Miikka Kiprusoff made the trip back to Calgary from Finland on Friday to honour a man who was part of some of the most memorable years of his NHL career.
The former Calgary Flames goaltender was among those in attendance for Peter Maher’s celebration of life on Aug. 21, a week after the legendary broadcaster passed away on Aug. 13.
Credit: Bryan Wilson - THNMaher became the inaugural radio voice of the Flames in 1980 and spent 33 consecutive seasons behind the microphone, calling 2,954 games. For generations of Calgary fans, his voice became synonymous with Flames hockey.
For Kiprusoff, that connection was more personal.
Maher called many of those games with Kiprusoff in the crease. The two travelled together with the Flames over the years, giving Kiprusoff plenty of time to get to know and respect the man behind the microphone.
That relationship was enough to bring Kiprusoff halfway around the world to Calgary to say goodbye.
“A long history with Peter,” Kiprusoff told the media. “He was here a long time, and a long time when I was here too, so I always had big respect (for) him. He was a great guy, so I wanted to be here.”
Kiprusoff was a legend in his own right during his time in Calgary, helping turn the Flames into a contender and backstopping the franchise to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final.
Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY SportsAt the peak of his career, Kiprusoff was one of the NHL’s best goaltenders. In 2005-06, he earned the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender and the Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed.
By the time he retired from the game, Kiprusoff had established himself as the franchise leader in nearly every major goaltending category, including wins (305), shutouts (41), goals-against average (2.46) and save percentage (.913).
Maher was there for much of it, calling Kiprusoff’s biggest saves and some of the most memorable moments of the Flames’ era.
On Friday, it was Kiprusoff’s turn to be there for Maher.
