USA Hockey to recognize 3 former players

USA Hockey will recognize three former North American Hockey League (NAHL) players - Jack Campbell, Blake Geoffrion and Ryan Miller - during its award ceremonies at this month's Annual Congress in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Campbell, who played in the NAHL as a member of the U.S. National Team Development Program during the 2008-09 season, has been named the Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year; Geoffrion, who played in the NAHL as a member of Team USA from 2004-06, has been named the College Player of the Year; and Miller, formerly of the NAHL’s Soo Indians (1997-99), has been named the recipient of the Bob Johnson Award.

Campbell, a goaltender, registered unparalleled success as a member of Team USA throughout the 2009-10 season, adding to his 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Under-18 Championship title with a pair of gold medals in 2010 to become the only U.S. goaltender in history to hold three IIHF gold medals.

As a member of the 2010 U.S. National Junior Team, Campbell played in three games, including Team USA's IIHF World Junior Championship gold-medal overtime victory over Canada.

Three months later, Campbell led the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team to its second straight gold medal and was named the tournament's best goaltender. He also led the U.S. Under-18 Team, part of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, to the Four Nations Cup title in Finland last November and a second-place finish at the Under-18 Six Nations Cup in February.

In all international action, Campbell compiled a 10-1-1-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) record with a 1.49 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.

In 2009-10, Geoffrion, a forward, helped lead the University of Wisconsin (WCHA) to the NCAA title game, while capturing the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the nation's top collegiate player.

Geoffrion completed the season second in the WCHA with 34 points in 25 league games, while ranking third in the overall scoring race with 28 goals in 40 games. The All-WCHA First Team selection led the nation with 15 power-play goals and was named the most valuable player at the NCAA West Regional.

The RBK/American Hockey Coaches Association First Team All-American became the first-ever Badger to receive the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

Miller, a goaltender with the Buffalo Sabres, backstopped the U.S. Olympic Team to the silver medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and was named both the tournament's MVP and its best netminder.

He played all but 12 minutes between the pipes for Team USA. In his first three preliminary-round games, Miller allowed just five goals on 71 shots, including a 42-save effort in Team USA's 5-3 victory over Canada. In the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, he turned aside all 37 shots he faced and held a dangerous Canadian offense in check throughout most of the gold-medal game.

Miller posted a tournament-best .946 save percentage in six games and his 1.35 goals-against average is the lowest in U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team history.

USA Hockey's Annual Congress will run from Thursday, June 10, through Sunday, June 13.