The Calgary Flames have retired Miikka Kiprusoff’s #34
By Ryan Pike
1 month agoThe Calgary Flames have officially retired Miikka Kiprusoff’s jersey number. In a ceremony prior to Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flames raised a #34 banner to the Scotiabank Saddledome rafters.
The ceremony about 40 minutes and was emceed by Flames TV’s Brendan Parker. It featured a testimonial from former Flames netminder Jamie McLennan (Kiprusoff’s back-up for two seasons and goalie coach for two more), video tributes and gifts from Flames ownership, as well as a speech from Kiprusoff where he thanked his family, teammates and fans.
It culminated with Kiprusoff’s banner being raised. It’ll eventually find a home in-between Mike Vernon’s #30 and Al MacInnis’ #2.
Eight other Flames players wore 34 before Kiprusoff, we’ve bolded the most notable of them:
- D Jamie Macoun [1983-92]: A college signing in January 1983, Macoun and his sweet moustache became one of the most recognizable and reliable defenders on the team. He was a fixture on the blueline until his departure to Toronto in the January 1992 Doug Gilmour trade. He won a Stanley Cup in 1989 with the Flames.
- D Roger Johansson [1992-93]: A 1985 draft choice out of Sweden, Johansson bounced between the Flames and Sweden off and on for a few years before parting ways with the Flames. He wore 34 for the 1992-93 season only.
- D Brad Miller [1993-94]: Acquired from Toronto in a four-player trade in September 1993, Miller was a career tweener who bounced between the NHL and the minor leagues during his career. He wore 34 for eight games in 1993-94, all in the early portion of the season.
- D Kevin Wortman [1993-94]: A 1989 draft choice, Wortman was another tweener player. He inherited 34 from Miller after he was assigned to the AHL, and Wortman wore the number for five games in 1993-94.
- D Joel Bouchard [1994-96]: A 1992 draft choice, Bouchard ended up having a pretty solid NHL career, all things considered. He wore 34 during his first couple NHL recalls – two games in 1994-95 and one in 1995-96 – before switching to 5 after Corey Millen’s acquisition (and then to 6, for good, the following season after Tommy Albelin was acquired).
- F Corey Millen [1995-97]: Best remember by Flames fans as “that other guy” acquired from Dallas in the Jarome Iginla trade, Millen was assigned the number when he arrived in Calgary and used it until his departure after the 1996-97 season.
- F Jim Dowd [1997-98]: Signed as a free agent, Dowd wore 34 for the 1997-98 season. He was traded to Nashville after the season.
- D Stewart Malgunas [1999-2000]: Another tweener player, Malgunas was claimed by the Flames off waivers from Nashville a day after being traded to the Predators by Washington. He played a handful of games with the Flames, then left in free agency.
Kiprusoff’s #34 is the fourth number retired by the Flames, following Lanny McDonald’s #9, Mike Vernon’s #30 and Jarome Iginla’s #12. Al MacInnis’ #2 and Joe Nieuwendyk’s #25 were also honoured by the club via the Forever a Flame program.
In his speech, former Flames head coach and general manager Darryl Sutter was among those thanked by Kiprusoff. Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Kiprusoff explained what Sutter meant to him and his career.
“He means a lot. I learned a lot from him. He was coaching in San Jose and he traded me here. From him I learned what it really takes to be a starting goalie. It takes more. And I’m really thankful for Darryl and everything he did for me.”
If you missed the ceremony, our friends at Sportsnet 960 The Fan have it archived.
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