Beyond Ken Dryden: A memoir

by Oren Safdie

104 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 1, 2026

Reviews

[Savanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.75 — This was actually quite a fun and engaging short story filled with hockey talk and stories from the Canadian team during this time period, and Oren’s personal life and childhood anecdotes. There were multiple lines in this that made me laugh at his childish attitude and way of thinking during these hard times (a fire, his parents). It kept me entertained and wanting to continue. I love hockey so hearing some facts about hockey in Canada and what was going on with the team and the rookie Ken Dryden was nice to read about. It held some words of inspiration and showed how hockey can mean a lot more to people than just being a sport to watch. As someone who loves going to hockey games, the atmosphere is electric and so fun to be a part of so I can definitely understand the author’s experience at games as a kid.

I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[claudesbookcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to net galley for this arc!
Beyond Ken Dryden is a short memoir about growing up in Montreal during the height of the Habs’ dynasty, as a kid who loves hockey while his family falls apart. While only 100 pages long, it still packs a punch. Despite being 50 years ago, it’s clear how much this time impacted the authors life.
4.5 stars!!

[Karen Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be the best little memoir I've ever read.