Ken Dryden obit

The Montreal Canadiens mourn the passing of Ken Dryden

Hall-of-Fame goaltender won six Stanley Cups with the team

 He was not on the list.

MONTREAL – The entire Montreal Canadiens organization was saddened to learn of the passing of Ken Dryden, who passed away peacefully on Friday at the age of 78 after a courageous battle with cancer.

"Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man. Behind the mask he was larger than life. We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties, but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen, and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations. He was one of the true legends that helped shape this Club into what it is today”, said Geoff Molson, Owner and President of the Montreal Canadiens. “Ken embodied the best of everything the Montreal Canadiens are about, and his legacy within our society transcends our sport. On behalf of the Molson family and our entire organization, I would like to extend my most heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and all who had the privilege to cross his path and know him on a personal level.”

Born on August 8, 1947, Dryden made his NHL goaltending debut with the Canadiens during the 1970-71 season, playing six regular-season games and winning them all. The Hamilton, ON native then led the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final, winning hockey’s ultimate prize in his very first NHL postseason. Dryden posted a 12-8 record in 20 playoff games in addition to winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded annually to the most valuable player to his team during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

While Dryden’s first steps in the NHL were spectacular, the remainder of his career was even more unique. He won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in his first full season of 1971-72. He would then dominate the opposition for a decade, adding five more Stanley Cups with the Canadiens for a total of six in the 1970s. He won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender five times: in 1972-73 and then in four consecutive seasons, from 1975-76 to 1978-79. He would retire in 1979 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983; he received the ultimate honor from the Canadiens organization when his No. 29 was retired on January 29, 2007.

Author of a book, “The Game”, and co-author of another, “Home Game: Hockey and life in Canada”, away from the ice Dryden also served as Minister of Social Development under Prime Minister Paul Martin between 2004 and 2005. His passion for improving social living conditions influenced much of his work, and he was awarded the Order of Canada in 2012.

The Dryden family is asking for privacy at this time. At their suggestion, those wishing to honor Ken’s memory are encouraged to make a donation to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, or the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

The Canadiens extend their deepest condolences to Ken’s family, friends and loved ones. His unique personality, incredible intellect and legendary career will allow him to be forever remembered as one of the great winners of his generation.

He was elected as member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. Thereafter, Dryden served as a Liberal Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011 and was appointed Minister of Social Development from 2004 to 2006 for which he named as an Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2017, the NHL commemorated him as one of the league's 100 Greatest Players. He received the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2020.

Dryden was born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1947. His parents were Murray Dryden (1911–2004) and Margaret Adelia Campbell (1912–1985). He has a sister, Judy, and a brother, Dave, who was also an NHL goaltender. Dryden was raised in Islington, Ontario, then a suburb of Toronto. He played with the Etobicoke Indians of the Metro Junior B Hockey League as well as Humber Valley Packers of the Metro Toronto Hockey League.

Dryden was drafted fourteenth overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1964 NHL Amateur Draft.[6] Days later, on June 28, Boston traded Dryden, along with Alex Campbell, to the Montreal Canadiens for Paul Reid and Guy Allen. Dryden was told by his agent that he had been drafted by the Canadiens and did not find out until the mid-1970s that he had been drafted by the Bruins.

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season                        Playoffs

Season Team   League GP       W        L          T          MIN    GA      SO       GAA   SV%    GP       W        L            MIN    GA      SO       GAA   SV%

1963–64          Humber Valley Packers           MTHL —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —            —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —

1964–65          Etobicoke Indians       MetJHL           —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —            —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —

1966–67          Cornell University       ECAC 27        26        0          1          1646    40        4          1.46     .945            —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —

1967–68          Cornell University       ECAC 29        25        2          0          1620    41        6          1.52     .938            —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —

1968–69          Cornell University       ECAC 27        25        2          0          1578    47        3          1.79     .936            —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —

1970–71          Montreal Voyageurs    AHL    33        16        7          8          1899    84        3          2.68     —            —        —        —        —        —        —        —        —

1970–71          Montreal Canadiens    NHL    6          6          0          0          327      9          0          1.65     .957            20        12        8          1221    61        0          3.00     .914

1971–72          Montreal Canadiens    NHL    64        39        8          15        3800    142      8          2.24     .930            6          2          4          360      17        0          2.83     .911

1972–73          Montreal Canadiens    NHL    54        33        7          13        3165    119      6          2.26     .926            17        12        5          1039    50        1          2.89     .908

1974–75          Montreal Canadiens    NHL    56        30        9          16        3320    149      4          2.69     .906            11        6          5          688      29        2          2.53     .916

1975–76          Montreal Canadiens    NHL    62        42        10        8          3580    121      8          2.03     .927            13        12        1          780      25        1          1.92     .929

1976–77          Montreal Canadiens    NHL    56        41        6          8          3275    117      10        2.14     .920            14        12        2          849      22        4          1.55     .932

1977–78          Montreal Canadiens    NHL    52        37        7          7          3071    105      5          2.05     .921            15        12        3          919      29        2          1.89     .920

1978–79          Montreal Canadiens    NHL    47        30        10        7          2814    108      5          2.30     .909            16        12        4          990      41        0          2.48     .900

NHL totals       397      258      57        74        23,330 870      46        2.24     .922     112      80        32        6,846            274      10        2.40     .915

International

Year     Team   Event               GP       W        L          T          MIN    GA      SO       GAA

1969    Canada            WC      2          1          1          0          120      4          1          2.00

1972    Canada            SS        4          2          2          0          240      19        0          4.75

Senior totals    6          3          3          0          360      23        1          3.83