Cam Ward

Cam Ward
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
Height Weight	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg)
NHL Team	Carolina Hurricanes
Born	(1984-02-29)February 29, 1984, Saskatoon, SK, CAN
NHL Draft	25th overall, 2002 Carolina Hurricanes
Pro Career	2004 – present

Cameron Kenneth Ward (born February 29, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he was raised in Sherwood Park, Alberta. During his three-year junior career in the Western Hockey League (WHL), he was selected 25th overall by the Hurricanes in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. After a season with the Hurricanes' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lowell Lock Monsters, he won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006. He became the first starting goaltender to win the NHL championship as a rookie since Patrick Roy in 1986.

Playing career

Early career

Ward spent his junior career with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. After appearing in one game for the Rebels in 2000–01, Ward played three full seasons with the team from 2001–2004, leading them to the WHL finals twice. Ward was drafted 25th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Upon graduating from the WHL, Ward signed a multi-year, entry-level contract with the Hurricanes on May 13, 2004. Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he was assigned to Carolina's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Lowell Lock Monsters, for the season.

Carolina Hurricanes

Joining the Hurricanes for the 2005–06 NHL season, Ward largely served in a backup role to Swiss goalie Martin Gerber during the regular season. He made his NHL debut on October 5, 2005, replacing Gerber after the starter injured his hamstring. He saved 10 of 11 shots in the third period, as the Hurricanes lost 5-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He made his first NHL start the following game two days later in the club's home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ward turned aside Mario Lemieux, Žigmund Pálffy, and Sidney Crosby, in a shootout, as the Hurricanes won 3–2. Ward completed his NHL rookie season with 14 wins and 8 losses, along with a 3.68 goals against average (goals against average).

In the opening round of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Hurricanes faced a two-win deficit against the Montreal Canadiens. With Gerber struggling in the series, Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette turned to Ward. The goaltending switch prompted Carolina to a series comeback, advancing to the second round against the New Jersey Devils, where he played opposite his personal hero, Martin Brodeur. After eliminating the Devils, the Hurricanes defeated the Buffalo Sabres in seven games. Facing the Edmonton Oilers in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, he helped the Hurricanes to the franchise's first Stanley Cup. In doing so, he became the first rookie goaltender to lead his team to the Stanley Cup as a starter since Patrick Roy in 1986. Against Edmonton, he also became the first rookie goaltender to both play and record a shutout in the Finals since Roy. He tied the rookie record for wins in the playoffs (15), previously held by Roy and Ron Hextall, and became the first rookie goalie to win the Conn Smythe Trophy since Hextall in 1987.

Ward in net next to defenceman Frantisek Kaberle in 2008

After his heroics in the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Ward became the Hurricanes starting goaltender for the 2006–07 season. He recorded season stats of 30-21-6 and 37-25-5 in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 campaigns, respectively. The Hurricanes would miss the playoffs both years. However, the Hurricanes would reach the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2008-09 NHL Season before bowing out to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Ward went 8-10 with a 2.67 GAA during the playoffs.

Ward and the Hurricanes struggled to begin the 2009-10 NHL Season, as Ward went 2-9-3 to start the campaign. On November 8, 2009, in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ward was injured when he was cut on the leg by the skate of opposing forward Rick Nash. As Ward was helped into the dressing room, he left a trail of blood on the ice. After returning, he finished the season with an 18-23-5 record, a 2.69 GAA and .916 save percentage as the Hurricanes failed to qualify for the postseason.

Ward was the first overall pick in the 2011 NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft, selected by All-Star Game captain, Eric Staal.

International play

Medal record
Ward at the 2008 World Championships
Competitor for Canada
Ice hockey
Gold	2007 World Championships
Silver	2008 World Championships

Ward's performance in his NHL rookie season earned him consideration on a shortlist of 81 candidates to play for Team Canada in the 2006 Winter Olympics. He was one of nine goalies selected, however he was not named to the Canadian squad.

He was a member of the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4-2 win against Finland in Moscow and a member of the 2008 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won silver in a 4-5 game against Russia in Canada.

