Miikka Kiprusoff, International Man Of Mystery

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

By ERIC DUHATSCHEK
Globe and Mail

Calgary — Not much is known about Miikka Kiprusoff outside of Calgary and even there, the goaltender primarily responsible for helping the Flames end a seven-year playoff drought is an international man of mystery, something akin to Austin Powers. More on that later.

What we do know about the quiet, self-effacing 27-year-old from Turku, Finland is that he is single (although he has a girlfriend in Finland), he is athletic (some of his anatomy-defying saves had even his own teammates in awe) and he is a dog lover. Kiprusoff's eyes widen and his English improves as soon as the conversation turns to the two bull mastiffs he owns, a five-year-old name Reiska, and a four-year-old named Jusu, both of whom weigh around 130 pounds.

- full article

[blaise]

I got to see Kiprusoff play in the Shark Tank in San Jose against Los Angeles a couple of years ago. The Kings won the game 3-2. Kiprusoff looked pretty good but didn't display the excellence we associate with a #1 goaltender on that particular occasion.

[jkr]

I watched a CBC Sports Journal segment last night. A lot of credit is going to Dave Marcoux, the Flames new goalie coach. These guys are pros but can still learn & improve.

[ethan]

I've watched Kiprusoff play all year here in calgary. If he had not been hurt, he'd be the obvious vezina winner, and probably a hart candidate.
To be honest, if we make it to the cup, I hope we don't run into calgary... they are built for playoff hockey.