Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation

When Ryan Miller started for the East in the 2007 NHL All-Star Game, it showed that for some players, the Hobey Baker award is just the start of a great career.  Miller became the first Hobey-winning goalie to start in an NHL All-Star Game this year, but in 2001 Ryan Miller dominated the college hockey landscape.  He helped Michigan State to an astounding 33-5-4 record and his 1.32 goals against average and a .950 save percentage made him a leading candidate for the Hobey Baker Award. Although North Dakota ousted his team in the Frozen Four, Miller claimed the nation’s top individual honor for college hockey players…the Hobey Baker.

After leaving Michigan State, “Miller Time” began his professional career with Rochester of the AHL, where he played parts of 3 seasons with the Americans.  During the 2004-2005 NHL lockout he played full time with Rochester and posted solid numbers, going 41-17-4 with a 2.45 goals against and.922 save percentage. His 41 wins tied a Rochester team record previously set by Gerry Cheevers. When the NHL returned to action in 2005-2006, Miller played two games for Rochester before getting called up to Buffalo where he eventually unseated Marty Biron for the Sabres’ starting goaltender position. Miller established himself as Buffalo’s top goalie in 2005-2006 by going 30-14-4 and leading Buffalo into the playoffs. He ranked 11th among NHL goalies with a 2.60 goals against and 9th with a .914 save percentage. Miller’s performance led the Sabres to the Eastern conference finals where they fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games.

Prior to this season Miller and his agent Mike Liut negotiated a three-year contract with the Sabres.  Miller has rewarded Buffalo’s faith in him by becoming an NHL all-star and keeping the Sabres near the top of the NHL standings. His 33 wins, 2.75 goals against average, and .910 save percentage in 55 games played has made a lot of teams regret letting him slip to the 138th overall pick in the 5th round of the 1999 NHL draft.

But this success should be no surprise to anybody who followed his career in college, where Miller was just one of a long line of family members to wear the green and white of Michigan State. Ten members of his family have played hockey at Michigan State; a grandfather, uncle, five cousins and his younger brother Drew.  Cousins Kip, Kevin and Kelly all went on to play in the NHL as well.  In fact, Drew Miller is the second member of the Miller clan to win the Hobey Baker.  His cousin Kip put up 261 career points at Michigan State and capped his college career by winning the 1990 Hobey Baker award.