Montreal Canadiens star Carey Price will be away from the team while voluntarily taking part in the NHL/National Hockey League Players’ Association assistance program.
A join media release from the NHL and NHLPA on Thursday announced the 34-year-old goalie’s decision and said there would be no further comment. The NHL and NHLPA first offered the jointly funded player assistance program in 1996. It helps players and their families with mental health, substance abuse and other matters.
General manager Marc Bergevin said in a media update that Price would be away for a minimum of 30 days. Bergevin was emotional when asked about his relationship with Price over the years and the news, which he said caught him off-guard.
“It’s hard,” he replied.
WATCH | GM Bergevin gets emotional while talking about Price:
‘It’s hard’: Marc Bergevin gets emotional in talking about Carey Price
1 hour ago
With news that goaltender Carey Price will enter the NHL/NHLPA’s player assistance program, Habs GM Marc Bergevin addressed the media about his star goaltender. 1:40
Price’s wife notes importance of mental health
News of Price’s decision follows remarks from head coach Dominique Ducharme on Wednesday that he was unlikely to practice before the season start as he recovered from an illness not related to COVID-19. The superstar goaltender was also recovering from surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Price’s wife, Angela, posted on Instagram, saying that “part of the privilege of being in the position our family is in, is that we also get a public platform to show how there is and can be a path to light for anyone who is struggling.”
“No matter what is on the line, we hope we can communicate the importance of putting your mental health first, not just by saying it, but by showing up and doing the work to get better,” she wrote.
“Carey’s showing up for himself and our family and making the absolute best decision possible for us. I will continue to show up for him and our kids and seek out the support that I may need on any given day. And it’s incredibly important to us to show our kids that asking for help and letting yourself be supported by others is not just OK, but encouraged — anytime, and under any circumstance.”
WATCH | More from Bergevin as Price enters the assistance program:
Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin addresses Carey Price entering player assistance program
2 hours ago
Watch the English portion of Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin’s press conference to address Carey Price voluntarily entering the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association assistance program. 11:27
Montreal opens its 2021-22 season Oct. 13 at Toronto. The Canadiens reached the Stanley Cup final last season and recently welcomed back forward Jonathan Drouin, who was out during the playoff push, in pre-season games last month.
Bergevin said the mental health of players is “the elephant in the room” sometimes. “We don’t say anything and it’s very personal.”
He said he saluted Drouin and Price for getting help. “If there’s other players in the NHL who have different issues, whatever that is, I think the NHL and NHLPA are really looking at the well-being of their players. And I commend them to do that. I think every general manager is very sensitive to that and we are here in Montreal.
“I believe better days are ahead for Carey and his family.”
In Price’s absence, the Canadiens will look to netminder Jake Allen, who is entering his ninth NHL season. They also picked up goalie Sam Montembeault on waivers from Florida on the weekend.
Though Shea Weber is also out due to injuries, Bergevin said he has a “good group” that can carry through until Price returns.
“We do have leadership in this group and I think they’ll rise to the occasion one more time,” Bergevin said.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
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