Cam Ward
Encyclopedia
Cameron Kenneth Ward 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.
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.
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.
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
.
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
.
, 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.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). Born in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, he was raised in Sherwood Park, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. During his three-year junior career in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(WHL), he was selected 25th overall by the Hurricanes in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft
2002 NHL Entry Draft
The 2002 NHL Entry Draft was held June 22–23 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. 291 players were drafted in total: 35 from the OHL; 23 from the QMJHL; 43 from the WHL; 41 from the NCAA; 6 from U.S high schools and 110 from outside North America....
. After a season with the Hurricanes' American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) affiliate, the Lowell Lock Monsters, he won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
with the Hurricanes in 2006
2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 21, 2006, following the 2005–06 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, seeded one through eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the conference quarterfinals...
. He became the first starting goaltender to win the NHL championship as a rookie since Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
in 1986.
Early career
Ward spent his junior career with the Red Deer RebelsRed Deer Rebels
The Red Deer Rebels are a Western Hockey League junior ice hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They play their home games at the ENMAX Centrium....
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. 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
President's Cup (WHL)
The Ed Chynoweth Cup is an ice hockey club championship trophy awarded to the playoff champion of the Western Hockey League . Originally called the President's Cup when the league was founded in 1966, the trophy was renamed in 2007 to honour Ed Chynoweth's long service to junior hockey in Canada...
twice. Ward was drafted 25th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft
2002 NHL Entry Draft
The 2002 NHL Entry Draft was held June 22–23 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. 291 players were drafted in total: 35 from the OHL; 23 from the QMJHL; 43 from the WHL; 41 from the NCAA; 6 from U.S high schools and 110 from outside North America....
. 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
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National 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 SwissSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
goalie Martin Gerber
Martin Gerber
Martin Gerber is a Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Växjö Lakers Hockey of the Elitserien...
during the regular season. He made his NHL debut on October 5, 2005, replacing Gerber after the starter injured his hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
. He saved 10 of 11 shots in the third period, as the Hurricanes lost 5-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
. He made his first NHL start the following game two days later in the club's home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
. Ward turned aside Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
, Žigmund Pálffy
Zigmund Palffy
Žigmund "Ziggy" Pálffy is a Slovak professional ice hockey player of Hungarian origin, who plays for HK 36 Skalica of the Slovak Extraliga....
, and Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby
Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . Crosby was drafted first overall by the Penguins out of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
, in a shootout
Shootout
A shootout is a gun battle between armed groups. A shootout often, but not necessarily, pits law enforcement against criminal elements; it could also involve two groups outside of law enforcement, such as rival gangs. A shootout in a military context A shootout is a gun battle between armed groups....
, 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
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
(goals against average).
In the opening round of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs
2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 21, 2006, following the 2005–06 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, seeded one through eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the conference quarterfinals...
, the Hurricanes faced a two-win deficit against the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. With Gerber struggling in the series, Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette
Peter Laviolette
Peter Laviolette Jr. is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman and is the current head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League...
turned to Ward. The goaltending switch prompted Carolina to a series comeback, advancing to the second round against the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, where he played opposite his personal hero, Martin Brodeur
Martin Brodeur
Martin Pierre Brodeur is a French-Canadian ice hockey goaltender who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the New Jersey Devils. In his 19-year tenure with the Devils, he has won three Stanley Cup championships and has been in the playoffs every year but two...
. After eliminating the Devils, the Hurricanes defeated the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
in seven games. Facing the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals
2006 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2006 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2005–06 season. As a culmination of the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Eastern Conference champion Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers...
, he helped the Hurricanes to the franchise's first Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
. In doing so, he became the first rookie goaltender to lead his team to the Stanley Cup as a starter since Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
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
Ron Hextall
Ronald Jeffrey Hextall is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Islanders...
, and became the first rookie goalie to win the Conn Smythe Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
since Hextall in 1987.
2007-08 NHL season
The 2007–08 NHL season was the 91st season of operation of the National Hockey League . It began on September 29, 2007, with the regular season ending April 6, 2008...
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
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Ward was injured when he was cut on the leg by the skate of opposing forward Rick Nash
Rick Nash
Rick Nash is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger and captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League ....
. 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
Eric Staal
Eric Craig Staal is a Canadian ice hockey player and the captain of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League...
.
