Carey Price received an ovation lasting close to four minutes from Montreal Canadiens fans at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night ahead of a game against the Minnesota Wild, celebrating his recent Hockey Hall of Fame induction and 15-year franchise career.
The crowd serenaded the longtime goaltender with “Ca-rey! Ca-rey!” and “Olé, Olé” chants while he stood beside the five individual trophies he won during his NHL career. Price stood next to the team benches as he attempted to address the arena.
“From the bottom of my heart, the most sincere ‘Merci beaucoup’,” Price told the crowd, his voice trembling.
In keeping with club custom, the Canadiens inducted Price into their ring of honour following his entry into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday in Toronto. Price, 39, became the 62nd member of the Canadiens organization to enter the Hall of Fame.
The journey began in the remote community of Anahim Lake, B.C. During his childhood, Jerry Price—his father—transported him three times weekly in a four-passenger aircraft across the 320-kilometre distance separating their home settlement from Williams Lake, B.C., so that the youngster could participate in youth hockey.
The Canadiens selected Price fifth overall in the 2005 draft. He spent his entire 15-year NHL career in Montreal, becoming the franchise’s all-time leader with 361 wins.
Across 712 regular-season appearances, he accumulated 49 shutouts alongside a .917 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average. Afterwards, Price backstopped Canada to Olympic gold in 2014, then won the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in 2015.
During that 2014-15 season, he posted a .933 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-against average across 66 games. Having spent a large portion of his career shouldering Montreal squads that lacked scoring depth, Price never managed to capture a Stanley Cup.
Alex Kovalev’s 84 points in the 2007-08 season, which was Price’s rookie year, were the most by a Montreal player during Price’s career. Price came closest to hoisting the trophy in 2021, when he led an underdog Canadiens team to the Stanley Cup final against the Tampa Bay Lightning while COVID-19 restrictions remained in full swing.
A degenerative right knee injury cut his career short, limiting him to just five more appearances. His final game came in a 10-2 victory over Florida at the Bell Centre on April 29, 2022.
“When you end your career, there’s a picture of riding off into the sunset, and I didn’t feel like it happened, but I felt the love regardless,” Price said. “I had time to reflect on everything a little bit over this time, and it made me even more thankful for everything.”
Canadiens Honor Price with Portrait and Ring of Honour
Positioned just outside the locker room, a photo montage captures Price’s finest moments, sharing wall space with portraits of every other ring of honour inductee directly above the players’ stalls.
“He’s always been up there in my mind,” said Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, who played as Price’s teammate from 2021 to 2022.
“Another legend of the game that called Montreal home,” Caufield said. “To be able to see the fans and have someone come back and (get) all the recognition that they deserve is really special. And to do it in this building, in this city, is unbelievable.”
Price, a member of the Ulkatcho First Nation, spoke about the organization’s history before the game.
“It’s special,” Price said. “I was able to be a part of many ceremonies here, and obviously the rich culture of this franchise speaks for itself. I’m just honoured to add another chapter to it.”
Debates often circulate in Montreal over whether Price’s No. 31 should hang in the Bell Centre rafters. The Canadiens’ 24 Stanley Cup titles have established a high bar for jersey retirements, leaving champions such as Jacques Lemaire and Steve Shutt without retired numbers.
Price mentioned that walking into the Bell Centre on Tuesday brought to mind the night the Canadiens raised his idol Patrick Roy’s No. 33 on Nov. 22, 2008.
When asked if he thinks about having a similar ceremony for his own number, Price said he prefers to take things one step at a time.
“No, I’m just kind of taking things in one step at a time here. I’ve always been like that,” said Price, who resides in Kelowna, B.C., with his wife, Angela, and their three children. “I’m just thankful to be here tonight and be able to share this with everybody.”
Goaltending Succession at the Bell Centre
Canadian rookie goalie Jacob Fowler has drawn comparisons to Price due to his stoic, panic-free play style. Price himself identified Fowler as the goaltender who reminds him most of himself.
The Canadiens ultimately lost 2-1 in overtime to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Fowler stopped 22 shots in a goaltending duel against Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt.
“One of the greatest goalies to ever play,” Fowler said of Price after the game.
“It was crazy just to see the support of the fans. I didn’t think the game was ever going to start after the ovation was going,” Fowler said. “We were joking around about it that we didn’t know how long it was gonna go. Just a really special moment and super emotional.”
