Miikka Kiprusoff
Encyclopedia
Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff (ˈmiːkːɑ ˈsɑkɑri ˈkiprusofː; born October 26, 1976) is a Finnish
professional ice hockey
goaltender
currently playing for the Calgary Flames
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall by the San Jose Sharks
in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft
. He has also played for TPS
of the Finnish SM-liiga
as well as AIK
and Timrå IK
of the Swedish Elitserien
. He has represented Finland several times on the international stage, earning silver medals at the World Ice Hockey Championships in 1999 and 2001, as well as leading the Finns to a surprise second place finish at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
. He also helped the Finnish national hockey team win the bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics
.
Kiprusoff began his professional career with TPS in 1994, and was named the best goaltender
and best player of the playoffs
in 1999 as he led them to the SM-liiga championship
. He moved to North America in 1999, and after two all-star seasons in the American Hockey League
, made his NHL debut with the Sharks where he served primarily as a backup. A trade to Calgary in 2003–04 brought Kiprusoff into a starting role and he set a modern NHL record for lowest goals against average
at 1.69 as he helped the Flames reach the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. He won the Vezina Trophy
as the best goaltender in the NHL in 2006 along with the William M. Jennings Trophy
for giving up the fewest goals in the league. He played in his first NHL All-Star Game in 2007 and is the Flames franchise record holder in shutout
s.
, playing two seasons in the Finnish junior league for them between 1993 and 1995. He was selected by the San Jose Sharks
in the fifth round, 116th overall, at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft
. He made his professional début in 1994–95, and won three of four games played for TPS. After playing 12 games for TPS in 1995–96, he moved to AIK
of the Swedish Elitserien
, playing two seasons as their top goaltender before returning to TPS in 1998–99. He dominated the SM-liiga
that year, finishing the season with a win-loss-tie record of 26–6–6 and a goals against average
(GAA) of 1.85, and led TPS to the Finnish championship. For his efforts, he was named the winner of the Urpo Ylönen trophy
as the best goaltender in 1998–99 and the Jari Kurri trophy
as the best player of the playoffs.
(AHL) affiliate, the Kentucky Thoroughblades
. He finished fourth in the league with a 2.48 GAA and was the starting goaltender for team PlanetUSA at the 2000 AHL All-Star Game as he helped Kentucky win its first division title. He began the 2000–01 season
with Kentucky where he posted a record of 19–9–6 with two shutouts in 39 games. He started his second consecutive AHL All-Star game before earning a recall to the Sharks on March 5, 2001. He earned his first NHL win on March 29, 7–4 over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
, in relief of starting goaltender Evgeni Nabokov
. He made his first start on April 8, again against Anaheim, and earned his second win.
The flu sidelined Nabokov for game four of the Sharks 2001 Stanley Cup playoff
series against the St. Louis Blues. Making only his second career start, Kiprusoff made 39 saves in a 3–2 victory. In doing so, he became the first Finnish born goaltender to win an NHL playoff game. Kiprusoff struggled to start the 2001–02 NHL season and was sent to the Cleveland Barons on a conditioning assignment after playing in only four of the Sharks first 21 games. He was named the AHL player of the week during the assignment after winning all four games he played in Cleveland. He finished the season with a 7–6–1 record for the Sharks, and recorded his first NHL shutout in a 6–0 win over the Florida Panthers
on January 5, 2002.
Nabokov entered the 2002–03 season as a holdout player without a contract, giving Kiprusoff a chance to become the starter. Kiprusoff struggled, losing his first three games and posting a 5.65 GAA in that time, forcing the Sharks hand as they quickly agreed to terms with Nabokov. Relegated to the backup role, Kiprusoff continued to struggle, winning just five of 22 games played before his season ended with a knee injury. Despite his poor season, the Sharks offered him a new contract for one year at US$
800,000.
Kiprusoff began the 2003–04 season competing with Vesa Toskala
for the backup spot behind Nabokov, leading to speculation of a trade. Relegated to third-string status, Kiprusoff grew increasingly frustrated as he did not play in any games through the first quarter of the season. He was finally traded to the Calgary Flames
for a second round draft pick on November 16, 2003, after Calgary starter Roman Turek
suffered an injury.
in his first game with Calgary on November 20. He won 12 of 17 starts between November 20 and December 29, giving up one goal or fewer 11 times in that stretch. He was named the defensive player of the month for December by the league, but suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament
in his knee at the end of the month that forced him out of the lineup for four weeks.
