Ken Dryden

Ken Dryden (born August 8, 1947 in Hamilton, Ontario) is a Canadian politician, businessman, author and retired NHL goalie. He is currently Minister of Social Development in Paul Martin's Liberal government.

Hockey Career

Dryden was drafted fourteenth overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1964 NHL Entry Draft. Rather than play in Boston, Dryden pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree at Cornell University, where he also played hockey until his graduation in 1969.

At Cornell, Dryden led his team to the 1967 NCAA championship and three consecutive ECAC tournament championships. He is generally regarded as the greatest college hockey goaltender of all time.

Having been traded by the Bruins to the Montreal Canadiens for Guy Allen and Paul Reid, two players who would never even make the NHL, Dryden made his NHL debut in 1970 for the Canadiens and became the backbone of six Stanley Cup winning teams in the 1970s. Considered to be one of the greatest hockey players of all time, Dryden played from 1970 to 1979 (excluding the 1973-74 NHL season, when he retired to pursue the requirements for his law degree) and was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.

Later Career

After retiring from hockey Dryden became an author and businessman. His 1983 book The Game (ISBN 0470833556) was a commercial and critical success being nominated for a Governor General's Award. He became president of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club in 1997, remaining at that post until 2004.

In the Canadian federal election of June, 2004 Dryden, representing the Liberal Party, was elected to the Canadian House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for the Toronto riding of York Centre. Dryden had been selected by Prime Minister Paul Martin as a "star candidate" in what is considered a safe Liberal riding. After the election, Dryden was named to the Cabinet, despite never having held elected office before.

Preceded by: Art Eggleton, Liberal

Member of Parliament for York Centre (2004-present)

Succeeded by: (Incumbent)