Kevin Oklobzija
For Ryan Miller, professional honors seem endless.
Vezina Trophy won the championship in 2010. 2010 NHL All-Stars. The second-winning goalie in NHL history. 2010 Olympic silver medalist. MVP of the Olympic Games in the same year. The Hobey Baker Award winner was the best player in college hockey in 2001. Buffalo Sabers’ Hall of Fame in 2023. Sabers Sweater No. 30 Sweater Retired in 2023.
But 23 years after the War Memorial first entered the Blue Cross Arena, he has not forgotten his career connection with the Rochester Americans.
“For me, this is where it starts,” Miller said Friday night, when he was inducted into the Amicks Hall of Fame. “I’m so lucky that my career started here.”
Miller arrived in the 2002-2003 season, expecting his glory in three seasons at Michigan State University, and he surpassed them in his time, wearing red, white and blue.
He averaged 2.34 with 2.34 goals and a savings percentage of 2.34. His 15 professional suspensions rank second in franchise history.
But Miller said his cherishment was more than just memories on the ice. The city was his home away from his home for the first time alone, and he was alone from his hometown in East Lansing, Michigan.
“I signed the first contract to be a career and my first real experience with the West People was Rochester, which was a great introduction,” Miller said. “I’m so grateful that we all have a stable, safe, good environment to focus on hockey and grow into hockey players, but there are a lot of opportunities in the organization to be one.”
He made sure that the 8,920 fans who attended Friday understood what Rochester meant to him.
“Hello again, Rochester,” Miller said as he kicked off his induction speech at the pre-match ice ceremony. Then, when he finished his speech, he said, “Rochester, I love you. Thank you very much.”
When he first arrived, he thought his apprenticeship would be short, like most touted prospects. He realized that the time spent here was indispensable in his development.
“Looking back, I’m really glad I have an experiment that I can do, but it’s a high pressure lab with high expectations and a long history in Rochester’s winning history.”
Miller is part of the prospect of a group of military personnel who become teammates and friends and then become the core of the Sabres who reached the finals in 2006 and 2007.
During the 2004-05 NHL lockdown, the Amerks team, including Miller, Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville, Derek Roy and Paul Gaustad, ended with the AHL best record, graduating for the second year of the NHL. Miller scored eight league-leading lockdowns that year with a record of 41-17-4.
“We all understand what we put in front of us,” Miller said. “The Saber will use the lockdown period to lead the league. They have an idea of the situation with the rules (repression of blockages) and I think they’re doing a good job of taking the lead.
“We are catching up with these new rules by hitting the rest of the league.”
Miller became the seventh goalkeeper to enter Amerks Hall, joining former Saber teammate Marty Biron (grade 2018).
