Ken Dryden, the towering Canadian goaltender perhaps known just as much for his off-ice accomplishments as his staggering on-ice accomplishments, today passed away from cancer at the age of 78.

Following an illustrious collegiate career at Cornell, including a 1967 NCAA title, Dryden was initially drafted as an amateur by Boston in the 1964 NHL Draft, but quickly traded to the Montréal Canadiens, but Dryden would not join the Habs until 1971, pursuing a collegiate diploma and career at Cornell, where he would amass a ludicrous 76-5 record, three ECAC Championships, and the NCAA title in 1967. Joining the Canadiens late in the 1970-71 season following an injury to starter Rogatien Vachon, Dryden served as the hot hand into the playoffs, leading the Canadiens to a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy honours as playoff MVP, despite playing just 20 playoff and only six regular season games. Dryden would win Rookie of the Year honours the following season, and would lead the Canadiens to five more Stanley Cups, including four straight between 1976-79. Despite skipping the 1973-74 season to pursue a legal degree, and ending his career after just eight pro seasons at 31 years old, Dryden would still win five Vezina Trophies as top goaltender, and garner five All-Star nods, leaving the game with a 258-57-74 record and .922 save percentage in 397 career games with the Canadiens, along with an 80-32 record in 112 playoff games, making the postseason in every season. Dryden was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, the NHL 100 in 2017, and received the Order of Canada in 2020.

A Toronto native, Dryden first suited up for Team Canada following his collegiate career at the 1969 World Championships in Stockholm, then joining the Canadian touring team which participated in the infamous winter 1969-70 tour that Canada abruptly dropped out of, following their withdrawal from international play in January 1970. When Canada made its return to international hockey at the best-on-best Summit Series against the Soviet Union in September 1972, Dryden, then an NHL sophomore (but already with a Stanley Cup to his name), was named one of three goalies (along with Tony Esposito and Eddie Johnston) to Team Canada, with Dryden and Esposito splitting the series with four games each. Dryden held a 2-2 record, losing games in Montréal and Vancouver before pulling out victories in Moscow in Games Six and Eight, the latter stopping 36 shots en route to Canada’s stunning game and series victory.

Following his career, Dryden pursued a number of other careers, including in law, business, education and politics, serving as a member of Canadian parliament from 2004-11. He would still stay close to hockey, writing books on the sport (including 1983’s The Game), and served as a hockey commentator at the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics, sharing the booth alongside Al Michaels for the legendary “do you believe in miracles?” call at the “Miracle On Ice” in Lake Placid. Dryden would serve as Team President of his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs from 1997-2003, resigning to enter politics.

Our condolences go out to the Dryden family, as well as the extended hockey community across Canada, on the loss of this monumental hockey, and Canadian, icon.

Photo Credit: Getty Images – IIHF – HHOF – IOC