Kiprusoff's play remained strong upon his return as he was counted on to lead the Flames to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. A 1–0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes
clinched a berth in the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
for the Flames, an achievement which earned Kiprusoff a standing ovation from the Calgary fans. He finished the regular season with a modern NHL record low GAA of 1.69. His stellar play continued into the playoffs as he won 15 games, five of them by shutout, leading the Flames to within one victory of a Stanley Cup championship. He was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy
, awarded to the best goaltender in the league, and was given a one-year, $2.95 million contract for 2004–05 by an arbitrator
, an increase in salary of nearly four times his previous contract.
As the 2004–05 lockout led to the cancellation of the season, Kiprusoff chose to play in Sweden. He played 41 games for Timrå IK
, recording five shutouts and a 2.14 GAA. He remained a top goaltender for Calgary when NHL play resumed in 2005–06, breaking Mike Vernon's franchise record when he recorded his 40th win of the season, against the Minnesota Wild
on April 8, 2006. He was not only touted as the top goaltender in the league, but also argued to be a candidate for the Hart Memorial Trophy
as the most valuable player in the NHL. Finishing the season with a 42–20–11 record and a team record 10 shutouts, he was named a first team all-star
and awarded the Vezina Trophy, as well as the William M. Jennings Trophy
for being the goaltender on the team that gave up the fewest goals in during the season. He was also named a finalist for the Hart, though the award was won by Joe Thornton
.
Kiprusoff struggled to begin the 2006–07 season, winning just four of his first 12 decisions, and giving up nearly three goals per game. He rebounded to finish the season with 40 wins, won his 100th career game, and played in his first All-Star Game. He recorded his 21st shutout in a Flames uniform in a 1–0 win over the Wild on March 27, 2007, to break Dan Bouchard
's franchise record. Kiprusoff was outstanding in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs
, keeping the overmatched Flames close to the top seeded Detroit Red Wings
despite the Flames giving up nearly 50 shots per game in their first two contests. He led them to consecutive wins in games three and four to even the series and give the Flames hope they could win the series, but the Flames were unable to parlay his performance into a series win, losing the best-of-seven series 4–2. He earned his third consecutive nomination for the Vezina trophy, ultimately won by Martin Brodeur
.
Nicknamed "Captain Hook" for the way he handled goaltenders, the Flames decision to hire Mike Keenan
as head coach in 2007–08 created speculation that Kiprusoff might choose to leave Calgary when his contract expired at the end of the season. Nonetheless, he agreed to a six-year extension worth $35 million that would keep him in Calgary until the end of the 2013–14 season. He struggled at times, as his goals against average and save percentage fell outside of the top 30 goaltenders in the league by mid-November. His play improved throughout the season, and he finished the season third in the league with 39 wins.
Hoping to rebound in 2008–09
, Kiprusoff arrived for the start of the season in better shape, but continued to struggle as he was questioned on whether his heavy workload the previous three seasons – he played 76, 74 and 74 games of a possible 82 – were taking a toll on him. He won his 200th career game on March 18, 2009, in a 2–1 victory over the Dallas Stars
, but questions about whether he was playing too many games continued throughout the season. Although he led the league with 45 wins, his statistical averages had deteriorated for the fourth consecutive season as he admitted he struggled.
New head coach Brent Sutter
promised that Kiprusoff would face a lighter schedule in 2009–10
, he played 76 games in 2008–09, while Kiprusoff hired a personal trainer and set aside his previously indifferent attitude towards off-season training. His efforts appeared to pay dividends early in the season, as he lost only three of his first 17 decisions, leading his teammates to compare his early performance to his first years in Calgary. He finished in the top ten in the league in wins, save percentage and goals against average and while considered a potential candidate for the Vezina Trophy, he was not named a finalist in part due to the fact the Flames failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Kiprusoff, and the entire Flames team, struggled early in the 2010–11 season
, and during a period of struggle late in January, he became a target of the fans' jeering. He admitted that he had struggled and was trying to focus on returning his play to where he felt it should be. Kiprusoff's fortunes improved in February, as he won his 250th game as a member of the Flames in a 9–1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche
on February 14. Six nights later he became the first goaltenter in NHL history to record a shutout in an outdoor game with a 4–0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens
at the 2011 Heritage Classic
. In a March 4 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets
, he became the first goaltender in 25 years to stop two penalty shots in one game to preserve a 4–3 victory.
and 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
where Finland finished fourth and sixth respectively. He first played with the senior team at the 1999 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
where he recorded a 1.16 Goals against average
in four games to help Finland win the silver medal. He rejoined the team for the 2001 tournament
, again leading the Finns to a silver medal.