International play
Ward's performance in his NHL rookie season earned him consideration on a shortlist of 81 candidates to play for Team CanadaCanadian national men's hockey team
The Canadian national ice hockey team is the ice hockey team representing Canada. The team is overseen by Hockey Canada, a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation, and participates in international competitions. From 1920 until 1963, Canada's international representation was by senior...
in the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
. 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
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
team that won gold in a 4-2 win against Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and a member of the 2008 Canadian IIHF World Championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
team that won silver in a 4-5 game against Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
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 ParkSherwood Park, Alberta
Sherwood Park is a large hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County that is recognized as an urban service area. It is located adjacent to the City of Edmonton's eastern boundary, generally south of Highway 16 , west of Highway 21 and north of Highway 630...
, spending his adolescent years in the latter. When the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup, an article in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
The StarPhoenix is a daily newspaper that serves Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and is a part of Postmedia Network.The StarPhoenix was first published as The Saskatoon Phenix on October 17, 1902 . In 1909, it became a daily paper and, in 1910, was renamed the Saskatoon Capital...
acknowledged Ward's early years in Saskatoon growing up in Lakeridge
Lakeridge, Saskatoon
Lakeridge is a residential neighbourhood located in the southeast part of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Almost all of its residents live in low-density, single detached houses. As of 2009, the area is home to 4,047 residents...
, a neighborhood in the city's southeast corner where he lived until moving to Sherwood Park
Sherwood Park, Alberta
Sherwood Park is a large hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County that is recognized as an urban service area. It is located adjacent to the City of Edmonton's eastern boundary, generally south of Highway 16 , west of Highway 21 and north of Highway 630...
when he was 10 years old. He attended Jr High at FR Haythorne and high school at Salisbury Composite High School
Salisbury Composite High School
Salisbury Composite High School, often referred to as Sal or Sal Comp, is a high school located in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada.- History :...
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
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
. There is also a Red Deer Jets patch on the back of Ward's helmet.
Ward is a fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
(CFL).
On March 25, 2007 Ward shaved his head for the St. Baldrick's Foundation
St. Baldrick's Foundation
St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. The Foundation raises money for childhood cancer research primarily through head-shaving events...
.
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.
Regular season
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA Goals against average Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender.... |
SV% Save percentage Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | Red Deer Rebels Red Deer Rebels The Red Deer Rebels are a Western Hockey League junior ice hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They play their home games at the ENMAX Centrium.... |
WHL Western Hockey League The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada... |
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 2004–05 AHL season The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... |
50 | 27 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 2829 | 94 | 6 | 1.99 | .937 |
| 2005–06 2005–06 AHL season The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals.... |
Lowell Lock Monsters | AHL | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 5 | 0 | 2.54 | .915 |
| 2005–06 | Carolina Hurricanes Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
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 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 68 | 39 | 23 | 0 | 5 | 3928 | 160 | 6 | 2.44 | .916 |
| 2009–10 2009–10 NHL season The 2009–10 NHL season was the 93rd season of operation of the National Hockey League , and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It ran from October 1, 2009, including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 11, 2010, with the 2010... |
Carolina Hurricanes | NHL | 47 | 18 | 23 | 0 | 5 | 2651 | 119 | 0 | 2.69 | .916 |
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
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 Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 300 | 11 | 0 | 2.20 | .915 | |
| 2008 | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
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 RebelsRed Deer RebelsThe Red Deer Rebels are a Western Hockey League junior ice hockey team based in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They play their home games at the ENMAX Centrium....
Rookie of the Year - 2001–02 Del Wilson TrophyDel Wilson TrophyThe Del Wilson Trophy is awarded to the top goaltender of the Western Hockey League.The award is named after Del Wilson, who was the general manager of the Regina Pats when they won the Memorial Cup in 1974.- Winners :...
- 2001–02 CHL Second Team All-star
- 2003–04 CHLCanadian Hockey LeagueThe Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
First Team All-star - 2003–04 Del Wilson TrophyDel Wilson TrophyThe Del Wilson Trophy is awarded to the top goaltender of the Western Hockey League.The award is named after Del Wilson, who was the general manager of the Regina Pats when they won the Memorial Cup in 1974.- Winners :...
- 2003–04 Four Broncos Memorial TrophyFour Broncos Memorial TrophyThe Four Broncos Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the Western Hockey League's Player of the Year.The trophy is named in honour of four members of the Swift Current Broncos who were killed on December 30, 1986 in the Swift Current Broncos bus crash, an accident that occurred when the team bus...
- 2004–052004–05 AHL seasonThe 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season...
AHL All-Rookie Team - 2005–06 Conn Smythe TrophyConn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
- 2005-2006 Stanley cup champion
- 2010-2011 NHL All-Star