Dustin Wolf is giving the Calgary Flames a little dose of early-2000s nostalgia.
With the team rolling out a throwback jersey that recalls its 2004 Stanley Cup Final look, Wolf decided to match the moment in the crease. The rookie goaltender showed up to practice on Saturday wearing a vintage-inspired set of gear modeled after Miikka Kiprusoff’s old setup, right down to a new mask that puts Kiprusoff’s flaming skull front and center.
The Flames’ throwback sweater is set to make its on-ice debut next Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings, and Wolf is expected to be in the spotlight again when the new look hits the Saddledome.
Wolf said the idea came together naturally once he saw what Calgary planned to wear this season.
“When I seen and heard about the jerseys we were going to wear this year, I tried to pull some inspiration from the past,” Wolf said. “I thought it was a pretty easy replica to find exactly what he was wearing in ’04.
“He’s such a big presence in this city, and obviously his number is hanging from the rafters… I just tried to find pictures of exactly what he was wearing with those exact jerseys.”
He added that the group got the green light from Kiprusoff’s former helmet artist to bring the design back to life, and said he still hasn’t spoken with Kiprusoff himself. Wolf hopes that changes sometime this season.
Kiprusoff’s place in Flames history is already secure. His number was raised to the rafters in 2024, making him the second goaltender in franchise history to receive the honor after Mike Vernon. He also remains the club’s all-time leader in wins with 305, shutouts with 41 and games played with 576.
For Calgary, the timing of Wolf’s tribute comes amid a rough opening stretch. The Flames are 1-6-0 and looking for any spark they can find, and the young netminder will try to bring a little Kiprusoff feel to a season that needs one in a hurry.
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