Richter owns two special places in hockey history. He's the goalie who helped the New York Rangers end their 54-year Stanley Cup drought in 1994 and was MVP when the United States defeated Canada in the final of the World Cup of Hockey in 1996.

Ironically, considering the only team he played for during his NHL career, Richter grew up in Flourtown, Pennsylvania, and idolized Philadelphia Flyers goalie Bernie Parent, the Conn Smythe Trophy winner when the Flyers won the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975. However, it was the Rangers who selected Richter in the second round (No. 28) of the 1985 NHL Draft.

Richter played two seasons for the University of Wisconsin and one with the United States Olympic Team, going 2-2-0 in four appearances at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. He turned pro after the Games and spent the 1988-89 season with Denver of the International Hockey League, then the Rangers' top minor league affiliate, before making his NHL debut during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With New York on the verge of losing in four straight to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round, coach Phil Esposito turned to Richter, who allowed four goals as the Penguins completed the sweep.

Richter joined the Rangers to stay in 1989-90 and worked his way into a time-share with veteran John Vanbiesbrouck. The two split starts for most of 1991-92, combining to help New York win the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team, though they lost to the Penguins in the second round of the playoffs.

After the Rangers missed the playoffs in 1992-93, the upcoming expansion forced general manager Neil Smith to choose between his goalies. He opted to stick with Richter and was amply rewarded. Richter had a career year in 1993-94, going 42-16 with six ties, a 2.57 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and five shutouts, helping New York win the Presidents' Trophy again. He was even better in the playoffs, going 16-7 with a 2.07 GAA and four shutouts as the Rangers won the Cup for the first time since 1940.

Two years later, Richter excelled for the U.S. at the initial World Cup of Hockey. He was named tournament MVP after his spectacular goaltending helped the United States defeat Canada in the best-of-3 final. Richter carried that success into 1996-97, winning 33 games in the regular season and helping the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the Flyers.

That turned out to be his final appearance in the playoffs. Injuries and New York's struggles combined to diminish his NHL numbers, though his performance for the United States at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics helped the U.S. win the silver medal.

Richter became the first goalie in Rangers history to win 300 games on Oct. 28, 2002, but win No. 301 proved to be his last NHL game -- he was kneed in the head against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 5, 2002, and never played again.

He finished 301-258 with 73 ties, a 2.89 GAA, .904 save percentage and 24 shutouts in 666 regular-season games, and was 41-33 with a 2.68 GAA, .909 save percentage and nine shutouts in 76 playoff games.

The Rangers retired his No. 35 on Feb. 4, 2004, and he was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame four years later. Beginning in 2014, the Mike Richter Award has been presented to the outstanding goalie in NCAA Division I hockey.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• WCHA Freshman of the Year (1986)
• WCHA Second All-Star Team (1987)
• World Cup All-Star Team (1996)
• World Cup MVP (1996)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (1992, 1994, 2000)
• Claimed by Nashville from NY Rangers in Expansion Draft, June 26, 1998.
• Signed as a free agent by NY Rangers, July 15, 1998.
• Traded to Edmonton by NY Rangers for Edmonton's 4th round pick (Corey Potter) in 2003 NHL Draft, June 30, 2002.
• Signed as a free agent by NY Rangers, July 4, 2002.
• Officially announced retirement, September 4, 2003.