Dave Dryden was born in Hamilton. He was raised in Etobicoke, where he became actively involved in hockey and baseball. He played minor baseball in the early years of the Kingsway Baseball League, and assisted in coaching atom baseball and hockey with his father.

He played minor hockey with the KI/Y, T.H.L and King Clancy leagues before beginning his junior hockey career with St Mike’s and the Toronto Marlboroughs. He later played senior hockey with the Galt Hornets.

During his NHL career, Dave goal-tended for the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres and the Edmonton Oilers. He played for the Chicago Cougars and the Edmonton Oilers while in the W.H.A. It was in his last season in the W.H.A that he won the league’s Most Valuable Player award.

Dave was one of three goaltenders who transformed modern goaltending and pioneered the redesign of goaltending equipment which has generated the contemporary goaltending style.