Former NHL goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff will see his number raised to the rafters of the Scotiabank Saddledome when the Calgary Flames retire his No. 34 in a ceremony March 2, the team announced Tuesday.
"I loved my time in Calgary," Kiprusoff said. "The fans are amazing, and it's a wonderful place to live and play. Hockey really means something here, and I was proud to wear the Flaming C and call Calgary my home for nine years.
"I would like to thank the Flames ownership, the organization, and the fans for my time in Calgary and for this tremendous honor."
Kiprusoff played for the Flames from 2003 up until his retirement in 2013. He's the franchise leader in games played by a netminder (576), wins (305), shutouts (41), save percentage (.913), and goals against average (2.46).
Kiprusoff also registered 45 wins during the 2008-09 campaign, the most by a Flames goalie in a single season.
The Finn took home the Vezina Trophy in 2006 and was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player. He posted a 42-20-11 record to go along with a .923 save percentage, 2.07 goals against average, and 10 shutouts in 2005-06.
Kiprusoff will join Jarome Iginla, Lanny McDonald, and Mike Vernon as the only Flames to have their numbers retired.
"To have my name and number hanging next to those great Flames players, and especially my friend and legendary goalie Mike Vernon, is truly a highlight of my career," Kiprusoff said.
Kiprusoff, 46, was selected in the fifth round of the 1995 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. The Flames acquired him from the Sharks in November 2003 in exchange for a 2005 second-round pick, which San Jose used to draft Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
Calgary made the playoffs five times during Kiprusoff's tenure and lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.
Overall, Kiprusoff owns a career .912 save percentage and 2.49 goals against average in 623 regular-season appearances.
The Flames will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 2 at 10 p.m. ET.
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