Ryan Miller (ice hockey)

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size= 230px
team=Buffalo Sabres
former_teams=
league = NHL
position = Goaltender
catches = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lb = 166
nickname = Millsie, Miller Time, Milli
nationality = USA
birth_date = birth date and age|1980|7|17
birth_place = East Lansing, MI
draft = 138th overall
draft_year = 1999
draft_team = Buffalo Sabres
career_start = 2002
style = hybrid

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 known for his hybrid style of goaltending, placing him on par with the likes of Martin Brodeur and Evgeni Nabokov. He is also the older brother of Anaheim Ducks' winger Drew Miller.

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, nicknamed "Unscoreonable" by an MSU teammate, became only the second Spartan in history to earn that honor and only the second goaltender (Robb Stauber won it in 1988). 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.

The 2006-07 season would prove a successful one. In his first season starting with the number one job, Miller and his team won the first 10 games in a row. Miller was voted in as the starting goaltender for the Eastern Conference of the 2007 NHL All-Star Game in a 12-9 loss, he played the first period and allowed just 3 goals. Miller also gained a reputation of a shootout specialist with his technique of challenging the shooter outside the crease. That season he was 10-4 in shootouts, with Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils being his closest rival at 10 wins and 6 losses. In 63 games played that season, Miller posted a 0.911 SVP and a 2.73 GAA backing a more offensively oriented team.

In the post-season of that year, Ryan Miller would lead his team to defeat the New York Islanders in 5 games, the New York Rangers in 6, and would go on to the conference finals for the second time in 2 years, only to lose to the Ottawa Senators in 5. Miller's game was notably improved in the playoffs however, exiting with a .922 SVP and 2.22 GAA.

On October 11th, the Sabres won their first game of the 2007-08 season with a 6-0 win over the Atlanta Thrashers. Miller had the shutout stopping 20 shots in a game following the death of his 18-year-old cousin, Matt, who died the Monday before of a complication with a bone-marrow transplant. At the close of the game, Miller raised his stick to the home crowd in tribute and had received star honors for his effort in net.

Ryan Miller's current helmet design has the words "Matt Man" on the back in remembrance.

On January 1, 2008, Miller played with the Sabres in the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic, which was 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.

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. In spite of the presence of then backup goaltender Jocelyn Thibault- Miller finished the season with 76 games played, recording a 2.64 GAA and a .906 SVP.

On July 18, 2008 Miller signed a five-year contract extension worth $31.25 million [cite web | title = Sabres, Miller agree to five-year contract extension.

publisher = LetsGoSabres.com | date = July 18, 2008 | url = http://www.letsgosabres.com/pressbox/fullstory.php?newsid=10710 | accessdate = 2008-07-18] with the Sabres that will keep him in Buffalo through the 2013-14 season.The contract will take effect at the start of the 2009-2010 season, as Miller still has a year left on his prior contract.

teadfast Foundation

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

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.

Personal

Miller owns a clothing store in East Lansing, Michigan, called The Refinery. [cite web | title = Ex-MSU star opens E.L. shop | publisher = The State News | date = April 4, 2007 | url = http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2007/04/ex-msu_star_opens_el | accessdate = 2007-10-06]

He was featured in an Amp Energy Drink commercial, where he was in a "The dozens shootout" against then Los Angeles Kings goalie Jean-Sebastian Aubin.

He and New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro are good friends.

Career statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

ee also

*Notable families in the NHL

References

External links

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* [http://sabres.nhl.com/team/app?page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8468011&service=page&tab=prf Ryan Miller - Sabres.com]
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