Dryden McKay Bio
Dryden Dowd McKay is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL. Born on November 25, 1997, in Downers Grove, Illinois, McKay first gained national attention during a record-setting collegiate career at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he won the 2022 Hobey Baker Award as the top NCAA men’s ice hockey player. He turned professional that same year and has since competed in the American Hockey League and the ECHL.
McKay is also recognized for his hockey lineage, as his father Ross McKay played one National Hockey League game for the Hartford Whalers in 1991. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, the younger McKay wears jersey number 29 in honor of Ken Dryden, the Hall of Fame Montreal Canadiens goaltender after whom he was named.
Early Life and Background
McKay was born and raised in Downers Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago with a strong youth hockey tradition. He grew up in a hockey family: his father, Ross McKay, was a goaltender who appeared in a single NHL game for the Hartford Whalers during the 1991 season. That family connection to the position helped shape Dryden’s path to the crease from a young age.
McKay was named after legendary Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden, a tribute reflected in both his first name and his jersey number, 29. Although he grew up cheering for Canadiens star Carey Price, McKay later cited Jaroslav Halák and Juuse Saros as his primary inspirations because of their similar stature and technical approach to the position.
Path to Hockey
McKay was selected by the Waterloo Black Hawks in the United States Hockey League Draft on May 6, 2014, beginning his path through the top tier of American junior hockey. After attending the Corpus Christi IceRays main camp prior to the 2015–16 season, the team acquired him in exchange for a goaltender and a conditional draft pick. Later that year, he was recalled by the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL and appeared in six games.
On November 18, 2016, McKay signed a Letter of Intent to play NCAA Division I ice hockey for the College of the Holy Cross. When his family determined that tuition was not feasible, he requested to be released from his commitment. After two appeals, Holy Cross allowed him to de-commit, and he chose the Minnesota State Mavericks, citing the program’s proximity to his family, its facilities and coaching staff, and its business program.
Dryden McKay Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
As a freshman at Minnesota State, McKay competed with Mathias Israelsson for the starting goaltender job. He started the first four games of the season before sitting out seven consecutive starts to allow Israelsson to play. McKay credited his older teammate for shaping his work habits, calling him one of the hardest-working and most prepared players he had ever been around. After that stretch, McKay reclaimed the role and finished his rookie year with a 24–7–2 record, a .927 save percentage, and a 1.76 goals-against average. He was named College Hockey News’ 2018–19 Rookie of the Year and earned All-WCHA Second Team and All-WCHA Rookie Team honors.
During his sophomore year, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, McKay set a new Minnesota State record for career shutouts with 12, surpassing Cole Huggins. He led the nation with a 1.31 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage, was named a First Team All-American, and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist. He also collected WCHA Goaltender of the Year, All-WCHA First Team, WCHA Scholar-Athlete, and WCHA All-Academic honors, and set a Mavericks single-season wins record for a goaltender.
Minnesota State Breakthrough (2020–2022)
When collegiate play resumed for 2020–21, McKay continued setting program and national records. After a 5–0 win over Alabama–Huntsville on February 12, 2021, he moved into second place all-time in NCAA Division I men’s hockey career shutouts with 22. He earned his second consecutive WCHA Goaltender of the Year award and finished the season with a conference-record 1.07 goals-against average.
In his senior season, McKay tied former NHL goaltender Ryan Miller for the NCAA career shutouts record with 26 after blanking St. Cloud State 1–0 on October 8, 2021. By February, he led the country in wins and posted nine shutouts, earning Mike Richter Award semifinalist recognition. In March, he tied Robb Stauber and Marty Turco for the most single-season Division I men’s wins with his 34th victory. Northern Michigan coach Grant Potulny described McKay as “the best player in college hockey” at the time. McKay led the Mavericks to a 38–4 record and the 2022 Frozen Four, then won the Hobey Baker Award, becoming only the third goaltender to claim the honor after Stauber in 1988 and Miller in 2001.
Professional Era (2022–Present)
Following his senior season, McKay announced he had accepted a six-month suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for Ostarine, a banned substance he said entered his system through contaminated Quercetin vitamins he had taken for COVID-19 protection. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization in April 2022, with the contract ultimately being placed with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. McKay spent most of his first year with Toronto’s ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland Growlers.
After his deal with the Marlies expired, McKay signed a one-year AHL contract with the Ontario Reign on July 12, 2024. Unable to secure a steady role in the AHL across three seasons, he signed a one-year ECHL contract with the Utah Grizzlies on July 8, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
McKay is a smaller goaltender at 5 feet 11 inches, a frame he has turned into an advantage by emulating the compact, technically precise style of NHL goaltenders Jaroslav Halák and Juuse Saros. He is known for outstanding preparation, consistency in practice, and positional discipline, traits he developed alongside veteran Minnesota State goaltender Mathias Israelsson. His career is built on sharp angles, efficient movement, and a calm demeanor in high-pressure games.
Notable Events and Milestones
McKay’s signature moments include tying Ryan Miller’s NCAA career shutouts record at 26 in October 2021 and matching Robb Stauber and Marty Turco for the Division I single-season wins record with 34 victories during the 2021–22 campaign. He led Minnesota State to a 38–4 record and the 2022 Frozen Four, where the Mavericks eliminated Minnesota in the semifinals. His Hobey Baker Award win that year cemented his place among the top goaltenders in college hockey history.
Dryden McKay Career Wins
McKay’s competitive record is defined by the trophies and statistical marks he accumulated at Minnesota State, where he became the program’s all-time leader in career shutouts and single-season wins for a goaltender. His professional career is still developing, and he continues to add to his totals in the ECHL with the Utah Grizzlies.
NCAA Highlights
At Minnesota State, McKay finished his career as one of the most decorated goaltenders in program history, owning the school’s career shutouts record with 26 and the single-season wins record for a goaltender. He earned College Hockey News Rookie of the Year honors in 2018–19, was a First Team All-American, and was twice named WCHA Goaltender of the Year. His senior season included a 34-win campaign, a Frozen Four appearance, and the 2022 Hobey Baker Award.
Other Performances
In his junior career, McKay appeared in six games for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL after being acquired from the Corpus Christi IceRays. At the professional level, he has suited up for the Newfoundland Growlers of the ECHL, the Toronto Marlies and Ontario Reign of the AHL, and most recently the Utah Grizzlies, where he is working to establish himself as a starter.
Dryden McKay Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Hockey runs in the McKay family. McKay’s father, Ross McKay, was a goaltender who appeared in one National Hockey League game for the Hartford Whalers in 1991, giving Dryden an early connection to the highest level of the sport. The family’s deep ties to goaltending, paired with a household shaped by the demands of the position, helped guide him toward a career between the pipes.
Personal Life
McKay keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye. He has spoken about the influence of his parents and his close family ties, including choosing Minnesota State in part because of its proximity to home. He is active on social media and continues to engage with fans of his journey through the professional ranks.
2025 Season Performance
McKay enters the 2025–26 season with the Utah Grizzlies after signing a one-year ECHL contract on July 8, 2025. The move comes after three professional seasons split between the AHL and ECHL, where he was unable to lock down a full-time role at the higher level. Utah offers him a chance to play a heavy workload and rebuild momentum as a starting goaltender.
His track record of disciplined preparation and proven success in high-pressure games, including a Frozen Four run and a Hobey Baker Award, suggests he can quickly establish himself as one of the ECHL’s top netminders. A strong season with the Grizzlies could position him for another look from AHL clubs looking for a steady, technically sound goaltender.