Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden, born on August 8, 1947, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, is a celebrated former professional ice hockey goaltender, renowned for his exceptional career in the NHL. He gained prominence while playing for the Montreal Canadiens, where he remarkably led the team to six Stanley Cup victories and earned multiple awards, including the Calder Memorial Trophy and the Vezina Trophy. Dryden's journey to stardom began in his youth, where he excelled in various sports, and culminated in his decision to attend Cornell University instead of immediately pursuing an NHL career. He combined athletics with academics, graduating with a law degree while playing collegiate hockey.
Beyond his athletic achievements, Dryden has made significant contributions off the ice, authoring several books and engaging in public service. He served as a Member of Parliament in Canada and held several ministerial positions within the government. His legacy as a player is complemented by his recognition in the Hockey Hall of Fame and honors such as being named an officer of the Order of Canada. Dryden's story exemplifies the potential for balancing academic and athletic pursuits, inspiring many young athletes in Canada and beyond.
Ken Dryden
- Born: August 8, 1947
- Place of Birth: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
SPORT: Ice hockey
Early Life
On August 8, 1947, Kenneth Wayne Dryden was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Murray Dryden, a successful businessman, and his wife, Margaret. Ken had a younger sister, Judy. His elder brother Dave, born in 1941, would become a professional hockey goalie for thirteen seasons with National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey League teams. In 1949, the family moved to metropolitan Toronto, settling in the Islington sector of Etobicoke in the western suburbs.
When Dryden was five, his parents bought a house with a large backyard. Dryden's father had part of this area paved and regulation goals installed at each end. Dryden and his brother manned the nets and got experience stopping flying tennis balls in neighborhood tournaments. Their father encouraged their participation in sports, faithfully attending their games and coaching and sponsoring youth teams. Academics, however, remained the top priority in the household.
The Road to Excellence
Dryden began playing organized ice hockey at seven years old. He was constantly playing with boys several years older as he progressed through each age division. In addition to hockey, he excelled in baseball and basketball. In 1963 Dryden joined the Etobicoke Indians of the Metro Toronto Junior B amateur hockey league. Considered the league’s best goalie, Dryden was drafted that same year by the Montreal Canadiens, who wanted him to play for the franchise’s Junior A Peterborough, Ontario, team. To the Canadiens’ surprise, he stayed with the local team so he could concentrate on doing well in grade thirteen, the most important school year for college preparation in Canada. In 1965, ignoring the advice of scouts, who believed he was discarding an NHL career opportunity, Dryden chose to attend Cornell University, an Ivy League school in New York, and play hockey for the college team.
At Cornell, Dryden excelled in the classroom and the rink. According to coach Ken Harkness, “Ken was a splendid student as a history major, a brilliant goaltender, and an excellent team player.” Dryden was an all-American selection in each of his three varsity seasons. Cornell lost only four of eighty-three games during this time with him at goal. He compiled a sensational average of 1.60 goals allowed per game. Some considered him to be the greatest goalie in the history of college hockey. Montreal still had the rights to Dryden, and the Canadiens’ interest in him revived when he graduated in 1969.
The Emerging Champion
Following graduation, Dryden married Lynda Curran, a Cornell student. Again, he spurned the Canadiens by joining Canada’s national team so he could study law in Winnipeg, the team’s home base. After this amateur team folded in midseason, the Canadiens gave Dryden an opportunity to combine law school and hockey the next season in Montreal. He attended classes at McGill University while practicing once a week and playing mostly home games with the AHL Montreal Voyageurs. Near the close of the 1970–71 season, the Canadiens called him up to its top club. Montreal surprised the hockey world when Dryden, with only six games of NHL experience, started their first game of Stanley Cup playoff action against highly favored Boston. The Bruins won 3–1, but Dryden played well. In game two, with Dryden again at goal, Montreal fell behind 5–1 but managed a stunning 7–5 comeback victory. The team’s confidence surged.
As the series progressed, Ken’s great skill became evident. At 6 feet 4 inches and 210 pounds, he nearly filled the goal opening. His 83-inch reach and tremendous catching hand repeatedly stopped seemingly sure goals. The deciding seventh game in Boston was a one-man spectacle. The Canadiens triumphed 4–2, as Dryden withstood a forty-eight-shot barrage. Even when caught far off position, his big glove came from nowhere to make unbelievable saves. Boston forwards who raised their sticks, anticipating a successful shot, ended by gesturing in disbelief when they were robbed of goals. Bruins star Phil Esposito declared it was Dryden who beat his team.
