| Mike Richter was selected by the New York Rangers in the second round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and played the next two seasons at the University of Wisconsin. Richter played for the U.S. team at the World Junior Championships in 1985 and 1985 and at the World Championships in both 1986 and 1987. He spent the entire 1987-88 season with the National Team, sharing netminding duties with Chris Terreri and playing at the Olympics in Calgary. He made his NHL debut in the playoffs one year later.
Richter later played for his country again in the 1991 Canada Cup and at the 1993 World Championships. In September of 1996, he was the number-one goalie for the American team at the World Cup of Hockey where his brilliant play led the United States to a two-games-to-one victory over Canada in the finals. Richter allowed just 15 goals in six games for a 2.43 goals-against average and was not just named to the World Cup All-Star Team but was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Richter tended goal for the United States at the Nagano Olympics in 1998. |
