Former NHL goalie Dave Dryden dies at 81

According to his funeral home in Oakville, Ontario, former NHL goaltender Dave Dryden passed away at 81 on Tuesday. The obituary states Dryden died from complications following surgery for a blood clot disease, CTEPH.

Dryden, is, of course, the brother of Hall of Famer, Ken Dryden. Throughout his NHL career, Dave had stops with the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres and eventually the Edmonton Oilers. He played in 203 NHL games, recording 66 wins, 76 losses, and 31 ties. He posted a goals-against-average of 3.20 and a save percentage of .887. The Drydens became the first siblings in NHL history to oppose each other in goal on March 20th, 1971, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the Sabres 5-2 at the historic Montreal Forum. Dryden is also the first goaltender to ever wear a fibreglass mask with a cage, and the mask is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

After his NHL career, Dryden left the Sabres for the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1974. He played one season for the Chicago Cougars before finding himself with the Oilers. He played four seasons with the Oilers and set the record for most games played (197) and most wins (94) by any Oilers goalie during the WHA era. In 1979, he was awarded the Ben Hatskin Trophy as the WHA’s Top Goaltender, and the Gordie Howe Trophy as league MVP. He played one final NHL season with the Oilers in 1979-80 after the WHA/NHL merger.

Following his hockey career, Dryden became an elementary school principal in Oakville. He was also the chairperson for the Sleeping Children Around the World charity, which his father Murray founded. The charity provides bed kits to children in developing countries. Dryden is survived by his wife Sandra, his two children, six grandchildren, brother, and sister. A service will be held Sunday.