Behind Dryden's continued strong performance, Montreal went on to beat the Minnesota North Stars in the semifinal round. They then defeated their archrival Chicago Blackhawks in an exciting seven-game series to win the Stanley Cup in a historic upset. Dryden was named the Most Valuable Player for the playoffs. The next season, Dryden proved that this showing was no fluke. He earned the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie, with an average of 2.24 goals allowed per game and 8 shutouts.
Continuing the Story
The scholarly goaltender grew to become a unique NHL superstar. Dryden spent the summer of 1971 doing volunteer work for consumer advocate Ralph Nader’s organization. He enlisted other athletes in a campaign to clean up polluted waterways. Dividing time between studies and hockey was difficult, but Dryden completed his law degree in December 1972.
In the nets, “the human octopus” continued to frustrate opponents. After assisting Team Canada’s difficult "Summit Series" victory over the Soviet Union in September 1972, Dryden went on to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender of 1972–73. In another surprising move, he sat out 1973–74 after a contract dispute, working as a law clerk. Montreal offered more money the next year, and he performed respectably, although below previous standards. Over the next five seasons, however, Dryden regained his superior form in both the regular season and the playoffs. In 1978, a computer selected him as hockey’s best player.
The following season, however, Dryden found himself blinking at slap shots and enjoying hockey less. Still in his prime as a superstar, he retired in 1979. Playing seven full NHL seasons, he won or shared five Vezina Trophies. His career 2.24 goals against average was one of the best in NHL history. During his eight postseason playoffs, the Canadiens won six Stanley Cups. In 1983, Dryden was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Dryden's success in hockey extended to his life off the ice. In the years after his retirement, Ken authored several books, served as educator-in-residence at the University of Toronto’s faculty of education, and, along with Al Michaels, served as a commentator during Team USA’s “Miracle on Ice” against the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
In 1996 Dryden returned to the NHL as the president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs—a position he held until 2003. His next career move was to enter Canadian politics. He was named the Minister of Human Resources Development from 2004 to 2005, the Minister of Social Development from 2005 to 2006, and a member of Prime Minister Paul Martin’s cabinet. In 2004 Dryden became a member of the Canadian parliament as the representative for York Centre, a federal and provincial electoral district. In 2006, he made a bid for the top leadership position of the Canadian Liberal Party before falling short. He remained a Member of Parliament until 2011.
In 2013, Dryden was named officer of the Order of Canada. He was recognized with this honor for his contributions to the Canadian nation as a hockey player and lawyer. In 2017, he was recognized by the NHL as one of the hundred greatest players in league history. He was named an honoree of the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2020.
Summary
Ken Dryden was one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history. Moreover, he proved that scholastic achievement and sports need not be kept separate. In a sport where many Canadian youths quit school in pursuit of a professional career, Ken’s success illustrates the possibility of balancing academic and athletic pursuits.
Bibliography
Boswell, Randy and Jck Jedwab. "‘One of the Most Important Moments in Canada’s History’: Hockey Legend Ken Dryden." National Post, 23 Aug. 2022, nationalpost.com/news/canada/one-of-the-most-important-moments-in-canadas-history-hockey-legend-ken-dryden-tells-all. Accessed 18 June 2024.
Boyd, Melissa. "Canadiens’ Ken Dryden – Truly One of a Kind." The Hockey Writers, 8 Aug. 2023, hehockeywriters.com/canadiens-dryden-one-of-a-kind/. Accessed 18 June 2024.
Coffey, Wayne. "Ken Dryden: 100 Greatest NHL Players." NHL, 1 Jan. 2017, www.nhl.com/news/ken-dryden-100-greatest-nhl-hockey-players/c-285637088. Accessed 5 Mar. 2020.
Dryden, Ken. The Game. Wiley, 2005.
Dryden, Ken, and Roy MacGregor. Home Game: Hockey and Life in Canada. McClelland & Stewart, 2006.
"Ken Dryden - 2020 Order of Hockey in Canada Honouree." Order of Hockey in Canada, 2020, www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/corporate/awards/order-hockey-canada/honourees/ken-dryden. Accessed 5 Mar. 2020.
Marsh, James H. “Ken Dryden.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 1 May 2015, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dryden-kenneth-ken-wayne. Accessed 31 Mar. 2017.