Michael Houser

Michael Houser (born September 13, 1992) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently serving as the director of goaltending for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL). 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 and the OHL First All-Rookie Team. 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 as well as the Red Tilson Trophy for the league's most outstanding player. Houser was also recognized as the CHL Goaltender of the Year. The Knights won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as league champions but were defeated by the host Shawinigan Cataractes in the final of the Memorial Cup.

Undrafted, Houser attended the Florida Panthers' 2012 development camp. On July 11, the Panthers signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract. 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. 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. 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, but spent the season with their affiliates (the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners and ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets).

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 as well as a member of the league's first all-star team.

On September 11, 2020, the Rochester Americans re-signed Houser to a one-year contract. 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. On March 19, 2021, the Buffalo Sabres signed Houser to a one-year contract for the remainder of the season. He subsequently spent time on the team's taxi squad. 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." Houser started a second-straight game against the Islanders the following night, this time making 45 saves in a 4–3 shootout win.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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 — — — — — — — — 2024–25 Rochester Americans AHL 14 5 4 2 743 35 0 2.83 .893 — — — — — — — — 2024–25 Jacksonville Icemen ECHL 4 1 3 0 236 10 0 2.54 .921 — — — — — — — — 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 Goaltender of the Year 2011–12 Red Tilson Trophy – Most Outstanding Player 2011–12 ECHL First All-Star Team 2018–19 Goaltender of the Year 2018–19