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WORLD A raise the profile of American-born goaltenders up another notch. For the second straight year, an American goalie not only led his team to the Stanley Cup, but also captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP in the process. Quick's haul added to the already crowded trophy case for American goaltenders. Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins preceded Quick in grabbing the Cup and Smythe in 2011. Buffalo Sabres netminder Ryan Miller's 2010 Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender was sandwiched by a pair won by Thomas in 2009 and 2011, while Quick was the runner-up for the award in 2012. And let's not forget the silver medals won by the trio as members of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team. S LOS ANGELES KINGS NETMINDER JONATHAN QUICK was raising the Stanley Cup over his head in June, he was also helping to PHOTOS COURTESY OF USA Hockey Magazine; Getty Images Olympic team. Three years in a row [they] have had some pretty good years [with] a couple of Vezina trophies [and] a couple of Stanley Cups," said Miller, who was named the MVP of the Olympic tournament in Vancouver. The three goaltenders from that Olympic squad in particular have been leading the charge, but are getting some company at the top. During the 2011-12 NHL regular season, five American-born netminders were the primary starters for their teams, while a total of eight American backstops made at least 30 appearances. Eighteen different Americans saw action between the pipes in at least one NHL game. The top of the statistical leaderboard was flooded with Americans as well. Quick led the way, finishing in the top five in each of the major statistical categories for goaltenders, including first in shutouts (10), second in goals-against average (1.95) and fifth in both wins (35) and save percentage (.929). Meanwhile, Thomas and Jimmy Howard of the Detroit Red "It has been an exciting time for all the guys who were on the Wings finished tied with Quick for wins, while Howard and Miller also finished tied for fifth with six shutouts apiece. So where did all this success come from? It certainly didn't just pop up out of nowhere. In fact, it may have been over 20 years in the making. While American goalies are finding success in the league at a higher rate than ever before, this isn't the first time U.S. netminders have grabbed the spotlight. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, American goaltenders like Tom Barrasso, John Vanbiesbrouck and Mike Richter were col- lecting many of the same accolades as those of today. It was their accomplishments that helped create a generation of U.S.-born players that wanted to be goaltenders. During media day for the Stanley Cup Finals, Quick told reporters he had a picture of Richter holding up the Stanley Cup in his childhood bedroom. American goaltenders have been front and center in the game over the past several years with great play from Tim Thomas, Jimmy Howard, Jonathan Quick, Cory Schneider and Ryan Miller. USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM AUGUST.2012 15