(CALGARY) The Calgary Flames said Tuesday they will retire goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff’s number 34 jersey for the next season.

Kiprusoff’s number will be elevated to the heights of the Scotiabank Saddledome on March 2, when the Flames host the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Kiprusoff spent nine of his 12 NHL seasons with the Flames.

The Turku, Finland native retired in 2013 as the Flames leader in wins (305), shutouts (41), goals-against average (2.46), save percentage saves (.913) and games played by a goalie (576).

Kiprusoff also leads the team in playoff shutouts (six) and is second to Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Vernon in games played and playoff wins.

Kiprusoff helped the Flames reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004, when they lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Finn has been a finalist for the Vezina Trophy on three occasions and he won this honor given to the best goaltender in the NHL in 2006.

“Having my name and number hung alongside these great Flames players, and especially my friend and legendary goaltender Mike Vernon, is truly a highlight of my career,” Kiprusoff said in a statement.

“My boys, Aaro and Oskar (Paka), were too young to really understand how special it was to play in the NHL and how important the team and the players are to Calgary fans. I can’t wait to arrive in March and share this experience with my family. »