However, games in Milan, Italy, don’t begin until Feb. 11. This time around, the Calgary Flames are only sending one player to the tournament, Slovakia’s Martin Pospíšil, who has missed much of the 2025-26 season due to an injury.

It’s the sixth Olympics that NHL players have been able to play at, with the first one coming in 1998, In this edition of Flashback Friday, we’ll look at the Flames players who represented their country in 1998 and 2002, while next week we’ll look at Flames players at the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Olympics. The following Friday, we’ll look at former Flames who participated in the 2018 and 2022 Olympics, as NHL players didn’t attend those two Olympics.

1998 Olympics

The 1998 Winter Olympics were held in Nagano, Japan, and ran from Feb. 7-22. Although Team Canada was strong at the 1998 Olympics, they were defeated in the bronze medal game by Team Finland, while Team Czechia defeated Team Russia for the gold medal.

Only one Flame played for Team Canada at the 1998 Olympics, alternate captain Theoren Fleury. The Oxbow, Saskatchewan native scored a goal and three points in six games, with that goal being Team Canada’s opener at the tournament. He’d later play for Team Canada in the 2002 Olympics, although he was a New York Ranger by that point.

Two Flames players took home a silver medal: Valeri Bure and German Titov. Bure, Pavel Bure’s younger brother, scored a goal in the six games he played. That goal came in a 9-2 rout of Kazakhstan. Funnily enough, Titov scored his only goal in that same game, as it was the lone time he appeared on the stat sheet in the six games he played.

Lastly, two Flames players dressed for Team Sweden at the 1998 Olympics: defenceman Tommy Albelin and Michael Nylander. Both players were held pointless, with Nylander playing four games and Albelin three. It was a disappointing tournament for Team Sweden, as they lost to Team Finland in the quarterfinals.

2002 Olympics

Four years later, the 2002 Olympics were held in Salt Lake City from Feb. 9-24. This time, Team Canada found a way to win the gold medal, defeating Team USA in the gold medal game. In the bronze medal game, Russia defeated Belarus. This time around, the Flames only sent three players.

Chief among them was Jarome Iginla. Emerging as a superstar during the 2001-02 season, Iginla was a key figure in helping Team Canada win the gold medal, scoring twice and picking up an assist in the 5-2 win against Team USA. More on Iginla in next week’s article.

Roman Turek was named to Czechia’s roster, but didn’t appear for the team in a game during that Olympics. However, he did play for Czechia in the 1994 Olympics before NHLers were able to play. Dominik Hašek was Czechia’s starting netminder in the 2002 Olympics, as the reigning gold medalist fell to Russia in the quarterfinals, the same team they defeated for the gold medal in 1998.

Representing Russia was Igor Kravchuk, who had two assists in the six games that he played, the same point total he had during the 1998 Olympics. That season with the Flames, the defenceman had four goals and 26 points, but played just seven more NHL games in 2002-03. Kravchuk was a four-time Olympian, winning gold in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics, as well as silver in 1998.

Next week, we’ll look at Flames players who represented their country during the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Olympics.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Sponsored by bet365:

Editorials

Recent articles from Ryley Delaney

Flashback Friday: Looking at the Flames at the 1998 and 2002 Olympics

Flames prospect roundup: Theo Stockselius and Yan Matveiko play with senior teams

Flames roster news: Justin Kirkland clears waivers, assigned to Wranglers

1998 Olympics

2002 Olympics

Recent articles from Ryley Delaney

Breaking News