He was offered a spot on the Finnish team for the 2002 Winter Olympics
, but declined citing a desire to focus on his professional career in North America. Kiprusoff was named the starting goaltender for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
, and earned a shutout against the Czech Republic. He posted four wins and a tie, including a second shutout, and a 1.18 GAA to lead the upstart Finns into the championship game against Canada. In spite of his 30 saves, the Finns were defeated by Canada 3–2. Kiprusoff did not play his best game in the final according to head coach Raimo Summanen
, though he expressed pride in his team's effort.
Kiprusoff again declined an invitation to play at the 2006 Winter Olympics
citing the need to rest a hip injury. His announcement generated considerable controversy in Finland where the fact that he did not miss a game with the Flames due to the injury led some to question if he was injured at all. Country-mate Teemu Selänne
questioned the goaltender's lack of interest in playing for the national team, a comment that stung Kiprusoff. When considered to play for the Finns at the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver, he said he would join the team, but only if he felt healthy and if he was named the starting goaltender for the team. Kiprusoff was named the starter and allowed only four goals in his team's first four games, leading the Finns to a semifinal game against the United States. The Americans blitzed Kiprusoff early in the game as he gave up four goals on seven shots in the first minutes of the game before being replaced in net by Niklas Bäckström
. He returned to the net for the bronze medal game, leading Finland to a 5–3 victory.
, is a defenceman who last played for TPS
in 2009, and previously played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens
and New York Islanders
. Kiprusoff is a spokesman for the Rainbow Society of Alberta, an organization that aims to grant wishes for children with chronic or life-threatening conditions. He donates $10 for each save he makes in an NHL game, totalling $18,720 in 2009–10.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
currently playing for the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall by the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft
1995 NHL Entry Draft
The 1995 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last. Instead, a draft lottery was instituted in which the winner of the lottery could move...
. He has also played for TPS
TPS (ice hockey)
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...
of the Finnish SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
as well as AIK
AIK IF
Allmänna Idrottsklubben Ishockeyförening is the ice hockey section of the sports club Allmänna Idrottsklubben based in Stockholm, Sweden...
and Timrå IK
Timrå IK
Timrå IK is a Swedish ice hockey team from Timrå, who currently plays in the top division, Elitserien. Seasons in the top division include 1956–57 to 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, and 2000–01 until present.-History:...
of the Swedish Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
. He has represented Finland several times on the international stage, earning silver medals at the World Ice Hockey Championships in 1999 and 2001, as well as leading the Finns to a surprise second place finish at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
2004 World Cup of Hockey
The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
. He also helped the Finnish national hockey team win the bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
.
Kiprusoff began his professional career with TPS in 1994, and was named the best goaltender
Urpo Ylönen trophy
The Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri...
and best player of the playoffs
Jari Kurri trophy
The Jari Kurri trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best player in the SM-liiga playoffs. The trophy is named after Jari Kurri....
in 1999 as he led them to the SM-liiga championship
Kanada-malja
The Kanada-malja is an ice hockey club championship trophy, awarded annually to the SM-liiga playoffs champion. Kanada-malja is Finnish for "Canada Cup", and is so named because it was donated by Canada's Finnish community in 1951....
. He moved to North America in 1999, and after two all-star seasons in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, made his NHL debut with the Sharks where he served primarily as a backup. A trade to Calgary in 2003–04 brought Kiprusoff into a starting role and he set a modern NHL record for lowest goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
at 1.69 as he helped the Flames reach the 2004 Stanley Cup Final. He won the Vezina Trophy
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
as the best goaltender in the NHL in 2006 along with the William M. Jennings Trophy
William M. Jennings Trophy
The William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League award given to "the goalkeeper having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded...
for giving up the fewest goals in the league. He played in his first NHL All-Star Game in 2007 and is the Flames franchise record holder in shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s.
Europe
Kiprusoff was sponsored by his hometown team, TPS TurkuTPS (ice hockey)
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...
, playing two seasons in the Finnish junior league for them between 1993 and 1995. He was selected by the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the fifth round, 116th overall, at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft
1995 NHL Entry Draft
The 1995 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta. The drafting order was now set partially by a lottery system whereby teams would not be guaranteed first pick if they finished last. Instead, a draft lottery was instituted in which the winner of the lottery could move...
. He made his professional début in 1994–95, and won three of four games played for TPS. After playing 12 games for TPS in 1995–96, he moved to AIK
AIK IF
Allmänna Idrottsklubben Ishockeyförening is the ice hockey section of the sports club Allmänna Idrottsklubben based in Stockholm, Sweden...
of the Swedish Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
, playing two seasons as their top goaltender before returning to TPS in 1998–99. He dominated the SM-liiga
SM-liiga
The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice...
that year, finishing the season with a win-loss-tie record of 26–6–6 and a goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
(GAA) of 1.85, and led TPS to the Finnish championship. For his efforts, he was named the winner of the Urpo Ylönen trophy
Urpo Ylönen trophy
The Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri...
as the best goaltender in 1998–99 and the Jari Kurri trophy
Jari Kurri trophy
The Jari Kurri trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best player in the SM-liiga playoffs. The trophy is named after Jari Kurri....
as the best player of the playoffs.
