Tributes are pouring in from across Canada and beyond after former Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden — a legend of Canadian hockey — died at the age of 78.
Prime Minister Mark Carney was one of the first to take to social media to share his condolences.
“Ken Dryden was the reason I became a goalie, although I never mastered his ability to lean on his stick let alone keep the puck out of the net,” Carney said in a post on X.
Carney said Dryden’s legacy went far beyond his Hall of Fame playing career, pointing to his balance of education, public service and sport as a model for Canadians.
“Few Canadians have given more, or stood taller, for our country,” the prime minister said. “Ken Dryden was Big Canada. And he was Best Canada. Rest in peace.”
A lawyer, author, politician and NHL executive, Dryden left an indelible mark across large swaths of wider Canadian society.
He won six Stanley Cups with the Habs during the team’s 1970s dynasty. He was also feted for helping backstop Canada’s generation-defining victory at the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union.
Legacy to inspire generations
Dryden retired from hockey in his early 30s before moving on to several other careers, including public service in Ottawa. He held the post of minister of social development from 2004 to 2006 under then-prime minister Paul Martin.
Geoff Molson, owner and president of the Montreal Canadiens, said Dryden was one of the “true legends” that helped shape the club into what it is today.
Former Montreal Canadiens greats, from left to right: Steve Shutt, Dryden and Bob Gainey take part in a ceremony to celebrate the team’s 100th anniversary, in Montreal on Dec. 4, 2009. (Shaun Best/Reuters)
“We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties, but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen, and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations,” Molson said.
“Ken embodied the best of everything the Montreal Canadiens are about, and his legacy within our society transcends our sport.”
NHL teams also joined in sharing their condolences on Saturday. The Vancouver Canucks said Dryden’s impact was “felt far beyond the crease,” saying he will be profoundly missed.
“On behalf of the entire Canucks organization, our players, staff and fans, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Ken’s family, friends and to all who admired him,” the team said in a statement posted on X. “His legacy will continue to inspire generations of hockey players and thinkers.”
The Los Angeles Kings said in a post on X that Dryden was a “giant both in hockey and in life, inspiring countless people and influencing change in profound ways that will forever be remembered.”
Dryden is survived by his wife, Lynda, and their two children.
The CurrentHow post-war Canada shaped hockey legend Ken Dryden
Ken Dryden is best known for his hockey career, but his new memoir The Class tells the story of living in post-war Canada — through the lens of his high school graduating class.