten members of Miller's family, including his grandfather, father, uncle, five cousins, and his younger brother Drew, have played college hockey for the Spartans. His cousin Kip Miller won the Hobey Baker in 1990. He has often credited his Spartan connections, especially long-time friend and tutor Jason Muzzatti, with getting him where he is today.

After 3 seasons with Michigan State, Miller moved to the American Hockey League, where he played for the Sabres affiliate the Rochester Americans in 2002-03. During that season he played 15 regular season games for Buffalo. He has spent most of his career as the starting goalie for the Americans winning 41 games and tying Gerry Cheevers' record. Three of Miller's cousins (Kelly, Kevin, and Kip Miller) also played in the NHL.

Miller finished the 2005-2006 season by establishing himself as the starting goalie for the Sabres. He ranked 11th among NHL goalies with a 2.60 GAA, and 9th with a save percentage of .914. Miller led the Sabres to a surprise season winning 30 games and proving himself to be one of the hardest working goalies in the league. Miller played well in the postseason too by advancing to the conference finals before injuries finally caught up with them, losing game 7 to Carolina.

After the 2005-06 season, Miller became a restricted free agent and waived his right to arbitration. Mike Liut, Miller's agent, continued to negotiate with the Sabres through the summer. On September 8, 2006 the Sabres announced that they have resigned Miller to a three-year contract.


On January 1st, 2008, Miller played with the Sabres in the "NHL Winter Classic" - the first outdoor NHL game to be held in the United States. The game was played at Ralph Wilson Stadium - home to the Buffalo Bills, in Orchard Park, New York. The Sabres lost in a shoot-out to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Miller only allowed one goal (out of 25 shots) in regulation. Miller previously played outdoors in the Cold War - a game between Michigan and Michigan State held in 2001.

He is known for his hybrid style of goaltending, placing him on par with the likes of Martin Brodeur and Evgeni Nabokov. His current contract with the Sabres expires at the end of next season.

On March 28, 2008 Miller played in his 73rd game of the season, breaking the Sabres franchise record for most games played in a season, passing Grant Fuhr, Dominik Hasek, and Martin Biron. He finished the season with 76 appearances, recording a 2.64 GAA and a .906 SVP. front_Ryan Miller

[edit] Steadfast Foundation

Ryan Miller, along with his dad, Dean, started the Steadfast Foundation which supports cancer patients and their families.

[edit] 2006-07

In the 2006-07 season, he helped the Sabres tie the Toronto Maple Leafs' record for most wins to start the season. (10)

Miller was named Player of the Month by the NHL in October, 2006.

On April 7, 2007, Miller helped the Buffalo Sabres win the Presidents' Trophy by defeating the Washington Capitals by a score of 2-0.

[edit] Personal

Owns a clothing store in East Lansing, MI called The Refinery.[1]

He was featured in an Amp Energy Drink commercial, where he was in a "The dozens shootout" against then Los Angeles Kings Goalie J.S. Aubin.

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] Regular season

   
Season Team League GP W L T/OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV %
1999-00 Michigan State University CCHA 25 16 4 3 1453 33 7 1.36 N/A
2000-01 Michigan State University CCHA 40 31 5 4 2447 54 0 1.32 0.950
2001-02 Michigan State University CCHA 40 26 9 5 2411 71 0 1.77 0.936
2002-03 Rochester Americans AHL 47 23 18 5 2817 10 2 2.34 0.920
2002-03 Buffalo Sabres NHL 15 6 8 1 912 40 1 2.63 0.902
2003-04 Buffalo Sabres NHL 3 0 3 0 177 15 0 5.08 0.795
2003-04 Rochester Americans AHL 60 27 25 7 3579 132 5 2.21 0.925
2004-05 Rochester Americans AHL 63 41 17 4 370 153 8 2.45 0.922
2005-06 Buffalo Sabres NHL 48 30 14 3 2862 124 1 2.60 0.914
2005-06 Rochester Americans AHL 2 1 1 0 120 5 0 2.50 0.889
2006-07 Buffalo Sabres NHL 63 40 16 6 3692 168 2 2.73 0.911
2007-08 Buffalo Sabres NHL 76 36 27 10 4474 197 3 2.64 0.906
NHL CAREER TOTALS 205 112 68 10 12118 544 7 2.69 0.908

[edit] Playoffs

   
Season Team League GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV %
2002-03 Rochester Americans AHL 3 1 2 190 13 0 4.11 .856
2003-04 Rochester Americans AHL 14 7 7 857 26 2 1.82 .934
2004-05 Rochester Americans AHL 9 5 4 547 24 0 2.63 .909
2005-06 Buffalo Sabres NHL 18 11 7 1123 48 1 2.56 .908
2006-07 Buffalo Sabres NHL 16 9 7 1029 38 0 2.22 .922
NHL CAREER TOTALS 34 20 14 2151 86 1 2.39 .915

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ex-MSU star opens E.L. shop. The State News (April 4, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-06.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Mike Mottau		 Winner of the Hobey Baker Award
2000-01		 Succeeded by
Jordan Leopold