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Cam Ward (ice hockey)

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Cameron Ward (born February 29, 1984 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a professional Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He cites Sherwood Park, Alberta as his hometown.[1] He is the goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes, and won the Stanley Cup in 2006 his rookie campaign- the most recent goalie to do so since Patrick Roy in 1986.[2]

Cam Ward
Born February 29, 1984
Saskatoon, SK
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team Carolina Hurricanes
NHL draft 25th overall, 2002
Carolina Hurricanes
Playing career 2004–present

Playing career

Minor leagues

Ward was drafted 25th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. After appearing in one game in 2000-01, Ward played three full seasons with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League from 2001-2004, leading the Rebels to the WHL finals twice. Upon graduating from the WHL, Ward moved on to play two seasons with the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League.

NHL

On May 13, 2004, Ward signed a multi-year contract with the Hurricanes. In the 2005-06 NHL season, Ward largely served in a backup role to Swiss goalie Martin Gerber. Ward's first game came on the season opener on October 5, 2005, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gerber had allowed four goals on 19 shots, and Ward was called in to take his place. He saved 10 of 11 shots in a 5-2 losing effort.[3] His second game came two days later in the home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It eventually resulted in a shootout where Ward turned aside Mario Lemieux, Zigmund Palffy, and Sidney Crosby, leading the Hurricanse to a 3-2 win. He earned immediate praise for his steller performance.[4] His excellent performance in his rookie season earned him consideration on a shortlist of 81 candidates to play for the Team Canada in the 2006 Winter Olympics.[5] He was one of only nine goalies selected, but was eventually cut from the Olympic squad. However, his performance gradually began to slow down, and he finished with a 14-8 record with a 3.68 goals against average.

2005-2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs

In the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Hurricanes found themselves in a two-to-none game defecit in the first round against the Montreal Canadiens. Martin Gerber struggled in the series, which prompted Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette to turn to Ward. He quickly stifled the Montreal offense, and helped to carry his team to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. On June 5 2006, Ward became the first goalie in the history of the NHL to allow a goal on a penalty shot in a Stanley Cup final game. The goal was scored by defenseman Chris Pronger of the Edmonton Oilers. Ward went on to win the game however, turning away 34 shots on goal. He eventually won the Stanley Cup, becoming the first rookie to do so since Patrick Roy.[2]

On the road to the 2006 Stanley Cup, Ward set several milestones. He became the first rookie goalie in 20 years to have recorded a shutout in the Stanley Cup Finals—the first since Patrick Roy, was the youngest since Roy to start a game in the final series, became one of the eleven rookies to record a shutout in the Finals, and also the first since Roy in 1986. Ward also captured the Conn Smythe Trophy for being the most valuable player in the 2006 playoffs, again following in the footsteps of Patrick Roy.

The victory ended up being bittersweet for both Ward and his friends and family. He, along along side Fort Saskatchewan natives Ray Whitney and Mike Commodore, ended up having to defeat the Edmonton Oilers- their childhood team.[2]

Personal Life

Born at St'. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Ward is the second child of Ken and Laurel Ward. He has two sisters named Kendra and Chelsea. As a child, he grew up in both Saskatoon and Sherwood Park, spending his adolescent years in the latter. When the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, an article in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix acknowledged Ward's early years in Saskatoon growing up in Lakeridge, a neighborhood in the city's southeast corner where he lived until moving to Sherwood Park when he was 10 years old.[6] Ward has a wife named Cody. They were married on July 22, 2006 in Sherwood Park, Alberta. He is also known to be a fan of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Career statistics

Regular season

   
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
2000-01 Red Deer Rebels WHL 1 1 0 0 60 0 1 0.00
2001-02 Red Deer Rebels WHL 46 30 11 4 2694 102 1 2.27
2002-03 Red Deer Rebels WHL 57 40 13 3 3368 118 5 2.10
2003-04 Red Deer Rebels WHL 56 31 16 8 3338 114 4 2.05
2004-05 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 50 27 17 3 2829 94 6 1.99
2005-06 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 2 0 2 0 118 5 0 2.54
2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 28 14 8 0 1484 91 0 3.68
NHL Totals 28 14 8 0 1484 91 0 3.68

Playoffs

   
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
2001-02 Red Deer Rebels WHL 23 14 9 -- 1502 53 2 2.11
2002-03 Red Deer Rebels WHL 23 14 9 -- 1407 49 3 2.08
2003-04 Red Deer Rebels WHL 19 10 9 -- 1200 37 3 1.85
2004-05 Lowell Lock Monsters AHL 11 5 6 -- 664 28 2 2.53
2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 23 15 8 -- 1320 47 2 2.14
NHL Totals 23 15 8 -- 1320 47 2 2.13

NHL awards

Preceded by Winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy
2006 		Succeeded by
Present holder

Minor League Accolades

2000-01

  • Won the Alberta Minor Hockey League Top Goaltender award
  • Had a shutout in his first WHL start
  • Won the Memorial Cup with the Red Deer Rebels

2001-02

2002-03

  • Led the WHL in wins with 40 and save percentage with .920
  • Played in the WHL finals against Kelowna

2003-04

  • WHL Most Valuable Player award - WHL Goaltender of the Year award
  • CHL First Team All-Star
  • CHL Goaltender of the Year

Notes

  1. ^ NHL player profile
  2. ^ a b c Jones, Shane (2006-08-23). "Warm welcome home for Ward". Retrieved 2006-08-23.
  3. ^ Carolina Hurricaes at Tampa Bay Lightning scoresheet, accessed 2006-08-23
  4. ^ "Pittsburgh Penguins at Carolina Hurricanes game recap". 2005-10-07. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
  5. ^ "Rookies, vets on Team Canada's long Olympic list". 2005-10-19. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
  6. ^ Wolfe, Cory (2006-06-24). "Dream weaver: Cam Ward's dreams of raising Stanley Cup took root in Saskatoon". Retrieved 2006-08-23.
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