Grandson of NHL legend Ken Dryden signs with B.C. junior hockey team<\/p>\n
Published 1:30 pm Friday, July 17, 2026<\/p>\n
Hunter Dryden has a last name that hockey fans recognize instantly.<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old goaltender is the grandson of Hockey Hall of Famer and six-time Stanley Cup champion Ken Dryden, while his mother, Tammy Lee Shewchuk, won Olympic gold with Canada\u2019s women\u2019s hockey team in 2002.<\/p>\n
Now, the Connecticut product is taking the next step in his career after committing to the Victoria Grizzlies for the 2026-27 BCHL season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always kind of been battling with being my own person and creating my own journey,\u201d Dryden told the Goldstream Gazette.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy response has always been, \u2018Yeah, but I\u2019m Hunter, and I kind of do my own thing.\u2019 Coming from that background, sometimes it can be harder, not easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Dryden has grown up surrounded by hockey success, he said his grandfather\u2019s biggest influence has come away from the technical side of the position.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe position has changed so much that he couldn\u2019t necessarily give me technical tips, but in terms of the mental side and handling the stresses of being a goaltender, he was really good,\u201d Dryden said.<\/p>\n
His mother, he said, helped him understand the bigger picture of the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe provided me a lot of guidance in terms of the bigger picture. She has always been able to help me put things into perspective,\u201d he added,<\/p>\n
The six-foot-four, 185-pound netminder joins the Grizzlies after three seasons at Taft School (USHS-Prep) in his home state. He spent his first two seasons developing behind Princeton-bound goaltender Brady Morris before earning the starting role this past season. In 24 games, he posted a .911 save percentage.<\/p>\n
\u201cLearning from (Brady) was really good, and this year I was the starter and had a solid year,\u201d Dryden said. \u201cIt was pretty exciting to earn that role, and I feel like it has prepared me to make the jump to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dryden uses his frame as a foundation, but said continued improvement in his movement and technique has been a major focus.<\/p>\n
\u201cI base everything off my size because I think that is a good base for your game, but over these last years, I have really worked on technique and skating,\u201d Dryden said. \u201cSize doesn\u2019t really mean much if you can\u2019t move and can\u2019t stop pucks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dryden got an early look at the BCHL when he travelled to the Island to skate with the Grizzlies during American Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hadn\u2019t skated with a team in the BCHL before, and seeing the level was pretty exciting,\u201d he said. \u201cTalking with coach Geoff Grimwood and the organization, they are really excited for this next season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dryden\u2019s long-term goal is earning an NCAA scholarship, something he believes the BCHL can help him achieve.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe BCHL has a reputation as being a super skilled league with a good track record of developing players who are able to adapt well to the next level quickly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Dryden will not be the first player with Montreal Canadiens ties to wear a Grizzlies sweater.<\/p>\n