San Jose Sharks
Kiprusoff moved to North America in 1999, joining the Sharks American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) affiliate, the Kentucky Thoroughblades
Kentucky Thoroughblades
The Kentucky Thoroughblades were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, who existed from 1996 to 2001. The Thoroughblades were based in Lexington, Kentucky, playing home games at Rupp Arena...
. He finished fourth in the league with a 2.48 GAA and was the starting goaltender for team PlanetUSA at the 2000 AHL All-Star Game as he helped Kentucky win its first division title. He began the 2000–01 season
2000–01 AHL season
The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...
with Kentucky where he posted a record of 19–9–6 with two shutouts in 39 games. He started his second consecutive AHL All-Star game before earning a recall to the Sharks on March 5, 2001. He earned his first NHL win on March 29, 7–4 over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, in relief of starting goaltender Evgeni Nabokov
Evgeni Nabokov
Evgeni Viktorovich Nabokov is a Russian professional ice hockey goaltender who is playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League .Nabokov was selected by San Jose in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft...
. He made his first start on April 8, again against Anaheim, and earned his second win.
The flu sidelined Nabokov for game four of the Sharks 2001 Stanley Cup playoff
2001 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2001 Stanley Cup playoffs, the championship of the National Hockey League , were played from April until June. The Colorado Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils to win its second Stanley Cup....
series against the St. Louis Blues. Making only his second career start, Kiprusoff made 39 saves in a 3–2 victory. In doing so, he became the first Finnish born goaltender to win an NHL playoff game. Kiprusoff struggled to start the 2001–02 NHL season and was sent to the Cleveland Barons on a conditioning assignment after playing in only four of the Sharks first 21 games. He was named the AHL player of the week during the assignment after winning all four games he played in Cleveland. He finished the season with a 7–6–1 record for the Sharks, and recorded his first NHL shutout in a 6–0 win over the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
on January 5, 2002.
Nabokov entered the 2002–03 season as a holdout player without a contract, giving Kiprusoff a chance to become the starter. Kiprusoff struggled, losing his first three games and posting a 5.65 GAA in that time, forcing the Sharks hand as they quickly agreed to terms with Nabokov. Relegated to the backup role, Kiprusoff continued to struggle, winning just five of 22 games played before his season ended with a knee injury. Despite his poor season, the Sharks offered him a new contract for one year at US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
800,000.
Kiprusoff began the 2003–04 season competing with Vesa Toskala
Vesa Toskala
Vesa Tapani Toskala is a professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for Ilves.-Early career:Toskala was selected by San Jose in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft . The Sharks also took fellow Finn Miikka Kiprusoff in the fifth round...
for the backup spot behind Nabokov, leading to speculation of a trade. Relegated to third-string status, Kiprusoff grew increasingly frustrated as he did not play in any games through the first quarter of the season. He was finally traded to the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
for a second round draft pick on November 16, 2003, after Calgary starter Roman Turek
Roman Turek
Roman Turek is a retired Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, and Calgary Flames in a 9-year National Hockey League career...
suffered an injury.
Calgary Flames
The trade provided immediate dividends for the Flames, as Kiprusoff recorded 22 saves in a 2–1 victory over the Montreal CanadiensMontreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in his first game with Calgary on November 20. He won 12 of 17 starts between November 20 and December 29, giving up one goal or fewer 11 times in that stretch. He was named the defensive player of the month for December by the league, but suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
in his knee at the end of the month that forced him out of the lineup for four weeks.
Kiprusoff's play remained strong upon his return as he was counted on to lead the Flames to the playoffs for the first time in eight years. A 1–0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
clinched a berth in the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League began on April 7, 2004, following the 2003–04 regular season. The playoffs ended with the Tampa Bay Lightning securing the Stanley Cup with a seven-game series win over the Calgary Flames on June 7. It was Tampa Bay's first Stanley Cup...
for the Flames, an achievement which earned Kiprusoff a standing ovation from the Calgary fans. He finished the regular season with a modern NHL record low GAA of 1.69. His stellar play continued into the playoffs as he won 15 games, five of them by shutout, leading the Flames to within one victory of a Stanley Cup championship. He was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
, awarded to the best goaltender in the league, and was given a one-year, $2.95 million contract for 2004–05 by an arbitrator
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
, an increase in salary of nearly four times his previous contract.
