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Kenneth (Ken) Wayne Dryden, hockey player, lawyer, politician (born at Hamilton, Ont 8 Aug 1947). Ken Dryden played at Cornell University and turned professional with the Montreal Voyageurs of the AHL in 1970. After only 6 regular-season games in the NHL, he played the entire 1970-71 playoffs with the MONTREAL CANADIENS. His outstanding play brought the Canadiens an unexpected Stanley Cup and won him the CONN SMYTHE TROPHY.
His record over eight NHL seasons to his retirement in 1978-79 (he sat out 1973-74 in a contract dispute) was the most consistent of any modern goalie. He recorded a 2.24 goals-against average and 46 shutouts in regular season play and a 2.40 average and 10 shutouts in 112 playoff games. He won the CALDER TROPHY (1972) and the VÉZINA TROPHY (1973 and 1976, and shared 1977, 1978 and 1979) and was first all-star goalie five times. Following retirement, he worked briefly for an American network, ABC, as a hockey commentator at the 1980, 1984 and 1988 OLYMPIC GAMES. He served as the president and general manager of the TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS from 1997 to 2004.
Dryden was Ontario's first Youth Commissioner from 1984 to 1986, and in 1986 issued a report recommending improved job training for youth. In 1985 a bronze statue of the former goalie was unveiled in Saint-Laurent, Qué, showing him in his familiar pose, leaning on his stick. Dryden has published two books on hockey that are unique among books on his sport for their literate reflectiveness: The Game (1983), widely regarded as the best hockey book ever written, and Home Game (1989). He has also written The Moved and the Shaken (1993) and In School (1995). Dryden continues to be recognized for his contribution to hockey: he was inducted into the HOCKEY HALL OF FAME in 1983; received honorary doctorates from the UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA; UNIVERSITY OF WINDSOR, YORK UNIVERSITY, MCMASTER UNIVERSITY and ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY; and had his number (29) retired by the Canadiens in January 2007.
Dryden entered politics in 2004 when he successfully ran as a LIBERAL PARTY candidate in the Toronto riding of York Centre. He was subsequently named Minister of Social Development in the new Cabinet led by Paul MARTIN, a position he held until the Liberals' defeat in 2006. When Martin announced his decision to step down as party leader, Dryden emerged as one of eight candidates running for the leadership at the 2006 Liberal leadership convention, but he was ultimately defeated on the second ballot. Liberal leader Stéphane DION later named Dryden as the chair of the caucus's newly created social justice committee. Dryden ran again in the 2011 election but lost his seat to a CONSERVATIVE PARTY member.
In 2013 Dryden was made and officer of the ORDER OF CANADA for his contributions to Canadian life as a hockey player, lawyer and public servant.
