Stu Cowan: Carey Price shouldn’t have to be Mr. Cool all the time

Article content

Canadiens fans and the Montreal media have watched Carey Price grow both on and off the ice since he was selected as the No. 5 pick in the 2005 NHL Draft.

Article content

But none of us got to know much about the man behind the mask who grew up in little Lake Anahim, BC, and at age 20 he was thrown into the bright lights and the big city as the number one goalkeeper for the Canadiens, one of the most pressure-filled positions in sports.

How small is Lake Anahim?

“He’s so small he doesn’t have his own bank,” Price’s father Jerry said after the Canadiens recruited his son.

The bank, and the nearest minor hockey program, were 200 miles away on Williams Lake. Montreal was 4,000 kilometers away and a completely different world.

Price has always been a man of few words, especially with the media, so it was often difficult to know what was going through his mind as he went through growing pains on and off the ice before becoming the best goalkeeper in the NHL. , winning the Vézina. Trophy in 2014-15 along with the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

Article content

From the outside looking in, Price was Mr. Cool and nothing seemed to bother him.

After allowing four goals on nine shots in a 4-2 preseason loss to the Boston Bruins in 2010 and being booed by Bell Center fans, Price said, “Relax, relax. We have a lot of time. We are not going to win the Stanley Cup in the first exhibition match. “

Classic tortoiseshell.

But there were other signs along the way when Price would come clean that everything might not be so cold.

After the Canadiens were eliminated in the first round of the 2013 playoffs by the Ottawa Senators, with Price averaging 3.26 goals against and a .894 save percentage, he said: “When you’re winning here there is no best place to play. But when you don’t play well here, it’s definitely difficult. That’s something I miss, being anonymous. … It is impossible. I don’t even go to the supermarket anymore. I hardly do anything anymore. I am like a hobbit in a hole. I just don’t do anything anymore.

Article content

“It’s easy to let your pride waver, it’s easy to think you’re terrible and it’s easy to think you’re cool here,” he added. “It is something that you have to handle mentally. I spoke to previous goalkeepers, I spoke to Patrick (Roy) and Ken Dryden. But I was so amazed that I didn’t really think about what I wanted to ask them. I was too nervous. But they all know what it’s like to go through this and they are very supportive. “

In 2018, Price broke Jacques Plante’s record for games played by a Canadiens goalkeeper in the final home game of the season. It was a tough season for Price, who had a 16-26-7 record, a 3.11 GAA and a .900 save percentage, but received a standing ovation from Bell Center fans when a tribute video was heard.

Article content

Price began to cry behind his mask.

“It was definitely an emotional moment for me,” he said after the game. “I didn’t expect it to be like this, but that video and that standing ovation was something I really needed. I am very grateful and really appreciate it. Through all the tough times we’ve been through this year, for the crowd to stand up and appreciate it, that really meant a lot to me. “

Price is now going through the most difficult time of his career after completing 30 days in the NHL / NHLPA player assistance program and announcing Tuesday that he is battling substance use. He could use another one of those standing ovations now and he deserves one for showing the courage in such a huge spotlight to reach out and ask for help.

Article content

“In recent years I have been led to a very dark place and did not have the tools to face that struggle,” he said.

As mental health becomes less of a taboo subject, thankfully, and more famous people like Price open up about it, we all realize that fame and fortune don’t buy happiness. From the outside, Price appeared to have the perfect life with an 84 million dollar contract, a beautiful wife and three healthy young children.

Price has sent a strong message that mental health and substance use can affect anyone, and hopefully has encouraged others to ask for help when they need it, too. There should be no shame.

The only interview I had with Price where he opened up a bit was in March 2017 on the day of the team photo at the Bell Center, his first as a parent. In the family team photo, he proudly posed with his wife, Angela, and daughter, Liv, who was just over a month away from her first birthday.

Then I asked Price if he could magically send a message to his 20 year old self, what would it be?

“Take your time,” he said. “Don’t live too fast… just enjoy the moment. I would probably have told myself that I should be more positive in negative situations. “

Stay positive, Carey.

[email protected]

twitter.com/StuCowan1