As the 2004–05 lockout led to the cancellation of the season, Kiprusoff chose to play in Sweden. He played 41 games for Timrå IK
Timrå IK
Timrå IK is a Swedish ice hockey team from Timrå, who currently plays in the top division, Elitserien. Seasons in the top division include 1956–57 to 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, and 2000–01 until present.-History:...
, recording five shutouts and a 2.14 GAA. He remained a top goaltender for Calgary when NHL play resumed in 2005–06, breaking Mike Vernon's franchise record when he recorded his 40th win of the season, against the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
on April 8, 2006. He was not only touted as the top goaltender in the league, but also argued to be a candidate for the Hart Memorial Trophy
Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different...
as the most valuable player in the NHL. Finishing the season with a 42–20–11 record and a team record 10 shutouts, he was named a first team all-star
NHL All-Star Team
The NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are...
and awarded the Vezina Trophy, as well as the William M. Jennings Trophy
William M. Jennings Trophy
The William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League award given to "the goalkeeper having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded...
for being the goaltender on the team that gave up the fewest goals in during the season. He was also named a finalist for the Hart, though the award was won by Joe Thornton
Joe Thornton
Joseph Eric Thornton is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League . He was selected first overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play seven seasons with the club, five as its Captain. During the...
.
Kiprusoff struggled to begin the 2006–07 season, winning just four of his first 12 decisions, and giving up nearly three goals per game. He rebounded to finish the season with 40 wins, won his 100th career game, and played in his first All-Star Game. He recorded his 21st shutout in a Flames uniform in a 1–0 win over the Wild on March 27, 2007, to break Dan Bouchard
Dan Bouchard
Daniel Hector "Bouch" Bouchard is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey League with the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets.-Career:...
's franchise record. Kiprusoff was outstanding in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 11, 2007. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for conference quarterfinals, semifinals and championships, and then the conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the...
, keeping the overmatched Flames close to the top seeded Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
despite the Flames giving up nearly 50 shots per game in their first two contests. He led them to consecutive wins in games three and four to even the series and give the Flames hope they could win the series, but the Flames were unable to parlay his performance into a series win, losing the best-of-seven series 4–2. He earned his third consecutive nomination for the Vezina trophy, ultimately won by Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur
Martin Pierre Brodeur is a French-Canadian ice hockey goaltender who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the New Jersey Devils. In his 19-year tenure with the Devils, he has won three Stanley Cup championships and has been in the playoffs every year but two...
.
Nicknamed "Captain Hook" for the way he handled goaltenders, the Flames decision to hire Mike Keenan
Mike Keenan
Michael Edward Keenan is a former head coach in the National Hockey League , most recently with the Calgary Flames, and former General Manager of the Florida Panthers. He is currently working as an analyst for the New York Rangers on MSG Network.Keenan was a player for the St...
as head coach in 2007–08 created speculation that Kiprusoff might choose to leave Calgary when his contract expired at the end of the season. Nonetheless, he agreed to a six-year extension worth $35 million that would keep him in Calgary until the end of the 2013–14 season. He struggled at times, as his goals against average and save percentage fell outside of the top 30 goaltenders in the league by mid-November. His play improved throughout the season, and he finished the season third in the league with 39 wins.
Hoping to rebound in 2008–09
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
, Kiprusoff arrived for the start of the season in better shape, but continued to struggle as he was questioned on whether his heavy workload the previous three seasons – he played 76, 74 and 74 games of a possible 82 – were taking a toll on him. He won his 200th career game on March 18, 2009, in a 2–1 victory over the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
, but questions about whether he was playing too many games continued throughout the season. Although he led the league with 45 wins, his statistical averages had deteriorated for the fourth consecutive season as he admitted he struggled.
New head coach Brent Sutter
Brent Sutter
Brent Colin Sutter is a retired National Hockey League player and current head coach of the Calgary Flames. Selected by the New York Islanders 17th overall at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, Sutter played over 1,000 games for the Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks during his 18-year career. He won the...
promised that Kiprusoff would face a lighter schedule in 2009–10
2009–10 NHL season
The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010...
, he played 76 games in 2008–09, while Kiprusoff hired a personal trainer and set aside his previously indifferent attitude towards off-season training. His efforts appeared to pay dividends early in the season, as he lost only three of his first 17 decisions, leading his teammates to compare his early performance to his first years in Calgary. He finished in the top ten in the league in wins, save percentage and goals against average and while considered a potential candidate for the Vezina Trophy, he was not named a finalist in part due to the fact the Flames failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Kiprusoff, and the entire Flames team, struggled early in the 2010–11 season
2010–11 NHL season
The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech...
