Miikka Kiprusoff

 

Miikka Kiprusoff, nicknamed "Kipper", made his name on the Continent before breaking into NHL in 2000. His first three years with the San Jose Sharks were literally spent on the bench. The turning point in Kiprusoff's fortunes came in 2003 -- the year he was traded to Calgary Flames. And what a year it was. Kiprusoff posted four shutouts and ended the regular season with a goals-against average of 1.69. Kiprusoff's dream run continued in the playoffs where he posted five more shutouts helping the Flames lift the Western Conference trophy. Buoyed by Kirpusoff's goaltending, Calgary Flames might even have gone ahead and won the Stanley Cup but were defeated by Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup finals. But the defeat was not to demoralize Kiprusoff. The goaltender put up another spirited display, this time for his country, Finland. The team skated into the finals of 2004 World Cup Hockey tournament on some great performances by Kiprusoff. The team may have finally lost to Canada, and had to be content with the silver medal, but it certainly warmed the hearts of every ice hockey lover back home. Two successive years of great goaltending has made Kiprusoff a hero both in Finland and in North America. It is now for him to keep the fans cheering.

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