Miikka Kiprusoff

Finnish netminder Miikka Kiprusoff was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round of the 1995 NHL draft, but honed his skills playing in the Finnish and Swedish elite hockey leagues before moving to North America in 1999.

Kiprusoff played four seasons as the San Jose backup goalie before being traded to the Calgary Flames early in the 2003-2004 season. Kiprusoff was instrumental during his first season with the Flames, when they made it to the final game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs before losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

During the 2005-2006 season, Kiprusoff was responsible for the Flames having the least amount of goals scored against them, which earned him the William Jennings Trophy. That same year, Kiprusoff received the Vezina Trophy, awarded to the League's best goalie and was nominated for the NHL's MVP award, the Hart Memorial Trophy.

1. In 2006, Kiprusoff broke the Flames' record for goalie wins during one season.
2. His 40th game in 2006 saw him breaking the record for the Flames' most games played by a goalie in one season.
3. Ten shootouts during the 2005-2006 season doubled the Flames' previous record of five.
4. In March 2007, his 21st career shutout broke the Flames' record for most shutouts during the regular season.

• October 26, 1976: Born

• 1992: Played with the TPS Turku in Finland

• 1995: Drafted 116th overall in the 5th round of the NHL entry draft by the San Jose Sharks

• 1996: Played with the AIK IF in the Swedish Elite League

• 2000: NHL debut with the San Jose Sharks

• 2001: Assigned to the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League, a San Jose Sharks affiliate

• 2003: Traded to the Calgary Flames

• 2004: Represented Team Finland in the World Cup of Hockey

• 2006: Won the Vezina Trophy for the best goaltender in the NHL

• 2006: Won the William M. Jennings Trophy for the least goals allowed in the regular season

• 2007: Selected for is 2nd consecutive NHL All-Star Game

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