, and during a period of struggle late in January, he became a target of the fans' jeering. He admitted that he had struggled and was trying to focus on returning his play to where he felt it should be. Kiprusoff's fortunes improved in February, as he won his 250th game as a member of the Flames in a 9–1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
on February 14. Six nights later he became the first goaltenter in NHL history to record a shutout in an outdoor game with a 4–0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
at the 2011 Heritage Classic
2011 Heritage Classic
The 2011 Heritage Classic was a regular season outdoor National Hockey League game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames. The game was played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on February 20, 2011. The Flames defeated the Canadiens by a score of 4–0 before a crowd of...
. In a March 4 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, he became the first goaltender in 25 years to stop two penalty shots in one game to preserve a 4–3 victory.
International career
Kiprusoff made his international debut with the Finnish junior team at the 1994 European Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he played in three games. He was a member of the team at the 19951995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 18th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was hosted in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada with games held throughout central Alberta...
and 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
The 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 20th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, hosted in Massachusetts...
where Finland finished fourth and sixth respectively. He first played with the senior team at the 1999 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
1999 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
-World Championship Group C:Played at Eindhoven and Tilburg, Netherlands April 5–11. Yugoslavia was supposed to particpate in this tournament, but was prevented by the host Dutch government.-Group 1:-Group 2:-Final Round 25-28 Place:...
where he recorded a 1.16 Goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
in four games to help Finland win the silver medal. He rejoined the team for the 2001 tournament
2001 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
-Championship:Final standings# # # # # # # # # # # # # # — relegated to Division I for 2002# — relegated to Division I for 2002# - Group A :Group A was played in Grenoble, France between April 16 and April 22, 2001...
, again leading the Finns to a silver medal.
He was offered a spot on the Finnish team for the 2002 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics were held at the E Center in West Valley City and Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host USA in both games.-Men:...
, but declined citing a desire to focus on his professional career in North America. Kiprusoff was named the starting goaltender for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
2004 World Cup of Hockey
The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
, and earned a shutout against the Czech Republic. He posted four wins and a tie, including a second shutout, and a 1.18 GAA to lead the upstart Finns into the championship game against Canada. In spite of his 30 saves, the Finns were defeated by Canada 3–2. Kiprusoff did not play his best game in the final according to head coach Raimo Summanen
Raimo Summanen
Raimo Olavi Summanen , is a former professional ice hockey forward and also a former coach of the Finnish national team. He was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, 125th overall, and spent his NHL career with Edmonton and the Vancouver Canucks...
, though he expressed pride in his team's effort.
Kiprusoff again declined an invitation to play at the 2006 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics
-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
citing the need to rest a hip injury. His announcement generated considerable controversy in Finland where the fact that he did not miss a game with the Flames due to the injury led some to question if he was injured at all. Country-mate Teemu Selänne
Teemu Selänne
Teemu Ilmari Selänne nicknamed "The Finnish Flash" is a Finnish professional ice hockey winger, an alternate captain of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . An offensive player known for his skill and speed, Selanne has led the NHL in goal-scoring three times and has been named to...
questioned the goaltender's lack of interest in playing for the national team, a comment that stung Kiprusoff. When considered to play for the Finns at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held at Canada Hockey Place, home of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, and at UBC Winter Sports Centre, home of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's UBC Thunderbirds. Twelve teams competed in the men's event and eight teams competed in the...
in Vancouver, he said he would join the team, but only if he felt healthy and if he was named the starting goaltender for the team. Kiprusoff was named the starter and allowed only four goals in his team's first four games, leading the Finns to a semifinal game against the United States. The Americans blitzed Kiprusoff early in the game as he gave up four goals on seven shots in the first minutes of the game before being replaced in net by Niklas Bäckström
Niklas Bäckström
Niklas Oskar Bäckström is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League . He has won both William M. Jennings Trophy and Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award...
. He returned to the net for the bronze medal game, leading Finland to a 5–3 victory.
Personal life
Kiprusoff and his fiancée Seidi have a son, Aaro, born in the summer of 2005. His older brother, MarkoMarko Kiprusoff
Marko Kiprusoff is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman.- Draft :He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens as their third-round pick, #70 overall, in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft.-SM-liiga Career:...
