IHC Alumni Bio – Chris Driedger – Overlooked

By Jordan Laroche

Chris Driedger has been a bubble player through most of his NHL career, but surprised a lot of people with a breakout season in the league. But before that, Driedger broke in with the Tri-City Americans in the WHL as a 16 year old. That same year, Driedger represented Canada at the U17 World Hockey Championship where he started in four games for Team Canada.

Driedger was then moved to the Calgary Hitmen where his numbers would improve with more experience. During the 2012-2013 season Driedger posted a 2.51GAA and a .915SV% which was enough for him to get drafted in the third round (#76 overall) to the Ottawa Senators. 

Driedger would spend the majority of the next eight years bouncing between the NHL, AHL and the ECHL. In 2018 Driedger would be released from the Ottawa Senators organization as a Free-Agent and he spent that season with the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL and the Manchester Monarchs in the ECHL.

Driedger would sign a two-year deal with the Florida Panthers in 2019, and this past season enjoyed a breakout season with the Panthers. He had a .927SV% and a 2.07GAA in 23 starts, outperforming teammate and former Vezina Trophy Winner, Sergei Bobvrosky. With Bobvrosky’s cap hit and the emergence of Spencer Knight, it is unlikely that the Florida Panthers will resign Driedger this year, but off the back of this season there will be many teams who will try to sign him.

Driedger was also instrumental in the growth of the Ice Hockey Classic Down Under. He has backstopped the Canadian teams in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and excited the amazing crowds in every arena. He received the Player of the Match on three separate occasions sponsored by Zonte Footsteps.

“To have the opportunity to travel the world and support great causes like StopConcussions is amazing. The crowds were over the top! Look forward to doing it again and help grow our game.” –  Chris Driedger.