Ken Dryden

Ken Dryden
Dryden in 2011
Born(1947-08-08)August 8, 1947
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
DiedSeptember 5, 2025(2025-09-05) (aged 78)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma materCornell University (BA)
McGill University (LLB)
Occupations
  • Athlete
  • lawyer
  • teacher
  • writer
  • politician
  • sports commentator
  • businessperson
Political partyLiberal
SpouseLynda Dryden
Ice hockey career
Hockey Hall of Fame, 1983
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
Member of Parliament
for York Centre
In office
2004–2011
Preceded byArt Eggleton
Succeeded byMark Adler

Kenneth Wayne "Ken" Dryden, PC OC, (August 8, 1947 – September 5, 2025) was a Canadian NHL goaltender and politician. Born in Hamilton, Ontario,[1] on August, 8 1947, Dryden was originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1964. Rather than play in Boston, Dryden decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree at Cornell University, where he also played hockey until his graduation in 1969.

At Cornell, Dryden led his team to the 1967 NCAA championship and three consecutive ECAC tournament championships. Ken Dryden made his NHL debut in 1970 for the Montreal Canadians, and became the backbone of six Stanley Cup winning teams in the 1970s. Dryden played from 1970 to 1979 (excluding the 1973-74 season when he retired to pursue the requirements for his law degree) and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. After retiring from hockey Dryden became an author and business man. His 1983 book The Game was a commercial and critical success being nominated for a Governor General's Award, the book was about the pressures of being a goalie in the NHL. He then became president of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club in 1997.[2]

Dryden was the member of the Canadian Parliament for York Centre from 2004 to 2011. He was the Minister of Social Development from 2004 to 2006 for which he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada.[3]

Dryden died from cancer on September 5, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario at the age of 78.[4][2]

References

  1. Cole, Stephen (2006). The Canadian Hockey Atlas. Doubleday Canada. ISBN 978-0-385-66093-8.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Labbé, Richard (6 September 2025). "Un de plus grand gardiens de l'histoire s'eteint" [One of the greatest goalkeepers in history dies]. La Presse (in French). Montreal. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  3. "Appointments to the Order of Canada". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  4. "The Montreal Canadiens mourn the passing of Ken Dryden". Montreal Canadiens. 2025-09-06. Retrieved 2025-09-06 – via NHL.com.

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