Associated Press
Anaheim, Calif. — Ryan Miller smiled and choked up a bit when he considered how his career as the winningest American-born goalie in professional hockey history almost never happened.
When Miller first became fascinated with goaltending as a youngster growing up in East Lansing, he says his father, Dean, gently tried to discourage him from putting on the pads and the mask.
“He knew how difficult it could be to stand there,” Miller said Thursday. “But I felt like it was the spot for me.”
Three decades later, Miller has decided to enjoy the fruits of a lifetime spent meticulously preparing for his next game and his opponents’ next shot.