, is a defenceman who last played for TPS
TPS (ice hockey)
TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:...
in 2009, and previously played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
and New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Kiprusoff is a spokesman for the Rainbow Society of Alberta, an organization that aims to grant wishes for children with chronic or life-threatening conditions. He donates $10 for each save he makes in an NHL game, totalling $18,720 in 2009–10.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T/OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1994–95 | TPS TPS (ice hockey) TPS or Turun Palloseura is an ice hockey team and 11-time champion of SM-liiga. They play in Turku, Finland at the HK Arena. In terms of championships, TPS is the most successful team in SM-liiga history.-Team history:... |
SM-l SM-liiga The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice... |
4 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | 0 | 3.00 | ? | 13 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ||
| 1995–96 | TPS | SM-l | 12 | ? | ? | ? | 550 | 38 | 0 | 4.14 | ? | 3 | ? | ? | 114 | 4 | ? | 2.10 | ? | ||
| 1996–97 | AIK IF | Elit Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
42 | ? | ? | ? | 2466 | 104 | 3 | 2.53 | ? | 7 | ? | ? | 420 | 23 | ? | 3.28 | ? | ||
| 1997–98 | AIK | Elit | 42 | ? | ? | ? | 2457 | 110 | 0 | 2.69 | ? | 5 | ? | ? | 300 | 8 | ? | 1.60 | ? | ||
| 1998–99 | TPS | SM-l | 39 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 2260 | 70 | 4 | 1.85 | ? | 10 | 9 | 1 | 580 | 15 | 3 | 1.55 | ? | ||
| 1999–00 1999–2000 AHL season The 1999–2000 AHL season was the 64th season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hartford Wolf Pack finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:... |
Kentucky Thoroughblades Kentucky Thoroughblades The Kentucky Thoroughblades were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, who existed from 1996 to 2001. The Thoroughblades were based in Lexington, Kentucky, playing home games at Rupp Arena... |
AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
47 | 23 | 19 | 4 | 2759 | 144 | 3 | 2.48 | .924 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 239 | 13 | 0 | 3.27 | .904 | ||
| 2000–01 2000–01 AHL season The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty... |
Kentucky Thoroughblades | AHL | 36 | 19 | 9 | 6 | 2038 | 76 | 2 | 2.24 | .926 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 154 | 5 | 0 | 1.95 | .902 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 149 | 5 | 0 | 2.01 | .937 | ||
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
Cleveland Barons | AHL | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 242 | 7 | 0 | 1.73 | .949 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 20 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 1041 | 43 | 2 | 2.49 | .915 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.000 | ||
| 2002–03 | San Jose Sharks | NHL | 22 | 5 | 14 | 0 | 1199 | 65 | 1 | 3.25 | .879 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
NHL | 38 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 2300 | 65 | 4 | 1.69 | .933 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 1655 | 51 | 5 | 1.85 | .928 | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 Elitserien season The 2004–05 Elitserien season was the 30th season of Elitserien. It started on September 20, 2004, with the regular season ending March 1, 2005. The playoffs of the 81st Swedish Championship ended on April 11, with Frölunda HC taking the championship.... |
Timrå IK Timrå IK Timrå IK is a Swedish ice hockey team from Timrå, who currently plays in the top division, Elitserien. Seasons in the top division include 1956–57 to 1975–76, 1977–78, 1981–82, and 2000–01 until present.-History:... |
Elit | 46 | ? | ? | ? | 2719 | 97 | 5 | 2.14 | ? | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 74 | 42 | 20 | 11 | 4379 | 151 | 10 | 2.07 | .923 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 428 | 16 | 0 | 2.24 | .921 | ||
| 2006–07 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 74 | 40 | 24 | 9 | 4419 | 181 | 7 | 2.46 | .917 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 383 | 18 | 0 | 2.81 | .929 | ||
| 2007–08 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 76 | 39 | 26 | 10 | 4398 | 197 | 2 | 2.69 | .906 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 336 | 18 | 1 | 3.21 | .908 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Calgary Flames | NHL | 76 | 45 | 24 | 5 | 4418 | 209 | 4 | 2.84 | .903 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 324 | 19 | 0 | 3.52 | .884 | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Calgary Flames | NHL | 73 | 35 | 28 | 10 | 4235 | 163 | 4 | 2.31 | .920 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Calgary Flames | NHL | 71 | 37 | 24 | 6 | 4156 | 182 | 6 | 2.63 | .906 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| SM-liiga totals | 55 | — | — | — | 3049 | 120 | 4 | 2.36 | ? | 15 | — | — | 814 | 26 | — | 1.91 | ? | ||||
| Elitserien totals | 130 | — | — | — | 7642 | 311 | 8 | 2.44 | ? | 13 | — | — | 776 | 36 | 0 | 2.78 | ? | ||||
| NHL totals | 529 | 276 | 177 | 58 | 30697 | 1261 | 40 | 2.46 | .913 | 56 | 25 | 28 | 3284 | 127 | 6 | 2.32 | .921 | ||||
International statistics
| Year | Comp | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | EJC | 3 | 4.35 | ||||||
