Ryan Miller facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ryan Miller
Miller with the St. Louis Blues in 2014
Born	(1980-07-17) July 17, 1980 (age 44) East Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	168 lb (76 kg; 12 st 0 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Buffalo Sabres St. Louis Blues Vancouver Canucks Anaheim Ducks
National team	United States
NHL Draft	138th overall, 1999 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	2002–2021

Ryan Dean Miller (born July 17, 1980) is a famous American former ice hockey goaltender. He played for 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He spent most of his career with the Buffalo Sabres.

The Buffalo Sabres picked Miller in the 1999 NHL Draft. In 2010, he won the Vezina Trophy. This award goes to the best goaltender in the league. For many years, Miller was the American-born goalie with the most wins in NHL history. Jonathan Quick passed his record in 2024.

Miller played for the USA team in the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. He won a silver medal in 2010. He was also named the most valuable player of that tournament. Miller is one of only 39 goalies in NHL history to win 300 games. He is known for his "hybrid" style of goaltending. His older brother, Drew Miller, also played in the NHL.

Ryan Miller's Early Life

Ryan Miller grew up in East Lansing, Michigan. He started playing youth hockey in California. At first, Miller played as a forward. But he got tired of his team's goalie not playing well. So, he asked his coach and his dad, Dean Miller, if he could try being a goalie.

His dad told him that if he scored two goals and had three assists in the next game, he would buy Ryan a catching glove. Miller did it! He finished that game with two goals and three assists. His brother Drew and cousins Kelly, Kevin, and Kip all played in the NHL. All five of them went to Michigan State University. Ryan Miller played goalie there for three years.

Ryan Miller's Hockey Career

After playing for Michigan State, Miller joined the American Hockey League (AHL). He played for the Rochester Americans. This team was linked to the Buffalo Sabres. He played there from 2002 to 2005. During the 2002–03 season, he also played 15 games for the Buffalo Sabres.

In the 2004–05 season, the NHL had a lockout. This meant no games were played. Miller won 41 games for the Americans that year. This tied a record set by Gerry Cheevers. He finished that season with a 2.45 goals-against average (GAA). The Americans won their division that year.

Miller with the Rochester Americans in 2004

Playing for the Buffalo Sabres (2002–2014)

In the 2005–06 NHL season, Miller became the main goalie for the Sabres. He helped the team have a great season. They won 30 games and made it to the conference finals. After this season, the Sabres signed Miller to a new three-year contract.

The 2006–07 NHL season was very successful for Miller. He and his team won their first 10 games in a row. Miller was chosen to be the starting goalie for the Eastern Conference in the 2007 NHL All-Star Game. He also became known as a shootout specialist. He was very good at stopping shots in shootouts.

In the playoffs that year, the Sabres reached the conference finals again. They lost to the Ottawa Senators. Miller played very well in the playoffs.

On October 11, 2007, the Sabres won a game 6–0. Miller got a shutout, stopping all 20 shots. This game was special because it happened after his 18-year-old cousin, Matt, had passed away. Miller honored his cousin after the game. His helmet even had the words "Matt Man" on it.

Miller's helmet with the words "Matt Man".

On January 1, 2008, Miller played in the first outdoor NHL game in the United States. It was called the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic. The Sabres played the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Sabres lost in a shootout, but Miller only let in one goal during the game. Miller also set a new Sabres record that season. He played in 76 games, which was the most for a goalie in one season.

In July 2008, Miller signed a new five-year contract with the Sabres. In the 2009–10 NHL season, Miller played amazingly well. He helped the Buffalo Sabres win their division. He also won 41 games, which was a new personal record. Because of his great play, Miller was nominated for the Vezina Trophy. On June 23, 2010, Ryan Miller won the Vezina Trophy. He was named the best goaltender in the NHL. That same night, he also won the NHL Foundation Player Award. This award is for players who give back to their community.

On February 4, 2012, Miller made history for the Sabres. He got his 235th career win. This meant he passed Dominik Hašek to become the Sabres' all-time leader in wins.

