As a child in Turku, Finland, Joni Ortio grew up watching hometown hero Miikka Kiprusoff live out a dream that took him from TPS to the Calgary Flames.
Now, Ortio has a chance to do exactly the same thing.
And the reality is he is the early favourite to finish the season just as ol’ Kipper did for so many years — as the Flames No. 1 goalie.
“That’s exactly what I’ve been working toward ever since I got drafted,” said the well-spoken 24-year-old who was selected in the sixth round of the 2009 NHL Draft.