| 1995 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1995 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 18th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was hosted in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada with games held throughout central Alberta... |
WJC | 2 | 2.58 | ||||||
| 1996 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 20th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championship, hosted in Massachusetts... |
WJC | 3 | 159 | 9 | 3.39 | ||||
| 1999 1999 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -World Championship Group C:Played at Eindhoven and Tilburg, Netherlands April 5–11. Yugoslavia was supposed to particpate in this tournament, but was prevented by the host Dutch government.-Group 1:-Group 2:-Final Round 25-28 Place:... |
WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 3 | 0 | 1.16 |
| 2001 2001 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -Championship:Final standings# # # # # # # # # # # # # # — relegated to Division I for 2002# — relegated to Division I for 2002# - Group A :Group A was played in Grenoble, France between April 16 and April 22, 2001... |
WC | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 140 | 5 | 1 | 2.14 |
| 2004 2004 World Cup of Hockey The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues... |
WCH World Cup of Hockey The World Cup of Hockey is an international ice hockey tournament. Inaugurated in 1996, it is the successor to the previous Canada Cup, which ran from 1976 to 1991... |
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 363 | 9 | 2 | 1.48 |
| 2010 | Oly 2010 Winter Olympics The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University... |
6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 93 | 11 | 1 | 2.64 |
| Senior int'l totals | 24 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 909 | 28 | 4 | 1.85 | |
All-Star Games
| Year | Location | Decision | MIN | SA | GA | GAA | Sv% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game The 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in Dallas, Texas, on January 24, 2007. The Western Conference was victorious, defeating the Eastern Conference 12–9... |
Dallas Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The... |
— | 20 | 11 | 3 | 9.00 | .727 |
| All-Star totals | 0–0–0 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 9.00 | .727 | |
Awards and honours
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| SM-liiga SM-liiga The SM-liiga is the top professional ice hockey league in Finland. As of March 2008, it is ranked by the IIHF as the second strongest league in Europe. It was created in 1975 to replace the SM-sarja, which was fundamentally an amateur league. The SM-liiga is not directly overseen by the Finnish Ice... |
||
| SM-liiga All-Star Team | 1998–99 | |
| Urpo Ylönen trophy Urpo Ylönen trophy The Urpo Ylönen trophy is an ice hockey award given by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best goalie of the season.Trophy winners:1977-78: Antero Kivelä 1978-79: Jorma Valtonen 1979-80: Jorma Valtonen 1980-81: Hannu Kamppuri... |
1998–99 | |
| Jari Kurri trophy Jari Kurri trophy The Jari Kurri trophy is an ice hockey trophy awarded by the Finnish SM-liiga to the best player in the SM-liiga playoffs. The trophy is named after Jari Kurri.... |
1998–99 | |
| National Hockey League National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
||
| First Team All-Star NHL All-Star Team The NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are... |
2005–06 | |
| Vezina Trophy Vezina Trophy The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team... |
2005–06 | |
| William M. Jennings Trophy William M. Jennings Trophy The William M. Jennings Trophy is an annual National Hockey League award given to "the goalkeeper having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it. Winners are selected based on regular-season play." From 1946 until 1981, the Vezina Trophy had been awarded... |
2005–06 | |
| Calgary Flames team awards | ||
| Molson Cup Molson Cup The Molson Cup is an award presented to a distinguished player on Canadian ice hockey teams. After each game, the "three game stars" are selected, usually by a member of the media. At the end of the season, the player with the most three-star honours is presented with the Molson Cup... |
2005–06 2005–06 Calgary Flames season The 2005–06 Calgary Flames season was the 26th NHL season in Calgary while the team celebrated its 25th season of play.The off-season following the lockout provided ominous news for the hockey starved city of Calgary as GM Darryl Sutter announced he would not re-sign free-agent Martin Gelinas, the... 2006–07 2006–07 Calgary Flames season The 2006–07 Calgary Flames season began with a great deal of promise following the acquisition of top forward Alex Tanguay from the Colorado Avalanche... 2008–09 2008–09 Calgary Flames season The 2008–09 Calgary Flames season was the 29th season for the Calgary Flames, and the 37th for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League . The Flames finished second in the Northwest Division, and qualified for the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the fifth seed in the Western Conference,... |
|
External links
- Bio and detailed statistics from hockeygoalies.org
- Miikka Kiprusoff on nhlfinns.com