Michael Houser (ice hockey)

Michael Houser
Houser with the San Antonio Rampage in 2015
Born (1992-09-13) September 13, 1992 (age 32)
Youngstown, Ohio, US
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
AHL team
Former teams		 Rochester Americans
Buffalo Sabres
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2012–present

Michael Houser (born September 13, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League (AHL). He has previously played with the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Following a lone season with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), Houser joined the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) London Knights for the 2009–10 season. Going (17–4–1) in 25 appearances, he was named to the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) All-Rookie Team[1] and the OHL First All-Rookie Team.[2] The 2011–12 season saw Houser go (46–15–5) in 62 games. He was rewarded with the Jim Rutherford Trophy for OHL goaltender of the year[3] as well as the Red Tilson Trophy for the league's most outstanding player.[4] Houser was also recognized as the CHL Goaltender of the Year.[5] The Knights won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as league champions[6] but were defeated by the host Shawinigan Cataractes in the final of the Memorial Cup.[7]

Undrafted, Houser attended the Florida Panthers' 2012 development camp. On July 11, the Panthers signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract.[8] He spent his first professional season playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). Houser moved to the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the 2013–14 season, going 12–13–1.

The Panthers chose not to tender Houser with a qualifying offer following the 2014–15 season, rendering him an unrestricted free agent.[9] He skated with both the AHL's Ontario Reign and the ECHL's Manchester Monarchs for the 2015–16 season.

Houser attended the Columbus Blue Jackets' 2016 training camp but was not signed. He instead signed with the team's AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters on October 14.[10][11] Aside from a lone appearance with the Monsters, Houser spent the majority of the season with the Cyclones.

Houser once again attended an NHL training camp the following season, this time for the Arizona Coyotes. He was released on September 18,[12] but spent the season with their affiliates (the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners and ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets).[13]

As the Cyclones goaltender for the 2018–19 season, Houser had a 29–7–5 record in 41 games. He was named ECHL Goaltender of the Year[14] as well as a member of the league's first all-star team.[15]

On September 11, 2020, the Rochester Americans re-signed Houser to a one-year contract.[16] He remained on the Americans' roster as the Cyclones—an affiliate of the Americans—opted out of the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] On March 19, 2021, the Buffalo Sabres signed Houser to a one-year contract for the remainder of the season.[18] He subsequently spent time on the team's taxi squad.[19] Houser made his NHL debut on May 3, stopping 34 shots in a 4–2 win over the New York Islanders. Speaking about making the NHL and winning his first game, he stated "I've worked my whole life for this, for it to happen. Just to play a game is really special. But to win, winning is always the goal. That's why we play."[20] Houser started a second-straight game against the Islanders the following night, this time making 45 saves in a 4–3 shootout win.[21]

As a free agent following his stint with the Sabres, Houser continued within the organization in agreeing to a one-year contract to remain with the Rochester Americans on August 5, 2021.[22] With the Sabres suffering a spate of goaltender injuries for the second consecutive season, Houser was signed to a one-year, two-way contract in returning to the NHL with Buffalo on January 12, 2022.[23]

On July 15, 2022, Houser was familiarly re-signed to remain within the Sabres organization, agreeing to a one-year AHL contract to continue with the Rochester Americans.[24]

Houser returned for his fifth season in the Americans organization, signing as a free agent from the Sabres on a one-year AHL contract on July 7, 2023.[25]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OT MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2008–09 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 32 5 18 0 1523 102 0 4.02 .902 — — — — — — — —
2009–10 London Knights OHL 25 17 4 1 1450 75 0 3.10 .900 3 0 0 53 7 0 7.92 .821
2010–11 London Knights OHL 54 30 19 5 3088 171 1 3.32 .904 6 2 4 332 15 0 2.71 .940
2011–12 London Knights OHL 62 46 15 1 3698 152 6 2.47 .925 19 16 3 1173 44 1 2.25 .928
2012–13 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 29 17 10 2 1694 72 2 2.55 .917 17 9 8 1154 43 1 2.24 .915
2013–14 San Antonio Rampage AHL 28 12 13 1 1473 75 1 3.05 .903 — — — — — — — —
2013–14 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 12 5 6 1 724 27 1 2.24 .924 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 San Antonio Rampage AHL 37 19 9 4 2081 98 2 2.83 .900 1 0 1 64 4 0 3.75 .897
2015–16 Manchester Monarchs ECHL 16 10 4 2 963 43 0 2.68 .912 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 Ontario Reign AHL 6 1 4 0 321 13 0 2.43 .903 1 0 0 20 0 0 0.00 1.000
2016–17 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 41 22 14 3 2300 99 2 2.58 .919 — — — — — — — —
2016–17 Cleveland Monsters AHL 1 0 0 0 20 1 0 3.00 .750 — — — — — — — —
2017–18 Fort Wayne Komets ECHL 45 28 11 4 2552 116 2 2.73 .909 17 10 7 1081 44 0 2.44 .914
2017–18 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 1 0 0 0 9 0 0 0.00 1.000 — — — — — — — —
2018–19 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 41 29 7 5 2394 85 2 2.13 .922 11 5 6 649 26 1 2.40 .923
2019–20 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 26 16 5 5 1556 59 2 2.27 .902 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 2 2 0 243 14 0 3.46 .901 — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Rochester Americans AHL 4 1 3 0 232 9 0 2.33 .924 — — — — — — — —
2021–22 Cincinnati Cyclones ECHL 18 6 9 1 1027 58 0 3.39 .893 5 2 3 324 14 1 2.59 .928
2021–22 Rochester Americans AHL 11 5 4 0 584 29 0 2.98 .900 2 0 0 44 2 0 2.74 .920
2021–22 Buffalo Sabres NHL 2 2 0 0 120 4 0 2.00 .948 — — — — — — — —
2022–23 Rochester Americans AHL 21 9 8 2 1199 56 1 2.80 .906 — — — — — — — —
2023–24 Rochester Americans AHL 7 3 1 1 319 18 0 3.39 .871 — — — — — — — —
2023–24 Jacksonville Icemen ECHL 23 10 10 2 1290 55 2 2.56 .907 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 6 4 2 0 364 18 0 2.97 .917 — — — — — — — —