Miller with the Sabres in 2011.

Playing for the St. Louis Blues (2014)

On February 28, 2014, Miller was traded from the Sabres to the St. Louis Blues. He played his first game for the Blues on March 3. He stopped 23 shots in a 4–2 win. Miller and the Blues lost in the first round of the playoffs that year. They played against the Chicago Blackhawks. After the season, the Blues did not sign Miller again.

Miller with the Vancouver Canucks in 2015

Playing for the Vancouver Canucks (2014–2017)

On July 1, 2014, Miller signed a three-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. He became their starting goalie. On October 28, Miller reached another big milestone. He became the 30th goalie in NHL history to get 300 career wins. He made 29 saves as the Canucks beat the Carolina Hurricanes.

On January 30, 2015, Miller beat his old team, the Buffalo Sabres. This meant he had now beaten every team in the NHL at least once! Later that season, Miller got injured and missed many games. He returned to play the last game of the regular season.

Playing for the Anaheim Ducks and Retirement (2017–2021)

After his contract with the Canucks ended, Miller signed with the Anaheim Ducks on July 1, 2017. He signed a two-year contract. He started the 2017–18 NHL season on the injured list because of a wrist injury. He made his debut with the Ducks on October 29, 2017.

On February 17, 2019, Miller became the American-born goalie with the most wins in NHL history. He passed John Vanbiesbrouck. He signed another contract with the Ducks in 2019 and again in 2020.

On April 29, 2021, Miller announced he would retire from the NHL. His last NHL game was on May 8, 2021. On January 19, 2023, the Buffalo Sabres retired Miller's number 30 jersey. This is a great honor for a player. In September 2022, it was announced that Miller would be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Playing for Team USA

Miller at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Silver	2010 Vancouver

Miller was a reserve player for the USA team at the 2006 Winter Olympics. However, he did not play in any games.

Miller was chosen as the starting goalie for the USA in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He led the team to a perfect 5–0 start. This included a big 5–3 win over Canada, who were favorites to win gold. Miller stopped 42 of 45 shots in that game.

The USA team made it to the gold medal game. They faced Canada again. In a very close game, the U.S. lost 3–2 in overtime. Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal. Even though they lost, the USA won the silver medal. Miller was a huge part of this success. He was named the most valuable player of the tournament. Miller also set American Olympic records for save percentage and goals-against average. He won the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) award for best goaltender.

Miller was also chosen for the US team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He played in one game, making 17 saves in a 5–1 win against Slovenia. The USA team did not win a medal in Sochi.

Ryan Miller's Records

Ryan Miller holds many impressive records in hockey:

NHL Records

• Least saves needed in a win: 0 (Anaheim, January 25, 2018)
• Most shootout wins by a goalie in one season: 10

Buffalo Sabres Records

• Most games played by a goalie: 540
• Most minutes played by a goalie: 31,661
• Most career wins: 284
• Most wins in a season: 41 (in 2009–10)

USA Hockey Olympics Records

• Best career goals-against average: 1.30
• Most goalie assists all-time: 1

Michigan State Spartans Records

• Best career goals-against average: 1.54
• Best career save percentage: .941
• Most career shutouts: 26

Ryan Miller's Personal Life

Miller married actress Noureen DeWulf on September 3, 2011. They had their first child, a son, in March 2015. Their daughter was born in April 2022.

In 2006, Miller and his father, Dean, started the Steadfast Foundation. This charity helps cancer patients and their families. Miller started the foundation after his cousin was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play Statistics

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2002	United States	WC	7th		4	2	2	0	238	7	1	1.76	.950
2003	United States	WC	13th		4	2	2	0	193	8	0	2.49	.889
2010	United States	OG			6	5	1	0	355	8	1	1.35	.946
2014	United States	OG	4th		1	1	0	60	1	0	1.00	.944
Senior totals					15	8	3	0	846	24	2	1.70	.938

Awards and Honors