Former NHLer reveals Flames goaltender pretended to not speak English for years

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Ryan Hall
July 22, 2024 (9:44 PM)

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During the recent episode of the Spittin Chiclets podcast, Ryan Whitney and Paul Bissonnette heard a hilarious story about former Flames goalie Mikka Kiprusoff from Clint Malarchuk.

Malarchuk worked for the Calgary Flames as their goalie coach when he was hired in 2011. He told both hosts that then coach Bob Hartley and Kiprusoff hated one another. Marlarchuk also revealed that during Kiprusoff's time with San Jose's farm team that Kiprusoff pretended not to speak English for two straight years as he wanted to avoid speaking to his coach and the media.

«Miikka pretended he couldn't speak English for two years because he didn't
want to talk to the coach.»

Kiprusoff had a great career as an NHL goalie as he played for two teams which were the San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames. He was a steady hand in front of the net, and he took the Flames to the Stanley Cup finals back in 2003-04.

Besides the funny story, both hosts took a serious tone and were fascinated to ask Malarchuk questions regarding the most gruesome injury in NHL history which almost took his life back on March 22nd, 1989.

During the game between the Buffalo Sabres and the St Louis Blues, Malarchuk suffered a cut against his throat which severed his carotid artery and partially damaged his jugular vein.

His life was saved by the Sabres athletic trainer Jim Pizzuetti who was a former U.S. Army combat medic who used his skills to save his life. Malarchuk continues to suffer from PTSD and has seeked help while battling this issue.

On the lighter side, it seems no matter what happened, Malarchuk and Kiprusoff had a great working relationship and both men had a lot of fun.