Moments With The Great Ken Dryden

Hockey Hall of Famer and Habs legend Ken Dryden passed away Friday at the age of 78.

(This Ken Dryden story is duplicated on our Seattle website)

Watching the Montreal Canadiens win four consecutive Stanley Cups in the late 1970’s was frustrating. My favourite team, the Detroit Red Wings, stunk at the time. It was tough to pull for the underdog when they were rarely, if ever, a playoff club.

The Habs were different. They were loaded with talented stars. We didn’t really like them, but we respected them, even as kids. There was something exotic about this French Canadian hockey team. Guy Lafleur was a rock star to us, his hair flowing in the wind as he sped down the wing.

Then there was Ken Dryden. The tall, not-so-flashy, but remarkably effective netminder. As a high school age street hockey goalie, I used to stand and lean on the top of my stick; a cap-tip to Dryden.

We actually pretended to do it together once, for a TV show. More on that remarkable occurrence in a moment.

After he helped win six Stanley Cups in a little under a decade, Dryden retired and turned to gigs that utilized his immense intellect. Hockey executive work, broadcasting, writing, and politics.

I still consider “The Game”, the best hockey book ever written. It took you behind-the-scenes of the Montreal Canadiens teams. The mindset, the impact of coaching, the attitudes. Timeless insights.

One memory stands out from his time as the President of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I was producing and hosting a show for Leafs TV at that time and although I didn’t live in Canada then, I was welcome in the press box whenever I came to town. In May of 2002 I brought a friend and cohort, Mike Prater, the sports editor for the Idaho Statesman in Boise, Idaho, on a mini Stanley Cup field trip.

One night in Detroit to see the Red Wings eliminate the St. Louis Blues — standing room only and beers for that one — and then the Ottawa Senators visiting the Leafs for Game-5 at then Air Canada Centre the following night in the press box.

It was May 10th. The game was infamous in Toronto because the Senators won it 3-2. The game winning goal was scored by Daniel Alfredsson just moments after he hit Darcy Tucker from behind into the boards to get the puck back.

It happened just below us, as we had left our seats and were standing on a little walkway at the far end of the press box. It was a remarkable moment that put Toronto down 3-2 in the series. (The Leafs came back to win the 2nd-round series 4-3)

Cue Dryden. Angered, his face turning shades of red, he waited patiently outside the officiating supervisor’s door at the end of the press box. When the door opened, Dryden laid into the occupants for the Tucker hit and the goal that ensued. He read them the riot act in his own way and it was my friend who pointed out something first.

“He never swore,” Mike stated.

Dryden never got personal, never cursed once. It was seemingly below him. No need. As furious as he was, he astutely presented his case and his dissatisfaction without ever uttering an f-bomb, or any bomb at all.

I’m not sure any of us could do that.

Just two years later, the pinnacle moment for me; getting to act like Ken Dryden with Ken Dryden on my very own TV show. For one NHL All-Star Game special edition of “Maple Leafs America”, Dryden replaced Gordie Howe as our regular final segment guest.

We talked about college, him commentating the 1980 ‘Miracle On Ice’ for ABC with Al Michaels, and then we pretended to lean on our sticks.

It was unforgettable getting him to oblige as a guest — it helped that the show was for the Leafs — and it was amazing to bring all of those childhood memories to life in a way. His career spanned my coming of age. When the on-camera portion ended, we chatted and he asked a lot of compelling questions.

Respect, dignity, intellect, all rolled into one. I told him the story of us watching him get angry in the press box that night back in Toronto. I don’t recall exactly what he said, but ultimately he pointed out that expletives were unnecessary. Wasted words. He asked about my family, our show’s format, and what our camera guy and I were up to next.

He was genuinely interested and enthusiastic.

Ken Dryden: I’m not sure “class act” is an adequate description.