Uncle Sam Wants Miller… to Bring Home the Gold

Ryan Miller of Team USA is hoping to do just that

Ryan Miller, goalie for the Buffalo Sabres and a member of Team USA at this year’s Winter Olympic Games, is showing his team colors in an original way: through his custom designed goalie mask.

Miller approached Gary Warwick Sr. of Warwick Mask & Equipment Inc. and Ray Bishop of Bishop Design to see if they would make him a custom mask for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Warwick and Bishop, who have worked with Miller for years, naturally agreed.

First Miller worked with Bishop on the design, a fierce rendering of Uncle Sam with his sleeves rolled up to reveal a "USA" tattoo. The collaboration took off from there to include slogans and an Olympics logo. "Ryan will sketch stuff up... He's not a bad artist himself,” Bishop told the Times Herald. The finished product took about 40-50 hours to make, Bishop said.

Warwick, who has been making masks for over 40 years and specializes in goalie masks, said "I'm very happy to make the mask… That's their head protection, and it's got to be done right.”

Miller will definitely be covered in style, but whether he brings home the gold remains to be seen… on February 16, 18, 21 and perhaps the 23, 24, 26 and 28, when the elimination, seminfinal and medal matches are held.

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