Ryan Miller Hockey player Date of Birth: 17.07.1980 Country: USA

1. Ryan Miller - American Hockey Player
2. Early Life and Education
3. Professional Career
4. Personal Life and Philanthropy

Ryan Miller - American Hockey Player

Ryan Miller is an American ice hockey player and goaltender. Currently, he plays for the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League. He is also a member of the United States national ice hockey team, selected for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Miller is known for his unique hybrid style of play, often compared to players like Martin Brodeur and Evgeni Nabokov. He is the older brother of Detroit Red Wings player Drew Miller.

Early Life and Education

Ryan Miller was born in East Lansing, Michigan. His older brother, Drew, played as a forward for the Detroit Red Wings, and all four of their cousins played in the NHL. Additionally, all four of them attended Michigan State University. In 1999, Miller was selected in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft, 138th overall. While in college, he played for the Michigan State Spartans, where he set an NCAA record by playing in 26 shutout games. In 2001, he won the Hobey Baker Award, recognizing him as the best player in the country based on wins, win percentage, save percentage (.95), goals against average, and shutout games. He became the second player in the university's history to receive such a prestigious award.

Professional Career

After three seasons with Michigan State, Miller moved on to the American Hockey League, playing for the Sabres' affiliate team, the Rochester Americans. In the 2002-2003 season, he participated in fifteen games for the Sabres. He spent most of his career as the starting goaltender, playing 41 games for the Rochester Americans in that capacity. By the end of the 2005-2006 season, Miller solidified his position as the Sabres' starting goaltender. He ranked 11th among NHL goaltenders with a 2.6 goals against average (GAA) and 9th in save percentage with .914. Thanks in large part to Miller, the Sabres won 30 games that season, solidifying his reputation as one of the best goaltenders in the league. Miller continued his impressive performance in the postseason until an injury forced him to temporarily leave hockey.

Personal Life and Philanthropy

After the 2005-2006 season, Miller became a restricted free agent. His agent negotiated a contract extension with the Buffalo Sabres, and in September 2006, it was announced that Miller had signed a three-year contract with the team. The 2006-2007 season was equally successful for Miller, as he and his team won ten consecutive games. He developed a new signature move and gained a reputation as a shootout specialist. On October 11, 2007, the Sabres began a new season with a dominant 6-0 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers, with Miller making 20 saves. This performance was even more remarkable considering that the day before the game, Miller's 18-year-old cousin, Matt, passed away due to complications from a bone marrow transplant.

On July 18, 2008, Miller signed another contract extension, this time for five years and $31.25 million. The new contract began in the 2009-2010 season and would keep Miller with the Buffalo Sabres until at least the 2013-2014 season. However, Miller's involvement in sports goes beyond hockey. He co-founded the Steadfast Foundation with his father, Dean, which supports cancer patients and their families. Additionally, he owns a clothing store in East Lansing, Michigan. Many remember Miller from a commercial for Amp Energy Drink, which was based on his actual gameplay against the Los Angeles Kings.