Canadiens goaltender Carey Price comes clean in statement on substance abuse

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Joshua Deeds
June 23, 2024 (4:09 PM)

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Carey Price speaks out about heartbreaking alcohol school abuse

Carey Price is a role model in more ways than one, as a good role model demonstrates humility and the ability to learn from your past mistakes. He has shared with us, the troubling news of his past alcohol struggles in order to help others learn from his errors.

It's not easy sharing your demons in the public sphere, but Price appeared on the UnHammered Podcast with former NHLer Brantt Myhres and opened up about his past struggles with alcoholism:

As usual it starts innocently:

"I've always been kind of a good time Charlie, you know hanging out with the boys," admitted Price.

He would lapse into alcoholism, for years before he would realize that help was needed. He thanks his family who helped him realize his issues with his alcohol usage.

"It wasn't until later, I think especially when you start bringing in a different aspect into your life, like kids, you have more responsibilities," said Price. "At a certain point I was like 'I need to make my family my priority and my own health my priority.'"

Price's own alcoholism would later cost him down the road in his NHL career, especially seeing the results of his fellow netminders in the league. It was an obvious disappointment.

"It starts wearing on you because you're like 'Am I being a professional? Am I truly giving it [my] all?'" said Price.

Things would come to a head and Price would later check himself into a treatment facility:

"I was there for 30 days," said Price of the treatment center he attended. "The facility I was at was a lot of self-reflectiveness, self-awareness which was really good for me."

Price later mentioned that after the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals loss, he would check himself into the facility, as the stress he experienced pushed him over the edge. It would cause him to seek help immediately.

"We had just gone to the Cup Finals, we had just lost in the Cup Finals, I had just gone through a surgery, there was a lot of things going on in my life that I think pushed me over the edge as that summer went on."

Price would thank the Habs GM at the time, Marc Bergevin for how he handled the entire situation.

"Very understanding," said Price of Bergevin. "We had a long conversation, an emotional one, what was said will obviously stay between us, very heartfelt."

Price would later admit during the interview, it took him a considerable period of time to seek help, but his wife Angela helped encourage him to do so.

"There have been times in my life where Angela was like 'You need to get control of yourself here' you know?" admitted Price."

Price believes that the high-stress environment that is the NHL, could be a major contributor to those players who experience addiction for those who play the game at the highest level.

"I think a lot of it is just dealing with stress," admitted Price. "Hockey in general is high performance, we need results, when you think about it you're in a very stressful situation. So I think part of it too is being able to handle and deal with the stresses of being a high performance athlete."

Price admitted that being sober isn't easy, as he felt excluded from a lot of social norms as a result. But it gets better every day.

"The further along I went along with this, you just feel more comfortable being yourself," said Price of being sober for two years."

Being sober has been a monumental factor in Price's ability to be the best version of himself for his kids.

"How many days of your life have you wasted feeling like that," said Price of being hungover. "Now I wake up on Sunday morning and I'm making breakfast for the kids and being a present dad. I'm really thankful for that time."

The Former Habs legend seems to be in a good spot now and is looking to set up a camping trip with former NHLer and friend, Jordin Tootoo.

All the best for Carey Price and his continued journey in sobriety!

Source: Hockey Feed
Carey Price opens up about his battles with alcohol.