Michael Sokolowski
FinlandBiography of Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff was born on October 26, 1976, in Turku, Finland. He began his professional career with the TPS club in 1994 and was named the best goalkeeper and best player in the playoffs in 1999, helping his team qualify for the SM-liiga championship.
Early Career
Kiprusoff was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 1995 NHL Draft. He currently plays for the Calgary Flames in the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to his NHL career, Kiprusoff played for the TPS hockey club in the Finnish SM-liiga and for AIK and Timrå IK in the Swedish elite league. He also represented the Finnish national team several times, earning silver medals at the 1999 and 2001 Ice Hockey World Championships. Kiprusoff and his teammates surprised the world by finishing in second place at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
NHL Career
Kiprusoff made his NHL debut on March 29, 2001, with the San Jose Sharks in a game against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, which ended in a 7-4 victory. He recorded his first win with the Sharks on March 8, 2001, in another game against Anaheim. In his first game with the Calgary Flames against the Montreal Canadiens, Kiprusoff made 22 saves and helped the team win 2-1.
In the 2003-2004 season, Kiprusoff excelled with the Flames, setting a new NHL record with a goals-against average (GAA) of 1.69. Thanks to his efforts, the Flames reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2004. Due to the NHL lockout in 2004-2005, Kiprusoff decided to play in Sweden, where he played 41 games for Timrå IK, posting a 2.14 GAA.
Returning to Calgary for the 2005-2006 season, Kiprusoff broke Mike Vernon's record on April 8, 2006, in a game against the Minnesota Wild. He established himself as one of the league's top goaltenders and was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player, although the award went to Joe Thornton. Kiprusoff was awarded the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender in 2006. He played his first NHL All-Star Game in 2007.
Later Career
In the 2007-2008 season, there were rumors that Kiprusoff would leave the Calgary Flames after his contract expired. However, he ultimately agreed to a six-year contract extension worth $35 million, keeping him in Calgary until the end of the 2013-2014 season.
Kiprusoff faced some challenges in his career but managed to regain his form and was listed among the top 30 goaltenders in the league. In the 2007-2008 season, he ranked third among goaltenders with 39 wins. In March 2009, he played his 200th professional game, helping the team secure 49 wins. However, his personal statistics have been declining for the past four seasons.
Under new head coach Brent Sutter, Kiprusoff was expected to deliver better performance in the 2009-2010 season. His teammates have praised his recent play, comparing it to his early years with the Calgary Flames.
Kiprusoff and his fiancée, Sady, have a son named Aaro, who was born in the summer of 2005. His older brother, Marko, was also a hockey player and last played defense for TPS in 2009, previously playing in the NHL for the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders. Kiprusoff is also involved with the non-profit organization Rainbow Society, which helps children.
