Ken Dryden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Ken Dryden PC OC
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1983
Dryden in October 2023
Born	(1947-08-08) August 8, 1947 (age 77) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Montreal Canadiens
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	14th overall, 1964 Boston Bruins
Playing career	1970–1979

Kenneth Wayne Dryden (born August 8, 1947) is a famous Canadian person. He was a professional ice hockey goaltender (a goalie). He also worked as a politician, lawyer, businessman, and author.

Dryden is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also a Member of Parliament (a politician) from 2004 to 2011. During that time, he was the Minister of Social Development from 2004 to 2006. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players of all time.

Early Life and Education

Ken Dryden was born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1947. His parents were Murray Dryden and Margaret Campbell. He has a sister, Judy, and a brother, Dave, who was also an NHL goalie. Ken grew up in Islington, near Toronto.

In 1964, the Boston Bruins picked Dryden in the NHL draft. But a few days later, they traded him to the Montreal Canadiens. Dryden didn't even know he was drafted by the Bruins until years later!

Instead of playing right away, Dryden went to Cornell University. He studied history and played hockey there until 1969. He helped the Cornell Big Red team win a big championship in 1967. He won 76 of his 81 games in college!

Dryden also played for the Canadian amateur national team in 1969. He later took a break from the NHL in 1973-74 to study law. He earned his law degree from McGill University in 1973.

Cornell University honored Dryden by retiring his jersey number 1 in 2010. He is one of only two hockey players at Cornell to have their number retired.

Playing Career

Dryden started his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens on March 14, 1971. He won his first game 5-1. A few days later, he played against his brother Dave Dryden, who was a goalie for the Buffalo Sabres. This was the only time two brothers have faced each other as goalies in the NHL.

Dryden played only six regular-season games in 1971. But he played so well that he became the starting goalie for the playoffs. He helped the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup that year! He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the best player in the playoffs. This was amazing because he was still a rookie!

The next year, Dryden won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie. He is the only player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy before winning the rookie award. He also won the Stanley Cup before losing a regular-season game. He helped the Canadiens win five more Stanley Cups in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979.

In 1972, Dryden played for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series. This was a famous hockey series against the Soviet Union.

A replica Ken Dryden jersey at the Montreal Canadiens locker room display in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Dryden took a break from hockey for the entire 1973-74 season. He wasn't happy with his contract. He used that year to finish his law degree. When he returned, he continued his amazing career. He retired from hockey for good on July 9, 1979.

Dryden's NHL career was quite short, just over seven full seasons. But he was incredibly successful. He won 258 games, lost only 57, and had 74 ties in 397 games. He also had 46 shutouts. He won the Vezina Trophy five times. This award went to the goalie on the team that allowed the fewest goals.

In 1998, The Hockey News ranked him number 25 on their list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players. This is a huge honor for someone with a short career.

Dryden was very tall for a goalie, at 6 feet, 4 inches. He was known for leaning on his stick during breaks in play. People called him the "four-storey goalie." Boston Bruins star Phil Esposito once called him "that thieving giraffe" because of his height and skill.

Dryden was put into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. The Canadiens retired his jersey number 29 in 2007.

Post-Playing Career

Writing

Dryden wrote his first book, Face-Off at the Summit, during his hockey career. It was about the 1972 Canada vs. Soviet Union series.

After he retired from hockey, Dryden wrote several more books. His book The Game was very popular. It was even nominated for a major award in 1983. He also wrote Home Game: Hockey and Life in Canada (1990) with Roy MacGregor. This book was made into a TV show.

In 2019, he published Scotty: A Hockey Life Like No Other. This book is about his former Canadiens coach, Scotty Bowman. Dryden felt it was important to tell Bowman's unique story. He asked Bowman to pick the 8 greatest hockey teams of all time. Through talking about these teams, Bowman's own life story was shared.

Commentator

A statue of Dryden in his signature resting position in Saint-Laurent, Quebec.

Dryden also worked as a TV hockey commentator. He covered the Winter Olympics in 1980, 1984, and 1988. He was a commentator during the famous "Miracle on Ice" game in 1980.

Sports Executive

In 1997, Dryden became the president of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He later became the vice-chairman of the company that owns the Maple Leafs. He left this role in 2004 to enter politics.

Dryden also spoke at the Open Ice Summit in 1999. This meeting was about how to make Canadian hockey better. He stressed the importance of respecting game officials. He warned that Canada was losing many referees each year due to abuse. As a result, Hockey Canada started teaching players to respect officials.

Teaching

In 2012, Dryden became a "Special Visitor" at McGill University. He taught a course about Canada's future.

Political Career

Dryden joined the Liberal Party of Canada in 2004. He ran for a seat in the House of Commons (Canada's main law-making body). He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the area of York Centre.

He was then chosen to be a minister in the Canadian government. He became the Minister of Social Development. This job involves looking after programs for families and children.

Dryden was re-elected in 2006. Even though his party lost the election, he continued to serve as a Member of Parliament. He lost his seat in the 2011 election.

Leadership Bid

Dryden at the Rise Up for Canada Rally in April 2011.

In 2006, Dryden decided to run for the leader of the Liberal Party. He wanted to become the next Prime Minister of Canada. Many people thought he had a good chance because of his hockey fame.

However, he didn't get enough support and was eliminated early in the leadership race. He then supported Stéphane Dion, who eventually won the leadership.

Personal Life

Ken Dryden is the son of Margaret and Murray Dryden. He and his wife, Lynda, have two children and four grandchildren. His older brother, Dave, was also a goalie in the NHL. Ken is also related to other former NHL players, Murray Murdoch and Andrew Dryden Blair.

Awards and Honors

Dryden's hockey awards and honors are numerous and include:

Dryden has also received special honorary degrees from several universities, including:

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

See also

In Spanish: Ken Dryden para niños