His performance in the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union also underscored his athletic prowess in the crease.  He started in goal in the decisive 6-5 victory in Game 8 and became part of a historic game that symbolized the West’s fight against communism at the height of the Cold War.  Dryden later spoke of that unifying moment for Canadians saying, “I feel the history of that tournament, the legacy of that team just as strongly as all Canadian fans do.  It never goes away.  It’s like a good wine, I guess.  Actually, the legacy of it grows.”  

Despite Dryden’s larger than life presence on the ice, he retired at the height of his career in 1979 and pursued a law degree while articling at a Toronto law firm.  He redefined the hockey player stereotype by demonstrating that one could pursue more than one passion at a time and impact the larger community beyond the ice.  

After his retirement he wrote, The Game, arguably one of the best books on hockey.  He also went on to serve as president of The Toronto Maple Leafs and then later, acted as a federal MP and minister of social development under Prime Minister Paul Martin’s cabinet.  Dryden’s ability to inspire large segments of Canadian society both in his role as the acclaimed Montreal Canadiens goalie and through his commitment to education, writing, and public service show there was so much more to the man behind the mask.

When I was first commissioned to paint Ken Dryden, I admit, I did not know a lot about the acclaimed Montreal Canadiens goalie, not being a hockey fan myself.  But through watching tribute videos dedicated to him, pouring over countless photos of him, and reading articles written about his impact on the hockey world and beyond, I quickly learned about his value as a Canadian hockey legend.

I chose to include three portraits of Dryden in my composition.  The largest portrait that occupies the top left of the painting, shows a young Dryden in a ¾ profile, looking wistfully off into the distance.   Revealing the face behind the iconic red and blue mask was important as it allows viewers to see the warmth of his personality and the kindness of his eyes. 

The row of Stanley Cup titles at the top of the canvas slant upwards to his retired jersey number and reflect the 6 momentous victories secured during the seasons that Dryden was a goaltender.  These are muted in colour so there is more attention focused on #29. His retired number is bathed in a swath of light to honour his passing this year (2025) and highlight his importance as a hockey legend. 

This leads the viewers’ eye to the second portrait underneath that shows a 6’ 4” Dryden in his famous “classic pose” – blokker and glove hands resting comfortably on top of his stick in front of the net.  This iconic pose is synonymous with Ken Dryden and no artistic tribute to him would be complete without it.

The third and final portrait shows Dryden in an action shot, sliding out of the crease to deflect the puck.  The energy in this moment is an important reflection of his razor sharp focus as a goalie.  

Dryden wrote about his mindset during moments like these in his book, “The Game”:  “When a game gets close to me, or threatens to get close, my conscious mind goes blank.  I feel nothing, I hear nothing, my eyes watch the puck, my body moves — like a goalie moves, like I move; I don't tell it to move or how to move or where, I don't know it's moving, I don't feel it move — yet it moves.  And when my eyes watch the puck, I see things I don't know I'm seeing."  This presence of body and mind and ability to access a flow state in high pressure moments is what make Dryden such a remarkable goalie.

It was an honour being able to paint a tribute to Ken Dryden, especially with his passing this year.  His commitment to excellence in sport, education, writing, and public service embodied his commitment to team, community, and country – and for these reasons Dryden is a true Canadien classic.