Miikka Kiprusoff - International Career

International Career

Kiprusoff made his international debut with the Finnish junior team at the 1994 European Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he played in three games. He was a member of the team at the 1995 and 1996 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where Finland finished fourth and sixth respectively. He first played with the senior team at the 1999 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships where he recorded a 1.16 Goals against average in four games to help Finland win the silver medal. He rejoined the team for the 2001 tournament, again leading the Finns to a silver medal.

He was offered a spot on the Finnish team for the 2002 Winter Olympics, but declined citing a desire to focus on his professional career in North America. Kiprusoff was named the starting goaltender for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and earned a shutout against the Czech Republic. He posted four wins and a tie, including a second shutout, and a 1.18 GAA to lead the upstart Finns into the championship game against Canada. In spite of his 30 saves, the Finns were defeated by Canada 3–2. Kiprusoff did not play his best game in the final according to head coach Raimo Summanen, though he expressed pride in his team's effort.

Kiprusoff again declined an invitation to play at the 2006 Winter Olympics citing the need to rest a hip injury. His announcement generated considerable controversy in Finland where the fact that he did not miss a game with the Flames due to the injury led some to question if he was injured at all. Country-mate Teemu Selänne questioned the goaltender's lack of interest in playing for the national team, a comment that stung Kiprusoff. When considered to play for the Finns at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, he said he would join the team, but only if he felt healthy and if he was named the starting goaltender for the team. Kiprusoff was named the starter and allowed only four goals in his team's first four games, leading the Finns to a semifinal game against the United States. The Americans blitzed Kiprusoff early in the game as he gave up four goals on seven shots in the first minutes of the game before being replaced in net by Niklas Bäckström. He returned to the net for the bronze medal game, leading Finland to a 5–3 victory.