Carey Price needs no introduction for his hockey accolades.
The winningest goalie in Montreal Canadiens history has done it all.
A Stanley Cup finalist with the Habs in 2021, Price has won a world junior championship, Olympic gold, the World Cup, and was the toast of the NHL awards in 2015, winning the Hart, Vezina, Jennings and Lindsay trophies.
Now retired after 14 NHL seasons, Price was in Prince George on Sunday to receive a new honour. He was one of 36 people in MP Todd Doherty’s Cariboo-Prince George riding to receive the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Doherty, while introducing Price to the crowd at the Marriott Courtyard, said while most people are aware of his tremendous hockey achievements, they may not know what the Anahim Lake native has done off the ice to make his community a better place. That, he said, is why Price is so deserving of the king’s medal.
“I believe his greatest accomplishments are what he’s done off the ice. He’s been an incredible champion for mental health and for those who are struggling with it,” Doherty said.
“In telling his own story about his battle with alcoholism, which isn’t easy to do, he’s shown that it’s OK to not be OK, and it’s OK to ask for help. That takes more courage than anyone knows. At the peak of his career, he chose to focus on his own well-being and his family.”
“The work he and his wife, Angela, do with their Price Family Foundation to help underserved communities and those who need a leg up is just incredible.”
Price and his wife now live in Kelowna with their three children. He flew to Prince George to join the other medal recipients at Sunday’s reception. After the presentation, many of the other selected medal recipients waited in line to have their photo taken with Price, whose celebrity status commanded attention.
“I’m just honoured to be here with the other recipients,” Price said. “There are a lot of folks here who have done incredible work in their communities, and I’m proud to be standing with them. There’s a lot of character in this room right now. Hearing some of the stories and seeing how people have helped their communities has been a real pleasure.”
“Most of the awards ceremonies I’ve attended have been for hockey, so hearing about stories from outside the rink, from life, the military, and philanthropy, it’s been a real blessing to watch everyone get recognized.”
Price has battled knee injuries and hasn’t played since the 2021-22 season. He still has one year remaining on his contract with the Canadiens, but his playing days are now behind him. He moved his family from Montreal to Kelowna in 2023.
Price went public with his struggles with alcohol, which began after the Canadiens lost to Tampa Bay in the 2021 Stanley Cup final. His drinking problem was exacerbated by a slow recovery from knee surgery and the restrictions of the pandemic, which had him playing games in empty arenas. In October 2021, he was admitted to a residential rehabilitation program through the NHL Players’ Association Player Assistance Program. Since then, he has willingly spoken about substance abuse and its severe effects on Indigenous communities. He hopes his experience will encourage others with substance dependencies to seek help.
“It was a trying time in my life, for sure,” said Price, whose mother, Lynda, is chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation, near Anahim Lake.
“I’ve always been more of a leader by example than a vocal leader. Doing that privately was an option, but I also thought if I could be an example, that was the best route to go.”
Launched in November, the Price Family Foundation has partnered with Special Olympics BC, which aligns perfectly with the family’s mission to focus on philanthropy, educate children, and inspire neighbours to make positive contributions to their communities.
Price and his oldest daughter, Liv, play floorball on Fridays with Special Olympians in Kelowna. Although his knee no longer gives him pain when walking down stairs, he still feels it when he runs. But he’s able to participate in most activities, including golfing with other NHL veterans who retired in the Okanagan, and fuel his passion for camping, hunting, and hiking in the mountains.
“We’re a pretty active family. That was one thing I was very aware of when I started to approach the end of my career: I really wanted to be able to walk when I was done playing,” Price said.
“Goaltending’s a very demanding position, especially now. The older you get, the further along in your career you get, and you start to think beyond hockey. Hopefully, you have a long life afterwards.”
Price and his foundation want their core work to focus on recreation, athletics, and community initiatives, and Special Olympics BC checks all those boxes.
“It’s been fun to be part of organizations that give back. It’s been very fruitful for us,” said the 37-year-old Price. “It’s the positivity — everybody within the organization is just happy to be there. There’s such positive energy, and the athletes are just happy to see you show up. As soon as you walk through the door, you see the smiles on their faces. It’s been a real blessing.”
Prince George will host the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games, July 10-12.
“I’m not sure if I can come. I’ve got three kids under eight, and times are busy, but if my parenting schedule allows, I’d love to come,” Price said. “When I retired, I thought I’d have a whole bunch of free time on my hands, but it turns out parenting’s a full-time gig.”
The foundation is also partnered with Kelowna-based CRIS Adaptive, which pairs outdoor enthusiasts with people with disabilities who face barriers that make outdoor activities challenging.
The Price family is also connected to Elevation Outdoors, a charity that raises money for equipment that creates opportunities for disadvantaged youth to participate in outdoor activities.
“It’s been a lot of fun doing that,” said Price. “A lot of our work has to do with athletics and outdoor activities, providing people with opportunities to enjoy nature or sports. That’s always been close to home for either myself, my wife, or my family.
“We’ve gone on a few adventures around Kelowna, and we’re blessed to live in an area with access to some absolutely stunning outdoor views. To be able to take people there has been a real blessing.”
