Dryden McKay Bio
Dryden Dowd McKay (born November 25, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Bloomington Bison of the ECHL. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and catching left, McKay first gained national attention during a decorated collegiate career with the Minnesota State Mavericks, where he set program records and tied the all-time NCAA Division I men’s hockey mark for career shutouts. He capped his amateur career by winning the 2022 Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player, becoming just the third goaltender to claim the honor. Since turning professional in 2022, he has continued his career in the minor professional ranks.
Early Life and Background
Dryden Dowd McKay was born on November 25, 1997, in Downers Grove, Illinois, and grew up in a family with deep ties to the goaltending craft. His father, Ross McKay, was a former goaltender who played one game in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers in 1991, giving his son an early and direct connection to the highest level of the sport. McKay was named after Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden, a choice that reflects the respect the family held for the position’s greats.
Although he grew up cheering for Carey Price, McKay came to model his game on goaltenders with similar builds, favoring Jaroslav Halák and Juuse Saros as inspirations because they, like him, proved that elite netminding was not limited by height. To honor Ken Dryden, McKay wears jersey number 29 throughout his career. Those early influences shaped a calm, technical approach that would later define his style between the pipes.
Path to Hockey
McKay entered the United States Hockey League (USHL) when he was selected by the Waterloo Black Hawks in the 2014 USHL Draft. After a brief stint with the Corpus Christi IceRays and a six-game recall by the Green Bay Gamblers, he committed in November 2016 to play NCAA Division I ice hockey for the Holy Cross Crusaders of the College of the Holy Cross. When the family could not afford tuition, McKay sought to de-commit, eventually winning two appeals and signing instead with the Minnesota State Mavericks.
He chose Minnesota State for its proximity to family, its hockey facilities, its coaching staff, and its business program. That decision set the stage for one of the most productive individual careers in recent college hockey history, as McKay quickly established himself as the Mavericks’ starting goaltender and the foundation of their national success.
Dryden McKay Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
As a freshman at Minnesota State, McKay competed with Mathias Israelsson for the starting job, opening the season with a 3–1–0 record before sitting for seven straight games. He responded by seizing the role and posting an 11–4–1 record with a .919 save percentage by January. He finished his rookie year with a 24–7–2 mark, a .927 save percentage, and a 1.76 goals-against average, earning College Hockey News’ 2018–19 Rookie of the Year, All-WCHA Second Team, and All-WCHA Rookie Team honors.
In his sophomore season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, McKay broke the Minnesota State record for career shutouts with 12, surpassing Cole Huggins, and ended the regular season first nationally with a 1.31 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage. His play earned First Team All-American recognition, a Hobey Baker Award finalist nod, and WCHA Goaltender of the Year honors.
Minnesota State Breakthrough (2020–2022)
During the 2020–21 season, McKay continued to rewrite the record book. After a 5–0 win over Alabama–Huntsville on February 12, 2021, he ranked second all-time in NCAA Division I men’s hockey history with 22 career shutouts, and he captured his second consecutive WCHA Goaltender of the Year award after posting a WCHA-record 1.07 goals-against average. That consistency cemented his status as one of the most reliable goaltenders in college hockey.
In his senior season, McKay tied Ryan Miller’s NCAA career shutouts record with 26 after a 1–0 win over St. Cloud State on October 8, 2021. He later matched Robb Stauber and Marty Turco for the most single-season Division I men’s wins with his 34th victory, prompting Northern Michigan coach Grant Potulny to call him “the best player in college hockey.” McKay led the Mavericks to a 38–4 record and the 2022 Frozen Four, eliminating Minnesota in the semifinals before becoming the third goaltender to win the Hobey Baker Award, joining Robb Stauber (1988) and Ryan Miller (2001).
Following his senior season, McKay accepted a six-month ban from the United States Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for Ostarine, which he attributed to contaminated Quercetin vitamins taken for COVID-19 protection.
Professional Career (2022–Present)
On April 25, 2022, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported that McKay would sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs; the deal was finalized with Toronto’s AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies, though he spent most of his first year with the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers. After his contract ended, McKay signed a one-year AHL deal with the Ontario Reign on July 12, 2024. Unable to establish himself in the AHL across three seasons, he signed a one-year ECHL contract with the Utah Grizzlies on July 8, 2025, and currently plays in the ECHL system.
Driving Style and Strengths
McKay is a technically sound, positionally disciplined goaltender whose compact frame belies a mature, composed presence in the crease. Influenced by shorter netminders such as Halák and Saros, he relies on angles, anticipation, and efficient movement rather than sheer size, and his consistency in practice has been praised by teammates and coaches alike.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include tying Ryan Miller’s NCAA career shutouts record with 26, matching the single-season wins record of Stauber and Turco at 34, and winning the 2022 Hobey Baker Award as just the third goaltender ever to claim the trophy. His 38–4 senior season and Frozen Four run with Minnesota State stand as the defining team achievement of his career.
Dryden McKay Career Wins
McKay’s most celebrated victories came during his record-setting tenure with the Minnesota State Mavericks, where he amassed 34 wins in a single season and tied the NCAA Division I men’s hockey career shutouts record. He also contributed key wins during his time with the Toronto Marlies organization and the Ontario Reign, building his professional résumé in the AHL and ECHL systems.
Minnesota State Highlights
McKay’s Mavericks career produced a Hobey Baker Award, a Frozen Four appearance, and a 38–4 senior season that established him as one of the most decorated goaltenders in program history. His first major milestone came during his sophomore year when he set the Minnesota State career shutouts record, a mark he later extended into the NCAA record books. Most recently, his senior campaign delivered a national title-game run and college hockey’s top individual prize.
Other Wins and Performances
In the professional ranks, McKay has worked through the Toronto and Ontario systems while competing in the ECHL, continuing to refine his craft as a depth goaltender with starting experience at a high amateur level.
Dryden McKay Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs in the McKay family through his father, Ross McKay, who appeared in one NHL game for the Hartford Whalers during the 1990–91 season. That direct connection to professional goaltending shaped Dryden’s path and informed his decision to wear number 29 in tribute to Ken Dryden.
Personal Life
McKay is known publicly by his commitment to the goaltending craft that defined his father’s career, and he has built his adult life around the rhythms of professional hockey. Public details about his spouse and children are not available.
2025 Season Performance
McKay entered the 2025 calendar year as a member of the Ontario Reign of the AHL before signing a one-year ECHL contract with the Utah Grizzlies on July 8, 2025. The move reflected the challenges of securing a steady AHL role after three professional seasons split between the Toronto and Los Angeles organizations.
Heading into the new campaign, McKay’s pedigree as a Hobey Baker Award winner and former NCAA record-holder gives him a clear opportunity to anchor the Utah Grizzlies’ crease and pursue a return to higher-level professional hockey. His track record of consistency, shutout ability, and heavy workloads positions him as a potential difference-maker in the ECHL.
The 2025 outlook centers on whether McKay can translate his decorated college résumé into sustained professional success, with eyes on regaining an AHL role through strong ECHL performance. If his training and form carry over, a promotion back to the AHL ranks remains a realistic near-term goal.