Miller goes behind the camera for VanityFair.com

Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller recently traded his mask for a camera lens when he photographed fellow NHLers Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, Mike Cammalleri of the Montreal Canadiens, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning for an exclusive portfolio and feature for VanityFair.com.

The portfolio highlights Miller's talents and Hockey Fights Cancer, a NHL and NHL Players' Association joint charitable initiative, and is available for viewing exclusively at VanityFair.com as part of Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Miller photographed the players, who were wearing John Varvatos, in September at the Hudson Hotel's Sky Terrace in New York City. Items from the new Hockey Fights Cancer collection served as accent pieces in the portfolio.

Cammalleri sports a Montreal Canadiens Hockey Fights Cancer men's tee from Old Time Sports while Doughty, Stamkos, Lundqvist and Bergeron each highlight this season's commemorative Hockey Fights Cancer tie, manufactured by Fairway & Greene.

The lavender tie and team-specific versions of the Hockey Fights Cancer tee, along with a wide variety of other one-of-a-kind apparel and products, are available for purchase at shop.nhl.com, select team stores and the NHL Powered by Reebok store in New York City. A portion of the proceeds from these items will benefit Hockey Fights Cancer.

"The photo shoot was a lot of fun," Miller said. "It not only gave me the chance to spend time doing something that I love to do, but it also was a unique way to raise awareness for a good cause."

Each October, the entire hockey community, including all 30 NHL clubs, players, management and fans, join the fight against cancer with a vigorous month of events and activities.  For Miller, the fight against cancer is especially personal. He established the Steadfast Foundation in 2006 to benefit those afflicted and affected by the consequences of cancer, especially childhood forms of the disease. Miller's cousin, Matt Shoals, who battled leukemia and eventually succumbed to the disease in 2007, was the inspiration for the Steadfast Foundation. At the end of the 2009-10 season, the NHL recognized Miller for his charitable and community work with the NHL Foundation Player Award.