IMAGE INFORMATION
EditDavid Murray "Dave" Dryden - Born September 5, 1941 in Hamilton, Ontario - Died October 4, 2022 in Oakville, Ontario was a Canadian ice Hockey goaltender, coach, general manager, author and goalie mask (Combo Mask) inventor.
Sutherland Cup finalist 1959 with Aurora Bears.
- J. Ross Robertson Cup Junior Champion 1961 with Toronto St. Michael's Majors.
- George Richardson Memorial Trophy Champion 1961 with Toronto St. Michael's Majors.
- Memorial Cup Champion 1961 with Toronto St. Michael's Majors.
J. Ross Robertson Cup Senior finalist 1964 with Galt Hornets.
- Dave Pinkney Trophy Winner 1965 as OHA senior MVP with Galt Hornets.
- Ben Hatskin Trophy Winner 1979 as World Hockey Association / WHA top goaltender with Edmonton Oilers.
- Gordie Howe Trophy Winner 1979 as World Hockey Association / WHA MVP with Edmonton Oilers.
Dave Dryden played his junior Hockey with Aurora Bears, Toronto St. Michael's Majors and Toronto Marlboros Jr A.
While playing for the Toronto Marlboros, Dryden made his NHL debut with New York Rangers on February 3, 1962 vs Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens in a 4-1 Toronto win. He relieved Gump Worsley who got injured during the game and allowed 3 goals in almost 40 minutes of play.
Dryden would play the next 3 seasons with the OHA Galt Terriers and Galt Hornets.
Dryden was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Black Hawks on March 12, 1965 and would make his Black Hawks debut on November 20, 1965 vs Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens in a 3-1 Toronto win.
Dryden got his 1st NHL victory vs Detroit Red Wings on New Years Eve December 31, 1965 at Detroit Olympia in a 4-1 Black Hawks win.
Dryden got his 1st NHL shutout vs Oakland Seals on February 21, 1968 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena in a 1-0 Black Hawks win.
Dryden was then traded to Pittsburgh Penguins on June 10, 1970 who then traded him to Buffalo Sabres on October 9, 1970 and he made his Sabres debut on October 22, 1970 vs Philadelphia Flyers at The Spectrum in a 4-2 Flyers win.
Dryden would jump to the World Hockey Association / WHA for the 1974-75 season with Chicago Cougars, who then was claimed by Edmonton Oilers in 1975 WHA dispersal draft.
Dryden finished his playing career with the Oilers and was with Edmonton when they merged into the NHL in 1979.
Dryden played in 203 regular season NHL games, winning 69, losing 76 with 27 ties, 9 shutouts, a 3.20 GAA, 4 assists with 4 penalty minutes and 3 NHL playoff games, losing 2 witha 4.23 GAA.
Dryden played in 242 regular season WHA games, winning 112, losing 113 with 10 ties, 8 shutouts, a 3.51 GAA and 18 WHA playoff games, winning 6, losing 11 with a 3.95 GAA.
Dryden later coached the Peterborough Petes and was their general manager from 1980 to 1981. Then was a goalie coach for Detroit Red Wings in 1983 and later a Red Wings assistant coach in 1985.
Dave Dryden was inducted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame in 1997.
NOTE
On March 20, 1971, NHL history was made when both Dave Dryden and brother Ken Dryden were called to action to face each other in a NHL game. They were not starters of the game, but would both be called in to play during the 2nd period at Montreal Forum. The Canadiens won 5-2, but everyone in The Forum knew they had seen history, as never before had 2 goalie brothers played against each other in a NHL game. A Standing ovation as the 2 brothers shook hands at center ice after the game. The Dryden brothers played against each other again in Montreal on October 28, 1972, a 3-3 tie between the Sabres and Canadiens.
In the summer of 1977, Dave Dryden invented the "Combo Mask" and had Greg Harrison of Cooper Hockey, engineer and design the final the mask for him, which debuted at the start of the 1977-78 WHA season while he played for the Edmonton Oilers. The mask is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
In 1977, Dryden published the instructional book "Coaching Goaltenders".
Dave Dryden was also the goalie that Wayne Gretzky scored his 1st goal as a professional against. It happed on October 20, 1978 with Dryden playing for the WHA Edmonton Oliers and Gretzky playing for the Indianapolis Racers. Gretzky had 2 goals in the game.
