https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/former-canadiens-goalie-ken-dryden-passes-away-at-age-78/
Wow that's sad. A great man. If you haven't read The Game, do so.
wow. lighting a candle for him tonight.
Just saw it on The Guardian.
A truly great man.
RIP.
A fine man. A life well lived.
I hadn't realized he was color commentator alongside Al Michaels for the miracle on ice, nor that he was president of the Maple Leafs the last two times they reached the conference finals. RIP
I also did not realize his career save percentage (.922) is tied for the highest in NHL history. Doesn't get enough acknowledgement in the GOAT goalie debate. He retired in his prime, at 31, because he wanted to pursue other things.
Hard to believe. RIP Ken.
A couple of memories — Freshman couldn't play on the varsity when Ken was at Cornell. In a freshman game, where we completely outclassed our opponent, Pop Harkness (Ned's dad and freshman coach, for you youngsters) had Ken skate as a forward - it was very apparent why he was a goal tender! A too tall and very ungainly skater, but a lightening quick glove hand in goal.
After our 1967 NCAA Championship, Jim Hyla and I, along with two other friends, put together a scrapbook that we presented to Ned at the hockey banquet. Ken commented to us that we must be engineers, because we included a game by player matrix showing goals and assists. BTW, I was a math major (close enough), but my three friends were engineers, although all became physicians. After the banquet, Ken passed around a hockey stick, got autographs of most of his teammates and presented it to us.
I also remember listening to his first game with the Habs on the radio, while driving someplace. Just don't ask me what I had for lunch yesterday.
RIP to the GOAT of 70's goaltending, an absolute legend at Cornell and in the NHL.
All-ECAC First Team 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69
AHCA East All-American 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69
ECAC Hockey All-Tournament First Team 1967, 1968, 1969
NCAA All-Tournament First Team 1967
NCAA All-Tournament Second Team 1968, 1969
Conn Smythe Trophy winner 1971
Calder Memorial Trophy winner 1972
Vezina Trophy winner 1973, 1976, 1977*, 1978*, 1979* * Shared with Michel Larocque.
Stanley Cup champion 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
Playing NHL All-Star Games 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978
Selected to NHL First All-Star Team 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979.
Selected to NHL Second All-Star Team 1972
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame 1983
Number 26 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players 1998
His Number 29 retired by the Montreal Canadiens January 29, 2007
His number 1 retired by the Cornell February 25, 2010
Recipient of the Order of Hockey in Canada
superb book, RIP, Ken
Quote from: BearLoverI hadn't realized he was color commentator alongside Al Michaels for the miracle on ice, nor that he was president of the Maple Leafs the last two times they reached the conference finals. RIP
Dryden will always be known for the follow up to Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" ... Dryden: "Unbelievable"
He's also prominently heard right before Eruzione's game winner ... "The U.S. team is relying too much on Jim Craig, he's had to make too many big saves" -- BOOM, Eruzione scores.
His book -- not ghost written -- "The Game" is quite simply the best sports book I ever read.
Quote from: adamwQuote from: BearLoverI hadn't realized he was color commentator alongside Al Michaels for the miracle on ice, nor that he was president of the Maple Leafs the last two times they reached the conference finals. RIP
Dryden will always be known for the follow up to Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" ... Dryden: "Unbelievable"
He's also prominently heard right before Eruzione's game winner ... "The U.S. team is relying too much on Jim Craig, he's had to make too many big saves" -- BOOM, Eruzione scores.
His book -- not ghost written -- "The Game" is quite simply the best sports book I ever read.
He also makes an appearance in Miracle when they show the original footage at the beginning of the USSR game.
An extremely accomplished person. Ken Dryden defines class, grace and a life well-lived.
My thoughts are with all of his family and friends.
He was Cornell's and hockey's answer to Bill Bradley. But the obituary does not mention how his friendship with Art Kaminsky '68 (https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/07/sports/hockey/art-kaminsky-top-agent-for-hockey-players-dies-at-66.html) revolutionized the money side of professional hockey.
Very sad. RIP, Big Kid!
His last book was quite interesting too
https://www.amazon.com/Class-Memoir-Place-Time-Us/dp/0771009232
all that and a rare undefeated season
Quote from: ugarteall that and a rare undefeated season
Who could ever forget?
ESPN (https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/46171948/hall-fame-canadiens-goaltender-ken-dryden-dies-age-78) story on Ken. So much more than just a hockey player.
Quote from: ugarteall that and a rare undefeated season
You knew somebody would say it, didn't you?
Quote from: Jeff Hopkins '82Quote from: ugarteall that and a rare undefeated season
You knew somebody would say it, didn't you?
Reading his obituary I realized that I have no memory of Ken Dryden's face, replaced by his 1970s white goalie mask.
To me his only real loss, and the world's as well, was in the 2006 Liberal Party leadership convention, which would have placed him in line to be PM.
