The 2017 IIHF Women's World Championship marks the first time that Mike Richter is serving as a goaltending coach with the U.S. Women's National Team.

A 2008 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and Olympic silver medalist, Richter played 666 career games during his 14-year NHL career, all of which with the New York Rangers.

The Abington, Pennsylvania, native began his career with the Rangers in the 1990-91 season, and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie in just his second full season in the NHL. In 1993-94, Richter was selected as the MVP of the NHL All-Star Game and went on to break the Rangers’ single-season record with 42 wins en route to leading the team to the President’s Trophy and first Stanley Cup title since 1942. Upon retiring in 2003, Richter finished his career with 203 wins, the second most in Rangers’ history.

Richter participated in three Olympic Winter Games (1988, 1998, 2002) for Team USA, and won a pair of games in 2002 to help guide the U.S. to the silver medal. In addition, he led Team USA to the inaugural World Cup of Hockey championship in 1996 and was named the tournament’s MVP.  He also played in two IIHF World Junior Championships (1985-86), three IIHF Men's World Championships (1986-87, 1993) and the 1991 Canada Cup.

Richter played two seasons of college hockey (1985-87) at the University of Wisconsin before beginning his professional career.