5 Super Athletes With Ties To Milford

Sports have a way of teaching invaluable life lessons — building character, fostering teamwork and strengthening the bonds within a community. In the Milford area, these values have shaped some truly remarkable athletes from different eras, whose accomplishments continue to inspire.

Patch is celebrating five standout athletes whose achievements have left a lasting mark on our community. This list is just a snapshot, with countless other athletes helping shape the rich sports culture in our area.

1. Jonathan Quick (Hockey)

Jonathan Quick was born in Milford in 1986 and went on to become one of the most decorated American-born goaltenders in NHL history. Quick won three Stanley Cup championships with the Los Angeles Kings (2012, 2014) and the Vegas Golden Knights (2023), and he earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2012 after a run described as the best statistical postseason by a goaltender in NHL history. In February 2025, he became the first American-born goaltender to reach 400 career wins.

2. Nick Newell (MMA/Wrestling)

Nick Newell was born in Milford with a congenital amputation of his left arm and grew up determined to compete like anyone else, joining the Jonathan Law High School wrestling team at 13. He tied a state record with 53 wins in a single season and went on to captain the wrestling team at Western New England University before transitioning to mixed martial arts. Newell built a professional MMA record that made him one of the sport's most inspiring competitors, eventually earning a shot with the UFC after years of lobbying for a chance. His story was later turned into the Lionsgate film Notorious Nick.

3. Elaine Amundsen (Softball)

A standout at Jonathan Law High School in the mid-1980s, Elaine Amundsen went on to play for the legendary Raybestos Brakettes, one of the most successful amateur softball programs in the country. She earned a softball scholarship to the University of South Carolina and later played for the U.S. women's national team, helping the squad beat Japan for the first Women's World Series title in Toronto in 2001. Amundsen was inducted into the Connecticut Softball Hall of Fame in 2000 and was later honored by the Milford Sports Hall of Fame for her ties to the city.

4. Brad Orban (Tennis)

Brad Orban starred at Foran High School in Milford, where he played at No. 1 singles all four years and posted a remarkable 97-3 record, earning All-American honors in 2013. He carried that success to Fairfield University, where he was the Stags' No. 1 singles player for all four seasons and twice earned MAAC Player of the Week honors. As a freshman, he went 13-7 at the top singles spot, and as a senior he reached the singles final of the Ivy Plus Tournament, knocking off players from Dartmouth, Yale and Cornell along the way. Orban was inducted into the Milford Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.

5. Kayla Gregory (Softball)

Kayla Gregory earned four varsity letters at Milford High School, where she was twice named conference Player of the Year and set school records for career hits and runs. As a senior, she batted .404 with 26 runs scored, becoming the first Eagles player to win back-to-back Player of the Year honors. Gregory went on to play college softball at Bowling Green State University, where she contributed both at the plate and in the field over multiple seasons. She was inducted into the Milford High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025.