“It’s kept me going, for sure, it’s made me work I think a little bit harder knowing that I have to keep up, that I’m not as naturally I guess gifted as some others in terms of maybe footwork or height for sure, but it’s definitely made me work harder,†Houser said.
Houser went on to have an outstanding junior career for the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights. He was the rock for a 2011-12 team that reached the Memorial Cup and included multiple future first-round draft picks. He was named the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player and became the first American-born athlete named the Canadian Hockey League’s goalie of the year.
When you covered the Sabres in those post-lockout years, Miller’s locker was the place to be most days, Mike Harrington says.
For all Houser accomplished in the top junior league, he was never drafted by an NHL team. Houser bounced around the minors with stops in San Antonio, Ontario, Manchester, Cleveland, Tucson, Fort Wayne, Rochester and Cincinnati. He hasn’t played more than six AHL games in any season since 2014-15.
There were long bus rides to small rinks for scarcely attended games across North America while hoping that dedication and success would get noticed by decision-makers around the NHL. But no matter where Houser played, his family always made trips to watch in person.
“He had that passion, that goal, that maybe someday, maybe, he would get there,†said Monica, who planned to watch the game at home with Bill and Alex. “And here’s that someday.â€
