Ken Dryden Was Hockey's Renaissance Man

 

I just learned that Ken Dryden passed away yesterday of cancer at the age of 78. 

Dryden was first and foremost a hockey player and not just any hockey player. He was among the greatest goalies to ever take the ice.

In an 8-year career with the Montreal Canadiens, Dryden was part of six Stanley Cup winning teams earning five Vezina Trophies as the best goaltender in the league before retiring at the age of 31.  

During his hockey career, Dryden attended law school at McGill University even sitting out a season to article at the prestigious Canadian law firm of Osler Hoskin & Harcourt.

After ending his time on the ice, Dryden wrote 9 books (most notably The Game which was an account of his final NHL season in 1978-1979). Dryden would also serve as a color commentator (including for the Miracle on Ice game during the 1980 Winter Olympics with Al Michaels), as President of the Toronto Maple Leafs before running for the House of Commons and serving in Paul Martin's Liberal government as Minister of Social Development. After the Liberals lost power, Dryden attempted to run for the party leadership but fell well short in a rare setback. Following politics, Dryden would return to McGill to teach at its Institute for the Study of Canada and continued to write books and articles even appearing in The Atlantic.

Ken Dryden was truly hockey's Renaissance man. R.I.P.