On Dryden

Wednesday January 31st 2007 7:30 PM

I cried in the Forum pressbox on March 11. 1996. I wasn't alone that night. Most tears flowed during the 11 minute ovation for The Rocket. I started to cry when Ken Dryden was introduced.
Dryden was the first local athlete I felt a real conncection with. Oh, I loved Rogie Vachon and Rusty Staub and Terry Evanshen. But that was like puppy love. As someone who clearly was interested in a media career at a young age (I devoured everything I could as if studying for an exam) Dryden was the first local guy I found to be, well, different. And then came Bill Lee (that's another book).

Dryden, with the long hair and longer pads (hello Jim Pappin), strange stance, which had to be, to at least some opponents, as intimidating as Cournoyer's speed or Lemaire's slapshot or Robinson's bodychecks or Gainey's shadow. Leaning on his stick was a statement. I'm in control. And I'm the most relaxed guy in the rink. Beat that.
He spent time working with "Nader's raiders" when Ralph Nader was deep into investigating government corruption. He studied law. He won a Cup and a Conn Smythe before winning a Calder (had never been done prior to him, nor since). He quit the Habs, feeling betrayed by the front office. They won with him. Lost without him. Point made. Six Cups in eight years. And then, like Jim Brown and Sandy Koufax in 1966, poof! Gone, at age 31. And with him the chance to win another Cup. Until a skinny 20 years old from St Foy arrived in 1986.

Where some hear long-winded, I hear eloquence. How many current or former NHLers other than Dryden could have written "The Game"? The smartest man in hockey? Maybe the smartest man in sports. Ever. And he was ours.

Until he went to Toronto. And thank goodness Leaf ownership (now there's a genius or two) wouldn't let him hire Bob Gainey.

It was difficlut to watch the Montreal hockey scene unfold without the presence of Dryden. He was rarely around. Introduced to the Forum crowd only once (1982), making an occasional pit-stop to sell a book. It was clear he was no longer ours. Until March 1996.

Watching the jersey retirement ceremony for #29 monday at the Bell Centre wasn't as emotional-for me-as his return to the Forum but was a lot more meaningful. Frankly, I never thought the Canadiens would actually get around to honoring Dryden. Especially before #33. I was thrilled to see Al McNeil start things off, visibly nervous, speaking without notes, about the improbable Cup win of 1971. I'm sure the last time a set of eyes focused on McNeil in Montreal, he was surrounded by bodyguards. Dave Dryden couldn't have done a better job articulating the pride, honor and love the entire Dryden clan has for Ken. To be privy to that kind of intimacy and susequent brotherly embrace was a privilege. Tretiak, spending 24 hours in the air over two days to be there says it all. Thanks to Red Fisher for hooking them up. And if Vladislav Tretiak wants to have a Summit Series, take two, let's do it. Dryden himself was warm, gracious, passionate, moving and funny. The perfect speech.

And then the present-day Habs reverted to form (forum?) and beat the hottest team in the league, backstopped by David Aebischer. The perfect night.