Personal life

Born in St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Ward is the second child of Ken and Laurel Ward. He is the middle child of his family, between Chelsea, his younger sister, and Kendra, his older sister. He grew up in 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. He attended Jr High at FR Haythorne and high school at Salisbury Composite High School in Sherwood Park, until he graduated.

Ward owns a Rec Hockey team in Red Deer Alberta, The Red Deer Jets, don Winnipeg Jet jerseys, with name bars of former Jet players. They regularly donate money to the Special Olympics. There is also a Red Deer Jets patch on the back of Ward's helmet.

Ward is a fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). On March 25, 2007 Ward shaved his head for the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Ward is extremely active in charity work and community service. He often donates his private box in the RBC center to families with children that have special needs and makes very personable visits to hospitals in the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill area.

Ward and his wife Cody have one son, Nolan, was born on November 24, 2010.

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	OTL	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2000–01	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		1	1	0	0	0	60	0	1	0.00	1.000
2001–02	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		46	30	11	4	0	2694	102	1	2.27	.911
2002–03	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		57	40	13	3	0	3368	118	5	2.10	.920
2003–04	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		56	31	16	8	0	3338	114	4	2.05	.926
2004–05	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		50	27	17	3	0	2829	94	6	1.99	.937
2005–06	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		2	0	2	0	0	118	5	0	2.54	.915
2005–06	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		28	14	8	0	2	1484	91	0	3.68	.882
2006–07	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		60	30	21	0	6	3422	167	2	2.93	.897
2007–08	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		69	37	25	0	5	3930	180	4	2.75	.904
2008–09	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		68	39	23	0	5	3928	160	6	2.44	.916
2009–10	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		47	18	23	0	5	2651	119	0	2.69	.916
2010–11	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		74	37	26	0	10	4318	184	4	2.56	.923
NHL totals				346	175	126	0	33	19733	901	16	2.74	.910

Playoffs

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2001–02	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		23	14	9	1502	53	2	2.11	.920
2002–03	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		23	14	9	1407	49	3	2.08	.919
2003–04	Red Deer Rebels	WHL		19	10	9	1200	37	3	1.85	.945
2004–05	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		11	5	6	664	28	2	2.53	.918
2005–06	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		23	15	8	1320	47	2	2.14	.920
2008–09	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		18	8	10	1101	49	2	2.67	.915
NHL totals				41	23	18	2421	96	4	2.38	.917

International

Year	Event		GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
2007	WC		5	5	0	0	300	11	0	2.20	.915
2008	WC		5	4	1	0	302	13	0	2.58	.900
Senior Int'l totals			10	9	1	0	602	24	0	2.39	.908

Awards and achievements

• 2000–01 Bill Ranford Trophy
• 2000–01 Red Deer Rebels Rookie of the Year
• 2001–02 Del Wilson Trophy
• 2001–02 CHL Second Team All-star
• 2003–04 CHL First Team All-star
• 2003–04 Del Wilson Trophy
• 2003–04 Four Broncos Memorial Trophy
• 2004–05 AHL All-Rookie Team
• 2005–06 Conn Smythe Trophy
• 2005-2006 Stanley cup champion
• 2010-2011 NHL All-Star

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Cam Ward

• Cam Ward's NHL player profile
• Cam Ward's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Cam Ward at TSN.ca
• Cam Ward's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Red Deer Jets

Preceded by Dan Blackburn	Winner of the WHL Del Wilson Trophy 2002	Succeeded by Josh Harding
Preceded by Josh Harding	Winner of the WHL Del Wilson Trophy 2004	Succeeded by Jeff Glass
Preceded by Josh Harding	Winner of the WHL Four Broncos Memorial Trophy 2004	Succeeded by Eric Fehr
Preceded by Brad Richards	Winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy 2006	Succeeded by Scott Niedermayer
Preceded by Igor Knyazev	Carolina Hurricanes first round draft pick 2002	Succeeded by Eric Staal