Profile Text
Birth Name: Kenneth Wayne Dryden
Date of Birth: August 8, 1947
Place of Birth: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Date of Death: September 5, 2025
Place of Death: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ethnicity: Scottish, English, Irish
Ken Dryden was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, politician, lawyer, businessperson, and author. A goaltender, he played his entire professional career with the Montréal Canadians of the National Hockey League (NHL); he was also with the Canada national team. He has six Stanley Cups, received 5 Vezina Trophys, and had many other honours that led him to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was regarded as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. A member of the Liberal Party, he was a Member of Parliament for York Centre (ON), from June 28, 2004 to May 1, 2011, and Minister of Social Development, from July 20, 2004 to February 5, 2006. He was 6′4″.
Ken was the son of Margaret Adelia and David Murray Dryden, a philanthropist. His father was from Winnipeg, Manitoba. His brother, Dave Dryden, was also a professional ice hockey player, and goaltender. His paternal grandparents were Scottish. Ken was raised in Islington, a suburb of Toronto. He was married to Lynda, until his death, with whom he had two children.
His paternal great-uncle was Manitoba politician and treasurer John C. Dryden. Ken was a first cousin, twice removed, of professional ice hockey players Murray Murdoch and Andy Blair. He was also a second cousin, once removed, of professional ice hockey player Syl Apps . Ken’s paternal great-great-grandparents, James S. Dryden and Mary Irvan Swan, were also Syl’s maternal great-grandparents. He was thus also a third cousin of Syl’s son, professional ice hockey player Syl Apps, Jr., and a third cousin, once removed, of Syl’s grandchildren, competition rower and Olympic champion Darren Barber, minor league ice hockey player Syl Apps III, and ice hockey player Gillian Apps.
Ken’s paternal grandfather was William Murdock/Murdoch Dryden (the son of Andrew L. Dryden and Margaret Murdock/Murdoch). William was born in Morris, Pembina Valley Census Division, Manitoba. Andrew was born in North Dumfries Township, Waterloo, Ontario, the son of James S. Dryden and Mary Swan, who were from Roxburgshire, Scotland. Ken’s great-grandmother Margaret was born in Ashfield Township, Huron, Ontario.
Ken’s paternal grandmother was Amy Timlick (the daughter of David Timlick, Jr. and Amy Ranson). Ken’s grandmother Amy was born in Dominion City, Steinbach, Manitoba. David was born in North Augusta, Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, the son of David Timlick, whose father was English, from Harmondsworth, Middlesex, and originally surnamed Timberlake; and of Jane Kerfoot, who was Irish.
Ken’s maternal grandfather was Joseph Alexander Campbell (the son of Samuel Campbell and Sarah McMillan).
Ken’s maternal grandmother was Ethel Jane Wyman (the daughter of Thomas Hiriam Wyman and Adelia Mary Hersey). Ethel was born in Hawkesbury, Prescott and Russell United Counties, Ontario.
Sources: https://www.nhl.com
Genealogy of Ken Dryden – https://www.findagrave.com