Adjusting to life after hockey can be difficult for former NHL players.
But former Canadiens goalie Carey Price seems to be adjusting to life as a full-time dad very well in Kelowna, B.C.
Price and his wife, Angela, have three children — Liv, 8, Millie, 6, and Lincoln, 4. Price, 37, still has one more season after this one remaining on his eight-year, US$84-million contract, but his playing career ended three years ago because of serious injuries to his right knee.
“I’m doing excellent,” Price said during a 25-minute phone interview Thursday afternoon from Kelowna, where he was at his parents’ new home.
“My parents just moved here recently, so I’m helping them move stuff in and it’s been a good time,” Price said. “It’s a real blessing to have them here now and be involved in the kids’ lives.
“I’ve been busier than I anticipated,” Price added. “We’ve got three kids under 8 years old, so they’re keeping me very busy but very happy. A lot of parenting and hobbying.”
Price has been doing media interviews recently as a spokesman for Kraft Hockeyville, a program that has awarded Canadian communities more than $5.1 million to maintain or upgrade sports and recreation infrastructure — including arenas — over the past 19 years. Communities interested in this year’s Kraft Hockeyville competition — with an opportunity to host an NHL pre-season game and receive $250,000 toward arena upgrades — have until 11:59 on March 2 to apply. Three years ago, the Canadiens played two Kraft Hockeyville pre-season games — in Gander, N.L., and Bouctouche, N.B. Price was sidelined with his knee injury and couldn’t play.
“I think the biggest thing for me was their affiliation with grassroots hockey programs,” Price said about getting involved in promoting Kraft Hockeyville. “For myself, I grew up in a remote area (Anahim Lake, B.C.) and have a connection with grassroots hockey myself. So I really appreciate what they do for small-town hockey.”
There was a photo posted on social media last month of Price teaching his son Lincoln how to skate on an outdoor rink.
Is there another future goalie in the family?
“Oh, I hope not,” Price said with a chuckle.
“He can be his own person,” Price added. “If he wants to be a goalie that would be great, but I’m kind of hoping he’s going to be a 50-goal scorer. But even if he doesn’t want to play hockey, that will be fine with me. He’s been skating a bit and he seems to enjoy it and as long as he’s having fun doing it I’d be happy to support him.”
Price sounded very happy, relaxed and content over the phone. He said his right knee is “pretty good on a day-to-day basis” and he’s thankful it is getting better.
“At times it definitely reminds me that it’s not whole yet,” he added. “But I’m very thankful for it being as well as it is right now.”
The thing Price misses most about being in the NHL is the camaraderie with his teammates. The thing he misses least is morning skates.
“But as far as an adjustment (to life after hockey), for me it wasn’t terribly difficult — aside from my injury,” he said. “When I knew I was going to be done playing I kind of thought I would be hanging out with my buddies all the time. But it turns out everybody has their own lives and I only see these guys occasionally.”
One of those guys is former Canadiens teammate Shea Weber, who lives about a 10-minute drive away in Kelowna. Price’s children and Weber’s children are also close friends.
“I still see him quite a bit,” Price said. “He’s pretty busy. His kids are playing hockey.”
When asked about the possibility of joining Weber in the Hall of Fame this year in his first year of eligibility, Price chuckled again and said: “Well, we’ll see. Obviously, I would be ready, but there’s lots of other guys that have been waiting patiently as well.”
Price said he might be interested in getting into coaching or player development in the future, but for now he’s happy just being a dad.
“I got a young family at home and I want to make sure that I put my focus and attention into that before anything else,” he said. “I always joke that when they’re teenagers and don’t think I’m cool and don’t want to hang out with me anymore, maybe I’ll get into something like that.”
In the meantime, I asked Price if he had a message he’d like to pass along to Canadiens fans.
“I’d just like to say that I appreciate all the support that I got over the years,” he said. “I would say that my gratitude towards everybody who stopped me in a store or in a restaurant and showed their support and love … it’s really heartfelt. Now that I’ve been removed people still message me and I still get stopped occasionally. But the support that I received over the years I’m just very grateful for.”