In a professional setting, Ryan Miller’s interactions with the media—and the community, accordingly—have been strained. He has a losing record (5-6) between the pipes, and his 2.86 GAA is below standard for the U.S. Olympic goalie. Youngster Jhonas Enroth is battling tooth-and-nail for the #1 goaltender job, and with Miller sidelined with a concussion, there’s plenty of uncertainty at the position.

Regardless of his on-ice struggles, Ryan Miller’s an influential member of the Buffalo community, a role model whose quirkiness is complemented by a strong willingness to give back.

While he fought his concussion symptoms by staying home when the Sabres embarked on a road trip, Miller didn’t lay in bed with an ice pack on his forehead—like I’d do under those circumstances. On Nov. 18, the Sabres’ goalie spent a few meaningful hours with Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Carly’s Club, playing the cancer patients in a friendly game of Battleship and lending them a cheery break from the real-life battles they face.

“Our biggest goal is to restore some normalcy to these kids’ lives, and I hope that when I visit the kids at Roswell, they can feel like any other kid, even for a few minutes,” Miller said. “I’m not sure if they realize it, but they give back to me in so many ways.”

Miller’s Steadfast Foundation, which supports those who are fighting cancer at an early age, stems from when Matthew Schoals—Miller’s cousin—lost his battle with leukemia in 2007 at age 17. The Steadfast Foundation’s biggest fundraiser, the Catwalk for Charity VI: Wrangling for a Cause, is set for 6 p.m. Sunday at Town Ballroom. More details will be posted on Buffalo.com later this week!

(Featured photo courtesy of Joe Cascio).