Cam Ward

Cameron Ward (born February 29, 1984 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a professional Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He cites Sherwood Park, Alberta as his hometown.

Playing career

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.

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 with the Hurricanes. Ward saved 10 of 11 shots in his NHL debut. His second game, Carolina's home opener against Pittsburgh, came down to the OT shootout. Ward turned aside Mario Lemieux, Zigmund Palffy and Sidney Crosby in the Hurricanes' 3-2 win. He started off very well, earning consideration on a shortlist of 81 candidates to play for the Canadian national men's hockey team in the 2006 Winter Olympics as one of only nine goalies selected, although he was not eventually named to the Olympic squad. His numbers tapered off after that, however, and he finished with a 14-8 record with a 3.68 goals against average.

However, Gerber's struggles early in the first round series against the Montreal Canadiens in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs prompted Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette to turn to Ward. He carried his team to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, the first rookie goaltender since Patrick Roy to do so. 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 Edmonton Oilers defenseman Chris Pronger. He went on to win the game however, turning away 34 shots on goal.

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.

Personal Life

Ward was born at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 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. On July 22, 2006, Ward will marry fiancée Cody Cambell in his hometown of Sherwood Park, Alberta.

Awards

Conn Smythe Trophy - 2006
Stanley Cup - 2006

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