Ortio aims to be Flames' No. 1 goalie next season

The Calgary Flames made the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season with goaltenders Jonas Hiller and Karri Ramo splitting most of the starts in the regular season and all of them in two playoff series.

Joni Ortio started six games in the regular season and recently told the Flames website he feels he's ready to be a full-time NHL starter.

"No one wants to back up. Everyone wants to play," he said. "That's what I'll be looking to do next September in camp, trying to steal that No. 1 job."

Ortio, 24, went 4-2-0 with a 2.52 goals-against average, .908 save percentage and one shutout with the Flames. In 37 American Hockey League games with the Adirondack Flames, he went 21-13-1 with a 2.69 GAA, .912 save percentage and four shutouts and was voted the team's most valuable player.

Hiller, 33, started seven of the Flames' 11 playoff games, with a 2.61 GAA and .919 save percentage. Ramo started four of the seven games he played in the postseason and had a 2.86 GAA and .906 save percentage.

Hiller has one season remaining on his contract; Ramo will be unrestricted free agent if not signed before July 1.

Ortio, a sixth-round pick (No. 179) by the Flames in the 2009 NHL Draft, said he knows how hard he'll have to work during the summer.

"It's not just another season," he said. "It could, and hopefully is, my first full year in the NHL. I don't think there’s any bigger motivation than that."