Legendary Ice Hockey Player Ken Dryden Passes Away At 78
Ken Dryden, a six-time Stanley Cup champion and legendary goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens, passed away at the age of 78, the team announced on Friday night.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1947 and raised in suburban Toronto, Dryden's hockey career began unconventionally. Instead of playing major junior, he pursued a college education at Cornell University, where he earned three first All-American team honors. His talent was recognized, and his rights were traded from the Boston Bruins to the Montreal Canadiens just days after being drafted.
In the 1970-71 season, Dryden joined the Canadiens late in the year. His impact was immediate, as he backstopped Montreal to the Stanley Cup and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. This performance earned him the rookie of the year honors the following year, with a 2.24 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.
Dryden went on to win four Stanley Cups in a row with the Canadiens before his retirement in 1979 at the age of 31. During his seven full NHL seasons, he earned five Vezina Trophies, an award given to the league's best goaltender. In 1983, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as soon as he was eligible.
Off the ice, Dryden was also a trailblazer. He authored the ahead-of-its-time book, 'The Game,' in 1983, which provided a unique insight into the world of professional hockey. After his retirement, he served as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team from 1997 to 2003. He also served as a member of parliament for Canada's Liberal Party between 2004 and 2011, including two years as Minister of Social Development from 2004-06.
The Dryden family is asking for privacy at this time. Those wishing to honor Ken Dryden's memory are encouraged to make a donation to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre or the Concussion Legacy Foundation. Dryden's number 29 was retired by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007, a testament to his lasting impact on the sport.
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