Cam Ward: The Best Goalie Hardly Anyone Knows

The Carolina Hurricanes will only go as far as Cam Ward takes them, so it's a good thing Ward has emerged as one of the top goaltenders in the National Hockey League.

"He's our guy," said Carolina coach Paul Maurice, who did not want to rank his goaltender but said, "He gives us a chance to win as frequently as any goalie in the league."

The Hurricanes' most recent game was the latest proof. In a 2-0 loss in New Jersey on Saturday, Ward made a half-dozen dazzling stops over the first two periods. Among the best: stacking the pads on Jamie Langenbrunner, alone in front after a centering pass from Zach Parise, with 16 seconds left in the first period. A sliding save on Nicklas Bergfors mid-first. A Hasek-ian sprawl and shaft poke check (yes, that's correct) on Travis Zajac in the final seconds of the second period to keep the game scoreless.

As Ward made the highlight-reel stop on Zajac, a press box scout said, "That's the Tommy Barrasso influence."
Told about the remark, the 25-year-old Ward laughed in recognition. Barrasso, a No. 1 goalie for most of his 18-year NHL career, is now an assistant coach with the Hurricanes. "Tom has encouraged me to challenge more, to be more aggressive," Ward said in a cell phone conversation before his team charter left for New York and a game against the Islanders on Wednesday. "Probably the biggest impact he's made on me is with my work habits. Even in practice, I don't want any pucks to get behind me."

Ward plays like he practices. Although he led the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup in 2006 as a rookie, the 25th overall pick in the 2002 draft continues to improve. Last season the Alberta native set personal bests with a 2.44 GAA and .916 save percentage. He was rewarded in September with a six-year contract extension worth $37.8 million.

While Ward does not receive much national intention, he is among the favorites for selection to Team Canada for the Winter Olympics in February. If he makes it, there's a good chance he'll be teammates with Martin Brodeur, who shut out Ward's Hurricanes on Saturday night in Newark. After the game, it was almost startling to hear the 37-year-old Brodeur, who passes out compliments to opponents as often as he backs up Yann Danis, show so much respect toward Ward. "Cam is such a good goalie," said Brodeur. "Any time you play against the best you have to raise your game."

"That's very flattering to hear, coming from Martin," Ward said three days later. "I mean, right back at him. It's amazing when you hear some people start to write him off year after year. I don't see it. I certainly didn't see it when he shut us out on Saturday. He's as good as ever."

For Carolina to have any chance of keeping up with the class of the East like Washington and Pittsburgh, they'll need Ward at his best. Actually, the Hurricanes are counting on it. "Cam's even-keeled, confident, reliable," said Maurice, who adds that his goalie is so low-maintenance that their conversations rarely go much deeper than "hello" while getting coffee in the locker room. "Cam's as capable as any goalie of coming up with that game-changing, spectacular save. It says a lot that our defense loves playing in front of him. I think that's because he's in control at all times."

His calm demeanor was on stage while backstopping Carolina to the Stanley Cup at the age of 22. Management is not worried about Ward burning out in the game's most psychologically-taxing position because they know his outlook each day at the rink.

Since the beginning of his youth hockey days, Ward was encouraged by his father to enjoy the challenge of netminding instead of being burdened by it. With his dad's words in mind, Ward writes "Have Fun" on all of his sticks.

"From peewee to juniors, the Stanley Cup Final and wherever the game takes me," said Ward, "I've always taken Dad's words to heart."

They have served him well.