Mike Richter

Mike Richter played in 666 games during a remarkable 14-year National Hockey League career, all with the New York Rangers. His 301 wins are more than any other Rangers goaltender and he helped the club win its first Stanley Cup in over 50 years.

Richter was a standout goaltender at Northwood School in Lake Placid, N.Y. Two weeks after his graduation from prep school, the Rangers selected Richter in the second round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He then attended the University of Wisconsin for two seasons (1985-87), before leaving school to join the U.S. Men's National Team in preparation for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games.

He remained with the U.S. program for the 1987-88 season, and went on to earn a spot on the 1998 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. At the Games in Calgary, he was the starting goaltender in four games. It was his fifth major tournament for Team USA, as he had already competed in two International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championships (1985-86), winning a bronze medal in 1986, and two IIHF Men's World Championships (1986-87).

Richter played the 1988-89 season with the Colorado Rangers in the International Hockey League, but was called up to the Rangers and played one game for New York in the 1989 Stanley Cup playoffs. He split time between the Flint Spirits of the IHL and the Rangers in 1989-90.

Richter joined New York full-time in 1990-91. In his second full year in the league, he was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goalie, and he posted his third consecutive winning season in 1991-92.

His standout performance in the first half of the 1993-94 season earned Richter a chance to play in the 1994 All-Star Game, his first of three such appearances. There, Richter was selected as the MVP. He finished the season with a Rangers' single-season record 42 wins and helped the team capture the Presidents' Trophy. Continuing with his winning ways in the playoffs, Richter posted four shutouts and won all 16 games as New York earned its first Stanley Cup since 1940.

In 1996, Richter was once again a primary reason for his team's championship run, this time representing the United States at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey, where he was selected as the tournament MVP in leading Team USA to the title.

Richter went on to earn a spot on the 1998 U.S Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and became one of just 10 Americans to have competed in at least three Olympic Games when he was named to the 2002 U.S. Olympic Team that captured the silver medal in Salt Lake City. In addition to his initial World Championship appearances in the late 80s, Richter also played for Team USA at the 1993 IIHF Men's World Championship and the 1991 Canada Cup.

Richter retired from professional hockey in September of 2003.