Goalie Michael Houser returning to Cincinnati Cyclones after NHL stint with Buffalo Sabres

Michael Houser is coming back to the Cincinnati Cyclones. 

The 29-year-old goalie returns to Cincinnati after a stint with the NHL's Buffalo Sabres. Over the last two seasons, Houser spent six games in goal with the Sabres, going 4-2 with 200 saves and 18 goals allowed. 

Houser practiced with the team Friday morning and will suit up for the Cyclones game Friday night against the Tulsa Oilers at Heritage Bank Center, according to the team. 

On May 3, 2021, Houser became the 26th Cyclones player to make his NHL debut. That night, Houser collected 34 saves to help lead Buffalo past the New York Islanders, 4-2. 

Houser played in two games for Buffalo last month, earning wins over the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers. 

Though comfortable and familiar with Cincinnati, the ultimate path would lead him back to the Sabres.

"Wherever I'm playing that's where my focus is," Houser said. "My main goal is to be in Buffalo like everyone's is. I'm just trying to work my way back. I've been fortunate enough to get that opportunity a few times. Once you get there, you want to stay as long as you can."

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Houser has spent parts of five seasons with the Cyclones and has a career record of 103-56-13. In 2019, he was first-team ECHL and was named the ECHL goaltender of the year after a 29-7-5 record that included a  .922 save percentage and a 2.13 goals-against average. 

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Houser has also spent 11 games with the AHL's Rochester Americans this season, going 5-4 with 261 saves. Born in Youngstown, his family is from Pittsburgh and was able to catch some of his games with the Sabres including a couple of home contests with the Penguins. 

He has now seen the distinct difference that puts a player in the NHL.

"A lot of it is the smarts of the player," Houser said. "Every player knows where their next play is going to be before the puck gets to their stick. When they get it they don't have to waste time looking up and scanning the ice. They know where everyone is before they get the puck. When they do get it, they're ready to go and that pushes offense."

Now a mentor to younger players, Houser can offer advice on the pace of the game at the top level as well as being ready to seize the moment. When he made his NHL debut, it had been over 400 days since he had last played as he was either a back-up or was getting scratched. Then, he won two games in a row.

"The last few years it's been pretty crazy," Houser said. "It is what it is. It's what we signed up for. You can't get too comfortable in one place or another."

He does love Cincinnati and has seen the development of the Banks area near the Heritage Bank Center explode.

"I think Holy Grail was the only bar going in my rookie year (2012-13)," Houser said. "Tin Roof came after and now there's four or five spots that have come up. It's been fun to see, seeing new places or going out to new restaurants."

Houser has been with 11 pro teams and is still under 30-years-old. His health has been good with most of his issues coming as a youth. As a toddler, he had 14 surgeries before age two and a couple more before he was 11-years-old.

Houser's father was a doctor and saw that his son was born with two club feet. That had something to do with his career as a goaltender. His feet would hurt in his skates preventing him from having the ability to zip around the rink like others.

"It was more of a skating issue," Houser said. "I was never the smoothest skater. My older brother started playing hockey. The team that he joined needed a goalie. I'm a year younger than him and I played up. It just worked out."

If it continues to work out, Houser won't be here long. He's enjoying the upsurge in hockey popularity that goes along with the Winter Olympics. He hopes to have another successful run between the pipes which may get him another ticket to upstate New York.

His success would lead to the success for the Cyclones.

"I'm competitive and want to get back to Buffalo, but I enjoy the Cyclones and enjoy the city," Houser said.