Awards and honors

Award Year
OHL
All-Rookie Team 2009–10
CHL All-Rookie Team 2009–10
First Team All-Star 2011–12 [26]
Goaltender of the Year 2011–12 [27]
Red Tilson Trophy – Most Outstanding Player 2011–12 [27]
CHL Memorial Cup All-Star Team 2012 [28]
ECHL
First All-Star Team 2018–19 [29]
Goaltender of the Year 2018–19 [30]

References

  1. ^ "Awards - CHL All-Rookie Team". Elite Prospects.
  2. ^ "Awards - OHL First All-Rookie Team". Elite Prospects.
  3. ^ "HOUSER NAMED OHL GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR". London Knights. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  4. ^ "Michael Houser Wins Red Tilson Trophy". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  5. ^ "MICHAEL HOUSER NAMED CHL VAUGHN GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR". London Knights. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  6. ^ "London Knights are 2011-12 OHL Champions". Ontario Hockey League. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
  7. ^ "Cataractes win MasterCard Memorial Cup". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  8. ^ Goldman, Justin. "Passed Over Three Times, Houser Finds Home In Florida". Florida Panthers. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  9. ^ Fialkov, Harvey. "Panthers tender offers to eight restricted free agents". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  10. ^ "TRANSACTIONS: #CBJ assign Scott Harrington to Monsters for conditioning. Michael Houser signs AHL SPC with Monsters". Twitter. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  11. ^ Mixer, Rob. "Goaltender Michael Houser, who attended #CBJ training camp on a PTO, has signed an AHL contract with the Monsters". Twitter. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  12. ^ "Coyotes Reduce Training Camp Roster by 7 Players". Arizona Coyotes. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  13. ^ "GOALTENDER HOUSER REASSIGNED TO TUCSON Houser appeared in 39 games with the Komets and posted a 25–10–2 record, 2.76 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and two shutouts. Houser also snagged the ECHL Goaltender of the Month award for December". Twitter. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  14. ^ "CINCINNATI'S HOUSER NAMED WARRIOR HOCKEY/ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR". ECHL. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  15. ^ "ALL-ECHL FIRST AND SECOND TEAMS ANNOUNCED". ECHL. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  16. ^ P., Rob. "Amerks sign goaltender Michael Houser to 1-year AHL deal". Monroe County Reporter. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  17. ^ "Cincinnati Cyclones opt out of 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19 restrictions". WLWT. December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  18. ^ Ryndak, Chris. "Sabres sign Houser to one-year deal". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  19. ^ Vogl, John. "Lineup changes coming for the Sabres: Linus Ullmark and Kyle Okposo have been activated from injured reserve. J-S Dea has been recalled from taxi squad. C.J. Smith and Michael Houser have been sent to taxi squad". Twitter. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  20. ^ LaBarber, Jourdon. "'That's why we play' | Houser makes 34 saves to win long-awaited debut". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  21. ^ LaBarber, Jourdon. "'The legend grows' | Houser makes 45 saves in SO win over Isles". Buffalo Sabres. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "Houser agrees to one-year AHL deal". Rochester Americans. August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  23. ^ "Sabres sign Houser to one-year contract". Buffalo Sabres. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  24. ^ "Amerks re-sign Michael Houser to AHL contract". Rochester Americans. July 15, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  25. ^ "Jobst, Warren and Houser return on one-year deals". Rochester Americans. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "OHL announces 2011–12 All-Star Teams". Ontario Hockey League. May 1, 2012. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  27. ^ a b "Michael Houser wins Red Tilson Trophy". Ontario Hockey League. April 29, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  28. ^ "Memorial Cup All-Star Teams". Memorial Cup. June 1, 2012. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  29. ^ "2017–18 All-ECHL First and Second Teams Announced". ECHL. April 4, 2019.
  30. ^ "CINCINNATI'S HOUSER NAMED WARRIOR HOCKEY/ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR". ECHL. April 11, 2019.