A goalie can become a superstar?

Ryan Miller was the most valuable player at the Olympic Games where he won a silver medal for Team USA. He is one of the best hockey players that America has ever produced. He makes $ 6.25 million this year for the Buffalo Sabres NHL. His team is in the first place. He is dating an actress. And if you asked him, he would probably happier if we now keep their mouths shut.

"What can I say?" Mr. Miller said in an interview on a press tour Monday, where he said all attention was a bit surreal. "I'm from the Midwest, and everything was always to keep a low profile."

4: 52 Buffalo Sabres and U.S. Olympic team goaltender Ryan Miller the goalkeeper speaks with WSJ's Matthew Futterman on the role and the gold shot so disastrous by Sidney Crosby, collected Canada.

Here is one of the most persistent quirks, hockey: too big a team needs a superhuman goalkeeper with freakish reflexes. But to be a superhuman goalkeeper, it helps to become the kind of person who is comfortable working behind a mask while loaded with 50 pounds of padding down.

Tend to aim means not only that, with the occasional hard rubber disc on your face at 100 miles per hour. It also means, almost inevitably subject most nights in the disaster.

Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, widely has playing almost 2,700 goals as the greatest goalkeeper in the history has seen in 1236 allows.

As a result, great goalies are rare in the same stratosphere publicity and celebrity as highflying scorers such as the Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby or placed great Wayne Gretzky. While the goalkeeper of most can be effective players in each game, only seven of the top 50 sweater are sold on NHLshop.com goalkeeper.

Getty Images Ryan Miller during a game Sabres against the Washington capitals in December.

Brian Jennings, Vice President of integrated marketing for the NHL said the goofy painted masks and robot costumes can an obstacle to stardom. "You are more known through their works of art", Mr Jennings said.

Former Canucks goalkeeper Mike Richter says the goalie mask is not exactly a ticket to fame and fortune.

He said "If your goal is to sell Chiclets or make hamburger commercials, then it is going to be a problem". "But I would not really recommend play without one."

Mr. Miller the most famous face among the young heart of American players that is favored to win a medal Olympics Sochi 2014 is now.

While he at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver 139 parried, he'll he most likely to make a not reminds Mr. of Crosby's overtime shot that gold medal Canada delivered.

Mr. Miller, who is 29 years old, said the seconds that leading up to play, save by his spirit.

He recalled Mr. Crosby just arise from the corner with the puck and think that renowned scorer you take a moment, to collect and wanted a step.

Joe Fornabaio for the Wall Street Journal Mr. Miller with his silver medal.

As a result, said Mr. Miller, it strengthens and ready, Mr. Crosby, control over the game the way, he done that had through the entire tournament challenge. Just as he did Mr. Crosby raised to hit the puck into direction network and Mr. Miller by the legs before he even had recognized that came a shot. Gold Medal, Canada.

"I made my decision, and it went on the net," Miller said Mr. succinctly. After the game was over, Mr. Müller curt was a postgame interview.

This revealed the kind of automatic responsibility for all the bad results which makes goaltending a humiliating job.

"If your goalie plays well, he is the last person, full responsibility;" This is where the buck stops, ", said Lou Lamoriello, President and general manager of the Devils." "It is unfortunate that sometimes when things incorrectly you take the blame."

Ken Dryden, a Hall of Fame goalie for the Canadiens, who now member of the Canadian Parliament is of a young age, the position a sign said claims remain comfortable with Montreal behind his team and watch and analyze the action rather than force dramatic things happened.

"You must be absolutely reliable," said Mr. Dryden. "You have disciplined be." Thought you might be responsible. Have a lot of understatement qualities. You have to decide that it is something much more important than you are. You must be ready to play. You can grab attention by the reverse and it exist there. You're going to it sometimes and not have it other times. The game will come to you and have to accept that to be ready. "There are not so many people who are truly talented who are willing to accept."

-Sophia Hollander contributed to this article.

Write toMatthew Futterman on matthew.futterman@wsj.com

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