Cam Ward Cameron Kenneth Ward ( born February 29 , 1984 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Born in Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , he was raised in Sherwood Park , Alberta . During his three - year junior career in the Western Hockey League ( WHL ) , he was selected 25th overall by the Hurricanes in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft . After a season with the Hurricanes ' American Hockey League ( AHL ) affiliate , the Lowell Lock Monsters , he won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 . He became the first starting goaltender to win the NHL championship as a rookie since Patrick Roy in 1986 . Playing career . Early career . Ward spent his junior career with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League . After appearing in one game for the Rebels in 2000 – 01 , Ward played three full seasons with the team from 2001 – 2004 , leading them to the WHL finals twice . Ward was drafted 25th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft . Upon graduating from the WHL , Ward 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 , Ward 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 . He 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 , Žigmund Pálffy , and Sidney Crosby , in a shootout , as the Hurricanes won 3 – 2 . Ward completed his NHL rookie season with 14 wins and 8 losses , along with a 3 . 68 goals against average ( 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 Ward . The goaltending switch prompted Carolina to a series comeback , advancing to the second round against the New Jersey Devils , where he 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 , he 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 , Ward 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 NHL Season before bowing out to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins . Ward went 8 - 10 with a 2 . 67 GAA during the playoffs . Ward and the Hurricanes struggled to begin the 2009 - 10 NHL Season , as Ward went 2 - 9 - 3 to start the campaign . On November 8 , 2009 , in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets , Ward was injured when he was cut on the leg by the skate of opposing forward Rick Nash . As Ward 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 postseason . Ward was the first overall pick in the 2011 NHL All - Star Game Fantasy Draft , selected by All - Star Game captain , Eric Staal . International play . Ward ' s performance in his NHL rookie season earned him consideration on a shortlist of 81 candidates to play for Team Canada in the 2006 Winter Olympics . He was one of nine goalies selected , however he was not named to the Canadian squad . He was a member of the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4 - 2 win against Finland in Moscow and a member of the 2008 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won silver in a 4 - 5 game against Russia in Canada . Personal life . Born in St . Paul ' s Hospital in Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , Ward is the second child of Ken and Laurel Ward . He is the middle child of his family , between Chelsea , his younger sister , and Kendra , his older sister . He grew up in Saskatoon and Sherwood Park , spending his adolescent years in the latter . When the Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup , an article in the Saskatoon Star - Phoenix acknowledged Ward ' s early years in Saskatoon growing up in Lakeridge , a neighborhood in the city ' s southeast corner where he lived until moving to Sherwood Park when he was 10 years old . He attended Jr High at FR Haythorne and high school at Salisbury Composite High School in Sherwood Park , until he graduated . Ward owns a Rec Hockey team in Red Deer Alberta , The Red Deer Jets , don Winnipeg Jet jerseys , with name bars of former Jet players . They regularly donate money to the Special Olympics . There is also a Red Deer Jets patch on the back of Ward ' s helmet . Ward is a fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League ( CFL ) . On March 25 , 2007 Ward shaved his head for the St . Baldrick ' s Foundation . Ward is extremely active in charity work and community service . He often donates his private box in the RBC center to families with children that have special needs and makes very personable visits to hospitals in the Raleigh , Durham , and Chapel Hill area . Ward and his wife Cody have one son , Nolan , was born on November 24 , 2010 .