His priorities reflect his values, I hope acquired or enforced in his time at Cornell:
Quote from: Ken Dryden"Learning is at the core of our future—for a person, a society, an economy, a country," Dryden said. "Learning is our only real security, our only real opportunity, and this program, years in the hoping, was the first big step towards truly lifelong learning."
In my heart I know I shouldn't post this for the reccord: in 1967 Ken Dryden did not lose a game, although he tied BU in the Boston Arena Christmas tournament.
Unfortunataly Dave Quarrie played a game against Yale, which he lost:
QuoteWith BU and Cornell now tied atop the ECAC standing with no more games between the two neither could afford to slip much if they wanted to win the ECAC championship. The Big Red headed home for their next game against Yale and welcomed back David Quarrie in net for his first game since being injured. Though his ankle had not been badly hurt it was the otherworldly play of Dryden that kept Quarrie out of the net. In Quarrie's return to action he didn't play poorly but he wasn't able to overcome his team's defensive lapses, bad penalties and inability to score when they had their opportunities. Even worse was a second period goal that was waved off by the referee that could have given Cornell the game. It was, however, two power play goals by Yale in the third period put the Bulldogs ahead but with less than five minutes remaining Sophomore Ted Coviello tied the game at 3–3. Despite outshooting Yale 112 to 49 in the contest Cornell was unable to earn a fourth goal and it was Yale's Jack Morrison who scored the game winner at 6:09 of extra time.[10]
In 1970 Cornell backstopped by Brian Cropper went 29-0.
Dryden wrote a line that I have never forgotten about the waning seconds of a Cornell game in the ECACs at the Garden. Paraphrased: "I was able to experience something which almost never happens to an athlete because of the pace and attention of the game. I was able to experience victory as it was happening."
This is something I try to keep in my mind in general. Steal moments in the now; appreciate life and be present.
I remember him talking about this in the Game, about one of his Stanley cup wins. They were up enough in the final game to be able to actually enjoy it. Really special.
Ken Dryden
Ithaca Journal report on the Varsity-Frosh game November 5, 1965. Red Cub Puck Potential Evident (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ithaca-journal-red-cub-puck-potentia/180574188/)
QuoteAnd the Big Red has a whale of a Frosh goalie.
NHL dot com Ken Dryden tribute. (https://www.nhl.com/video/nhl100-ken-dryden-6337219944112)
Quote from: David HardingIthaca Journal report on the Varsity-Frosh game November 5, 1965. Red Cub Puck Potential Evident (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ithaca-journal-red-cub-puck-potentia/180574188/)
QuoteAnd the Big Red has a whale of a Frosh goalie.
Earl Tufford?
most people forget how good he was winning 6 cups in 8 yrs and retiring much like Jum Brown so early.
Interesting tribute to Ken Dryden from a Penn State perspective:
statecollege.com/articles/columns/rip-ken-dryden-penn-state-hockey-thanks-you/
Quote from: jkahnInteresting tribute to Ken Dryden from a Penn State perspective:
statecollege.com/articles/columns/rip-ken-dryden-penn-state-hockey-thanks-you/
What a nice remembrance. Thank you for sharing.
Quote from: jkahnInteresting tribute to Ken Dryden from a Penn State perspective:
statecollege.com/articles/columns/rip-ken-dryden-penn-state-hockey-thanks-you/
Amazing perseverance! Thank you for the link.
The NY Times published its obituary (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/sports/hockey/ken-dryden-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lE8.vgnB.C_KtcAmAYKPR&smid=url-share) on Dryden today. I loved the anecdote about how pissed off Phil Esposito was after Dryden stoned him during the Stanley Cup finals.
Quote from: dbilmesThe NY Times published its obituary (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/sports/hockey/ken-dryden-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lE8.vgnB.C_KtcAmAYKPR&smid=url-share) on Dryden today. I loved the anecdote about how pissed off Phil Esposito was after Dryden stoned him during the Stanley Cup finals.
"You thieving giraffe!"
There is no possibility Phil Esposito ever strung more than 2 words together without an F bomb.
Quote from: adamwQuote from: BearLoverI hadn't realized he was color commentator alongside Al Michaels for the miracle on ice, nor that he was president of the Maple Leafs the last two times they reached the conference finals. RIP
Dryden will always be known for the follow up to Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" ... Dryden: "Unbelievable"
He's also prominently heard right before Eruzione's game winner ... "The U.S. team is relying too much on Jim Craig, he's had to make too many big saves" -- BOOM, Eruzione scores.
His book -- not ghost written -- "The Game" is quite simply the best sports book I ever read.
Ken Dryden is Cornell's Bill Bradley. Or vice versa.
They each missed out on the top job. They each would have been better than the one who took it.
Quote from: TrotskyThey each missed out on the top job. They each would have been better than the one who took it.
+1