Ken Dryden is a former Canadian legendary player who has won many trophies in his career. For his services, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. This goalkeeper took part in the legendary super series between the national teams of Canada and the USSR. Dryden later wrote a book about this event. Hockey fans around the world were interested in learning more about the events that took place in 1972.
The beginning of the sports path
Ken Dryden was born in 1947 in the city of Hamilton, Canada. Hockey was fond of since childhood. At that time there was not such a huge number of ice palaces. Therefore, all the sports legends improved their skills on street boxes in the winter.
Since 1964, this goalkeeper studied at Cornell University. This university is one of the largest and most popular in the United States. Dryden combined his training with a game of hockey. In the institute team, he was the main goalkeeper. In 1969, Ken Dryden was awarded a bachelor's degree. In the same year, this goalkeeper was invited to play for his team at the World Cup.
NHL performance
Ken Dryden has spoken for the Montreal Canadiens Club throughout his professional career. In total, he played 9 seasons for this team. The team from the city of Montreal at that time played many prominent hockey players. It is not surprising that this Canadian club has won the Stanley Cup six times in 9 years.
Dryden's game was highly praised by hockey experts and fans. For his reliable game, he 5 times became the best goalkeeper of the NHL. In his first season (1970-1971), Ken won the Stanley Cup. At the beginning of the championship, he did not receive playing time. Only in the last six games of the championship did this goalkeeper get into the goal. Dryden spent six games in the regular season, in which he missed only 10 goals. Such statistics were not shown and more stellar goalkeepers. Nobody at that time unknown Ken Dryden showed a brilliant game in the playoff series.
At the end of the competition, this goalkeeper was recognized as the most valuable player in the rally and received the Conn Smythe Trophy award. Club Montreal Canadiens was frankly unlucky with rivals. In the first round they came across the current Stanley Cup Boston Bruins. The club from Montreal went to the next stage only after 7 hard matches.
In the final, Dryden and his partners were to play with Chicago Blackhawks. Due to the fact that this Canadian goalkeeper played so few games, he received the Calder Trophy prize. This award goes to the best rookie of the league. In the history of the NHL, Ken Dryden is the only player to receive the Calder Trophy prize after winning the Stanley Cup.
Career break
In the 1973-1974 season, this goalkeeper, in connection with obtaining a degree in law, was forced to take a break in his hockey career. Hockey for Ken Dryden was the main passion in life. But he knew that someday he would finish his hockey career and go to another life, where he would definitely need an education to make another career. After returning to the big sport, Dryden became the first player in the NHL to receive a lawyer's diploma. Fans were glad that such an outstanding goalkeeper returned to the team.
But already at age 26, Ken Dryden decided to end his professional career. After a conflict with club management, he began working for a law firm in Toronto. He was satisfied with a new life, where he, as in sports, strove to achieve great success.
However, the hockey club from Montreal the results were inconclusive. The leadership tried three candidates for the role of the main goalkeeper, but not one could show a convincing game. At that time, there were few high-level goalkeepers in the league. Hockey at the level of Ken Dryden was not even close to repeating to the new goalkeepers of the Canadian club. The management had no choice but to return Dryden to the team by following its conditions. After lengthy negotiations, Ken Dryden returned to the team and Montreal Canadiens was the leader of the league. In 1979, the legendary goalkeeper finally completed his professional career.
1972 Super Series
In 1972, the legendary super series took place, in which the Canadian team measured their strength with hockey players from the USSR. In total difficulty, the teams played 8 games. The Canadian national team won 4 games, the USSR national team won 3, and one meeting ended in a draw.
During team matches, life in these countries ceased. Each fan was on the TV screen or listened to commentators on the radio. It was harder for Canada to play, as it was a clear favorite in front of the super series. Everyone was waiting for the defeat, but the USSR team was in no way inferior to Canadian athletes and won the first game. No one expected this result. Canadian fans booed their team.
Dryden's participation in the super series
Ken Dryden deserved to defend the gates of the Canadian team in such an important super series with his magnificent game. He often recalled the first game between the teams - how the USSR team scored 7 goals in the goal of Dryden and won the game. Then he was given a rest and forget the failure that was in the first game. The next time this goalkeeper entered the field in the fourth game, and the Canadian team lost again.
Ken Dryden came to the USSR already more concentrated. After the first four games at home, the entire Canadian team understood that they would not have an easy life here. Canada won both games with Dryden in the USSR. For each athlete participating in the super series, these games have become a major event in life.
Three years after the super series, Dryden sat down at his desk. The book, entitled "Hockey at the highest level" by Ken Dryden, spoke in detail about the events that happened with hockey players at that time. He spoke admiringly about the game of the Soviet team and even wanted to end his career in the USSR. Ken Dryden's book was very popular with hockey fans around the world. She has been translated into many languages.
The impact of the super series on the development of hockey
Each team in this confrontation had its own style of play. The Canadian team played tougher hockey and threw at the first opportunity. During the fight, the players felt comfortable and could even give the exact pass at the time of strong pressure. Soviet hockey players paid great attention to team play. Hockey in this country was fast, with a lot of assists. After the series ended, both sides drew attention to a number of elements of the game to which they paid little attention. Thanks to this, both teams are currently favorites of all international hockey competitions.
Life outside of sports
Ken Dryden was a versatile and hardworking man. At the three Olympic Games, he worked as a commentator on television. He worked as a teacher at the University of Toronto and the Department of Education. Ken Dryden's books on hockey were in great demand among sports fans. His books brought up many current athletes and future coaches.
For 6 years, this legendary past goalkeeper was president of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club. On the image in the Hockey Hall of Fame, Dryden stands with his chin resting on his crossed clubs. It was in this position that the Montreal Canadiens legend was in a situation where its gates were not in danger.
Career in politics
The first election of Ken Dryan to the House of Commons took place in 2004. For two years in the past, the legendary goalkeeper was the Minister of Social Security. Despite the defeat of the liberal party, Dryden was re-elected in the 2006 elections. In the same year he put forward his candidacy for the post of leader of the liberal party. According to the election results, he took fifth place, gaining 4.9 percent of the vote.
Ken Dryden's biography is an example for the current young generation. At a young age, he was not afraid to play in the NHL playoffs and became the owner of the Stanley Cup. Despite the success in sports, he continued to study at the university. A good legal education came in handy in his political career.