Former National Hockey League goaltender Dave Dryden of Hamilton, Ontario passed away at the age of 81 on Tuesday according to nhl.com. The cause of death was complications from chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension according to Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News.
During his time playing in the NHL, he was with the New York Rangers in 1961-62, the Chicago Black Hawks in 1965-66, 1967-68, and 1968-69, the Buffalo Sabres from 1970-74, and the Edmonton Oilers from 1979-80. Dryden was also in the World Hockey Association with the Chicago Cougars in 1974-75, and the Oilers from 1975-79.
Dryden’s NHL career record was 69 wins, 73 losses and 27 ties, nine shutouts, a goals against average of 3.20 and a save percentage of .896. In the WHA, he had a record of 112 wins, 113 losses, eight shutouts, and a goals against average of 3.51.
Dryden’s best hockey season came in his final year in the WHA with the Oilers in 1978-79. He led the WHA in wins (41), goals against average (2.89) and shutouts (three).
Dryden was also well known throughout the hockey world for creating the mask-cage combination goalie mask. The mask was used by future goalies such as Tim Thomas, Gilles Meloche, Chico Resch and Tuukka Rask.
Dave Dryden was the older brother of Ken Dryden. The Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens was best known for winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1971 before winning the Calder Trophy in 1972.
