Hasek Joins Sabers in Honoring Goalie Miller ESPN

Hasek Joins Sabers in Honoring Goalie Miller

BUFFALO, NY — Ryan Miller grew up idolizing goaltender Dominik Hasek, and when he signed with the Buffalo Sabers in 2002, he dreamed of one day having his name and number on the arena beam.

Not only did Miller’s dream come true on Thursday night, he was impressed when Hasek video-appeared from his home in the Czech Republic to welcome him to the exclusive club with the Sabers.

“Ryan, I’m honored to be a part of your evening. As a goaltender, we know what the position demands, all eyes are on you,” Hasek said during a ceremony prior to Buffalo’s game against the New York Islanders. “I’m proud of the story that we both made here in this city in front of these fans.”

When he took over as Buffalo’s first goaltender in 2005, four years after Hasek moved to Detroit, Miller established himself as one of the franchise’s best in more than 10 seasons with the team.

“It was just amazing that he said kind words about me, because that’s how I would watch his hockey,” said Miller, who wore No. 39 Haseks during his junior and collegiate career at Michigan State before posting his Joining No. 30, the Sabers transitioned as a fifth-round selection in 1999.

“I wanted to have my own relationship with the fans. I wanted to have my own identity,” said Miller, 42, who wanted to break up with Hasek. “It’s pretty cool that this different path brought us to the same place.”

Former Buffalo Sabers goaltender Ryan Miller and his family watch as a banner bearing his name and number is hoisted from the rafters. AP Photo/Joshua Bessex

Miller broke some of Hasek’s records and still tops the franchise list with 284 wins, 540 games played and a 41-win season mark. Miller, of East Lansing, Michigan, has 391 wins — two more than Hasek — in 18 seasons across four teams, ranks first among American-born goaltenders and 14th overall.

He retired from the NHL two years ago after four seasons with Anaheim. He also played with St. Louis and Vancouver.

Miller is best remembered for his time in Buffalo. In 2006 and 2007, he led the Sabers to back-to-back Eastern Conference playoffs, which Buffalo lost both times.

And then came his 2009-10 season, during which he won the Vezina Trophy, coinciding with Miller beating the United States with a silver medal at the 2010 Vancouver Games, where he was named tournament MVP.

For all his league stints and his home in Southern California, Miller remains loyal to Buffalo.

“I loved my time here and I’m glad it was an impressive time and that the fans enjoyed it,” said Miller, who remains a part-time NHL goalie rules advisor. “But it’s also a time to reconnect. I love Buffalo and I want to be closer and now I can be here.”

Miller was joined on the ice by numerous former teammates, coaches and members of his family. Also in attendance was NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman.

“He was the backbone of this team,” former Sabers forward Thomas Vanek said of Miller. “For me as a player going into every game, I knew we had a chance to win because we had Ryan Miller.”

Miller couldn’t resist poking fun at the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sabers’ cross-border rivals, in a comment that drew one of the louder cheers of the ceremony.

Miller said, “I wanted the whole town to wake up in a good mood because we beat the Maple Leafs the night before.”