Ward honored as 1st member of Hurricanes Hall of Fame

RALEIGH, N.C. --Cam Ward, who played 13 seasons for the Carolina Hurricanes, was inducted into the newly-established Hurricanes Hall of Fame before their 6-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens at PNC Arena on Thursday.

As a rookie goalie, Ward won the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the Hurricanes to a win over his hometown team, the Edmonton Oilers, in Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Final.
Ward recalled coming to Carolina with "baby cheeks and frosted-tipped hair" after being selected in the first round (No. 25) of the NHL Draft in 2002, wondering how he would survive an outdoor conditioning drill in the summer heat. But as an NHL rookie four years later, the 22-year-old replaced Martin Gerber in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals and finished the playoffs with a 15-8 record, a 2.14 goals-against average and .920 save percentage
"I can still remember exactly where I was on this ice when Joe Vasicek passed me the Stanley Cup to hoist up high," he said.
Ward became the Carolina starter in 2006-07, winning 30, 37 and 39 games in the next three seasons and helping the Hurricanes reach the Eastern Conference Final in 2009.
"There were some great moments and some no-so-great moments in my time in Carolina, but one thing stayed clear throughout it all, and that was my love for this organization, this city and this fan base," Ward told the sold out crowd. "It is why my family and I call this place home. It is home."

Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, the captain of the 2006 Stanley Cup team, celebrated Ward as one of the top players in the team's 25 year history
"You can't have a hall of fame until you get some history," Brind'Amour said. "You've got to earn it. When you think of the Hurricanes' history, you can't not think of Cam Ward. He was our goalie that helped us win the Stanley Cup. He's a great representative of our organization. We had good times and bad times, but he did it right, and I couldn't be happier for him."
Ward played 701 regular-season games, 29th in NHL history. He played his final season in 2018-19 with the Chicago Blackhawks. He finished his NHL career with a 334-256-88 record, a 2.74 GAA, a .908 save percentage and 27 shutouts.
He went 23-18 with a 2.38 GAA, .917 save percentage and four shutouts in the playoffs.
Brind'Amour and Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell presented Ward with a framed Hall of Fame banner and a custom mask painted by Carolina equipment manager Jorge Alves.

Following the game, the Hurricanes did a Storm Surge celebration that involved dropping down to make a save in a nod to Ward, who clearly approved from his seat.

"I used to hear it all the time when I played, that before you know it, your career will be over, that if flies by," Ward said. "I can now attest to that. And so I say to the players, enjoy it. Make the most of it and take advantage of the opportunity.
"I look forward to watching this next generation come through, a generation and a team that can take us to the promised land and bring back the ultimate prize."