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Carolina Hurricanes: Cam Ward’s Carolina Resume and Legacy

By Conor Power

RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 19: Goaltender Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes poses with the Conn Smythe trophy after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 19, 2006 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes defeated the Oilers 3-1 to win the Stanley Cup finals 4 games to 3. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - JUNE 19: Goaltender Cam Ward #30 of the Carolina Hurricanes poses with the Conn Smythe trophy after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in game seven of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Finals on June 19, 2006 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes defeated the Oilers 3-1 to win the Stanley Cup finals 4 games to 3. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images) /
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Ethan Anders,  Red Deer Rebels(Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)
Ethan Anders,  Red Deer Rebels(Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

The WHL years

Ward would play for the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and would play very well during his tenure as a rebel. Although he had some shady numbers prior to his time with the rebels, he quickly proved that he was fully capable of taking that step to play at the next level during his 3 years in the WHL.

Cam would put up a .911 save percentage and would record a 2.27 goals-against average in his first season in the WHL. For someone who would have been no older than 16, those numbers are good. He quickly started to show some promise.

Ward would only get better as his time in the Western Hockey League progressed. In his second season, he recorded a 2.10 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. He was starting to prove himself as someone who may very well have a career in the NHL ahead of them.

Predictions about Cam’s future would only go up after he posted a superb .926 save percentage and a 2.05 goals-against average. All of a sudden, he was one of the hottest goalie commodities in the draft class. Very highly rated and for a very good reason, Ward shot up the draft boards.

He’d gone from a question mark to being drafted at all to a 1st round draft pick. The Carolina Hurricanes took the chance the young goaltender wanted, and he now had a platform to launch his NHL Career. All he needed to do was keep progressing.

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