Carey Price and Shea Weber have everything to be happy about. Charming wives, beautiful children and plenty of money in their pockets. Their professional hockey career allowed them to secure their future and that of their descendants.
They miss hockey, though.
Typically, a 37-year-old top defenseman and 35-year-old top goaltender are still on the ice. But, as we know, injuries thwarted Weber and Price’s plans.
In this sense, they must feel great frustration.
Because every athlete wants to be able to choose when to retire. Already that this decision is difficult, they do not want to be pushed by force towards the exit.
It is an obsession for them.
Cournoyer has been there
Yvan Cournoyer knows where Price and Weber go.
During the last three seasons of his glorious 16-year career with the Canadiens, his back gave him little by little.
He underwent two operations and it was in complete tie that he lived the Stanley Cup conquests of 1977, in Boston, and 1978 at the Forum, against the New York Rangers. Serge Savard acted as captain in his place.
In 1979, the day after the first day of training camp, he remained a prisoner of his bed. His body no longer wanted to follow.
His career ended like this.
The shock was hard to take.
“I felt like a worker with 35 years of service suddenly losing his job,” says Cournoyer, who would turn 36 later that year.
“Hockey having been my whole life until then, it was easy. I had been doing this since I was 17,” he adds, going back to his years with the Canadian juniors.
The young people of this team rubbed shoulders with the players of the big Canadian. They played at the Forum and wore the same uniform.
It’s just the amount of the check that was different.
In his last junior season, in 1963-1964, Cournoyer was called up to play five games with the big club. Over the next 15 seasons, he engraved his name on the Stanley Cup 10 times.
Cournoyer and his teammates were the kings of the city.
A year to recover
Then, everything suddenly stopped for the brave captain. The memorable evenings at the Forum, the great conquests, the spectacular parades on Sainte-Catherine Street. It was all over.
“The first year, I was downcontinues Cournoyer.
“When you’re 30 or 35 and, overnight, you no longer have to get up in the morning because you no longer have a job, it’s hard.
“Since that time, whenever I see someone lose their job, I know how they might feel. »
But Cournoyer never perceived himself as a privileged person of society either.
It must be said that the gap between the salaries of hockey players and those of workers was much less pronounced in his time.
“I was just doing my job although I recognize that hockey was a great way to earn a living,” he said.
“It’s true that not everyone has a career in hockey. On the other hand, it is important to do a job that you enjoy. If you don’t like what you’re doing, you’ll be bored. »
12 years in catering
Compared to other athletes, Cournoyer still got back on his feet quite quickly after the premature end of his career. He opened a restaurant called Brasserie 12, which was successful in Lachine, Montreal.
« The 32e Avenue was practically deserted when the idea came to me, he recalls.
“I bought land that belonged to CN and I participated with an architect in drawing up the plan for the building that housed my brewery for 12 years.
“I relied on a formidable team of 40 employees. I ran it like a hockey team. It was a lot of work and I was present as the leader of a company should be. »
Cournoyer had a less fortunate hand with a chain of restaurants specializing in hamburgers. But he recovered well and his fame remained intact.
The fans love him and he pays them back in his role as the Canadiens’ ambassador.
Price will speak on Monday
Carey Price will meet the media on Monday. But it will not be to announce his retirement from competition, as he still has hopes of returning to the game.
Price continues to receive treatment at the Canadiens’ infirmary and remains in the team’s entourage.
The goaltender will respond to the multiple interview requests he has received since training camp.
Fans don’t forget that either.
We saw the monster ovation he received during the opening game last week at the Bell Centre.
Yvan Cournoyer was hit.
“I was there and I thought it was very kind of the spectators to tell me the glorious number 12 of the Habs yesterday.
“It’s nice to see fans recognize the contribution of players who have had long careers with the Canadiens. »
At home in Montreal
Price had another good reason to return to Montreal for the season.
Towards the end of the summer, his two daughters, Liv and Millie, aged 6 and 3 respectively, asked him when the family would return to the Quebec metropolis.
They were eager to reunite with their friends and engage in their regular activities.
For them as for their mother, Angela, Montreal is their home.
Price had no choice.
When you have three women at home, you have to listen to them!
Note that the Price couple are also parents to a boy, Lincoln, who turned 2 in June.