Cam Ward

Cam Ward (born Cameron Kenneth Ward on February 29, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Early Playing Career
Cam spent his junior career with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL). After appearing in one game for the Rebels in 2000–01, he played three full seasons with the team from 2001–2004, leading them to the WHL finals twice.

Cam was drafted 25th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. After graduating from the WHL, he 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.

Carolina Hurricanes
Joining the Hurricanes for the 2005–06 NHL season, Cam largely served in a backup role to Swiss 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.

Cam 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, Zigmund Pálffy and Sidney Crosby in a shootout, as the Hurricanes won 3–2. He completed his NHL rookie season with 14 wins and 8 losses, along with a 3.68 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 Cam.

The goaltending switch prompted Carolina to a series comeback, advancing to the second round against the New Jersey Devils where Cam 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, Cam 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, Cam 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 season before bowing out to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Cam went 8–10 with a 2.67 GAA during the playoffs.

Cam and the Hurricanes struggled to begin the 2009–10 season as he went 2–9–3 to start the campaign.

On November 8, 2009 in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cam was injured when he was cut on the leg by the skate of opposing forward Rick Nash. As he 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 post-season.

He was the first overall pick in the 2011 NHL All-Star Game Fantasy Draft, selected by All-Star Game captain, Eric Staal.

On December 26, 2011, Cam was credited with an empty-net goal against the New Jersey Devils when a misplaced pass from Ilya Kovalchuk found its way into the empty goal after a rebound from him. He is the tenth goalie in NHL history to do this.

On February 27, 2015, he recorded his 500th game with the Carolina Hurricanes.