Mike Richter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mike Richter |
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Richter lifting the Stanley Cup in 1994
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| Born | September 22, 1966 Abington, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Goaltender | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Caught | Left | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Played for | New York Rangers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | 28th overall, 1985 New York Rangers |
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| Playing career | 1989–2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Michael Thomas Richter (born September 22, 1966) is a famous American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He played his entire career with the New York Rangers in the National Hockey League (NHL). From 1989 to 2002, he was a key player for the team. He helped lead the Rangers to win the Stanley Cup in 1994. Mike Richter also played for the United States in many international games. In 2008, he was added to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. His former Rangers teammate, Brian Leetch, was also inducted at the same time.
Contents
Mike Richter's Hockey Journey
Early Life and College Hockey
Mike Richter grew up in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. He loved watching Philadelphia Flyers goalie Bernie Parent play. Mike went to Germantown Academy and then Northwood School. He also played hockey at the Wissahickon Skating Club.
After playing for the U.S. in the World Junior Championships in 1985, Richter played college hockey. He joined the University of Wisconsin–Madison team from 1985 to 1987. The New York Rangers chose him in the 1985 NHL Draft. He was the 28th player picked overall. Richter continued to play for the U.S. team. He played in the 1986 World Junior Championships and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
Becoming a Star Goalie
Richter made his NHL debut in the 1989 playoffs. He quickly became a regular player for the Rangers. In his first full season, he won 12 games. For the next two seasons, he shared goalie duties with veteran John Vanbiesbrouck. Richter was also chosen to play for the U.S. in the 1991 Canada Cup tournament.
Before the 1993-94 season, Vanbiesbrouck was traded. This made Richter the Rangers' main goalie. He had an amazing season, winning 42 games. This was his best record ever. The Rangers also won the Presidents' Trophy for being the best team in the regular season. Richter was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the NHL All-Star Game. The Rangers hosted this game at Madison Square Garden.
Winning the Stanley Cup
In the 1994 playoffs, Richter played even better. He recorded four shutouts, meaning he didn't let the other team score any goals in those games. The Rangers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Vancouver Canucks. In Game 4, Richter made a famous save. He stopped Vancouver's star player, Pavel Bure, on a penalty shot. This was a huge moment in the series. The Rangers went on to defeat the Canucks in seven games. They won their first Stanley Cup since 1940.
Later Career and Playing Style
After the Stanley Cup win, Richter was seen as one of the world's best goalies. He led the United States to victory in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. His great play earned him the tournament's MVP award.
Richter was known for his exciting and quick style of play. Even though he wasn't the tallest goalie, he used his fast reflexes to make incredible saves. He was always in the right spot to block shots. He was famous for making "desperation saves" using his focus and flexibility. His longtime teammate, Brian Leetch, once said that Richter was incredibly focused. Leetch added that Richter got better when games were tough.
Richter faced many injuries during his career. These included knee sprains and concussions. His last appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs was in 1997. Despite injuries and his team's struggles, he was chosen as the top goalie for Team USA in the 1998 and 2002 Olympics. He won a silver medal in the 2002 Games.
Richter retired from hockey after the 2002-2003 season. A skull fracture and another concussion forced him to stop playing. Before retiring, he became the first Ranger to reach 300 wins. He held the Rangers' record for most wins by a goalie for a long time. Later, Henrik Lundqvist surpassed his record.
On February 4, 2004, the New York Rangers honored Mike Richter. They retired his jersey number, 35, at Madison Square Garden. This means no other Rangers player will ever wear that number.
Life After Hockey
Education and Environmental Work
After retiring from the NHL, Mike Richter went to Yale University. He studied Ethics, Politics, and Economics. He focused on Environmental Policy.
Richter is very involved in environmental efforts. He was a founding partner at groups that focus on clean energy and resource efficiency. He serves on the board of trustees for the Adirondack Nature Conservancy. He is also a member of the National Advisory Council for the Sierra Club. Richter has worked with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). They aim to bring eco-friendly practices to the sports world. He also started Athletes for a Healthy Planet. This group helps people understand how environmental issues connect to health and well-being.
In April 2019, Richter played in a special hockey game near the North Pole. This game was sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme. The idea came from Russian hockey legend Viacheslav Fetisov. The game aimed to raise awareness about climate change and melting ice in polar regions.
Today, Mike Richter is the President of Brightcore Energy. He has three sons, who all grew up playing ice hockey in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Awards and Honors
Mike Richter received many awards and honors throughout his career:
- NHL All-Star Game: 1992, 1994 (MVP), 2000
- Stanley Cup champion: 1994
- Won a gold medal at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey (MVP)
- Won a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics
- His number 35 jersey was retired by the New York Rangers in 2004.
- Inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008.
- Received the 2009 Lester Patrick Award for his contributions to hockey.
- In a 2009 book, he was ranked as the No. 3 all-time greatest New York Ranger. He was the highest-ranked goalie.
- Inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
Rangers' Team Awards
Richter also won several awards from the New York Rangers team:
- Crumb Bum Award (1997) – for helping New York youngsters.
- Frank Boucher Trophy (1991, 1999, 2000, 2002) – for being the most popular player.
- Good Guy Award (1991) – for working well with the media.
- Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award (1988) – for being the best rookie in training camp.
- Player's Player Award (1991, 2000) – chosen by his teammates.
- Team Rookie of the Year (1991).
- Team MVP (2000, 2002).
Rangers' Team Records
- Single season wins: 42 (1993–94)
See also
In Spanish: Mike Richter para niños
