Fore Play USA Hockey's Golden Moment (With Ryan Miller)
Feb 24, 2026
Ryan Miller, former NHL goaltender and 2010 Olympic MVP, reflects on USA Hockey’s landmark gold and the rise of American programs. He breaks down Connor Hellebuyck’s clutch netminding, talks rule tweaks like 3-on-3, and revisits Sidney Crosby’s 2010 golden goal. He also shares glimpses of life after hockey, family moments, and laid-back golf trips.
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USA Hockey Win Shows Development Pipeline Worked
- USA Hockey's gold signals long-term development paying off after years without NHL Olympic participation.
- Ryan Miller and hosts trace growth through World Juniors, U18s, and 2010/2014 building blocks that culminated in 2026 gold.
What Goalie Flow State Feels Like
- Connor Hellebuyck reached a rare goalie flow state where nothing seemed to go in, driven by track-and-react positioning.
- Miller noted early effortless glove saves and a paddle reaction that epitomized being 'locked in.'
Watching Gold Then Taking Kids To Their Game
- Ryan Miller watched the gold-medal game at his son's youth hockey rink and took the kids onto ice right after the ceremony.
- He described the moment as trippy and emotional, then had the kids play their scheduled game five minutes later.