Carey Price receives ovation as Canadiens add him to ring of honour

Explainer

The Montreal Canadiens welcomed Carey Price back to the Bell Centre with a lengthy ovation Tuesday night, adding the legendary goaltender to the team's ring of honour. The ceremony came one day after Price was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Fans cheered for close to four minutes, serenading Price with chants of his name and "Olé, Olé" before the Canadiens' game against the Minnesota Wild. Price stood beside the five individual trophies he won during his career as he addressed the crowd.

"From the bottom of my heart, the most sincere 'Merci beaucoup,'" Price told the crowd, his voice trembling. He also thanked the organization for giving him the chance to live out a childhood dream. "I'd just like to take a second to thank the Montreal Canadiens organization for giving me an opportunity to live out a childhood dream," Price said. "You've given me a home for 15 years. And I have had the honour of being your goaltender."

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What did fans and players say about the ceremony?

Canadiens rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler, who has been compared to Price, called it a special and emotional moment. "One of the greatest goalies to ever play," Fowler said 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." Fans in attendance described the atmosphere as electric and magical. One supporter called Price the greatest goaltender in Canadiens history, while another said he was the reason they fell in love with hockey again.

"We grew up with some really lean years and Carey gave us hope every time he was on the ice," one fan said. Another described Price as part of the organization's identity over the past two decades. Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, a former teammate, said Price has always been a legend in his mind. "To be able to see the fans and have someone come back and (get) all the recognition that they deserve is really special," Caufield said.

What are Carey Price's career accomplishments?

Price spent his entire 15-year NHL career with the Canadiens after being selected fifth overall in the 2005 draft. He is the franchise's all-time leader with 361 wins, and he recorded 49 shutouts in 712 regular-season games. His individual accolades include winning the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender in 2015. That season, he posted a .933 save percentage and a 1.96 goals-against average across 66 games.

Price also backstopped Canada to Olympic gold at the 2014 Sochi Games. He became the 62nd member of the Canadiens organization to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame. Reflecting on the honour before the game, Price said it was special. "I was able to be a part of many ceremonies here, and obviously the rich culture of this franchise speaks for itself," Price said. "I'm just honoured to add another chapter to it."

How did Price's career come to an end?

Despite his individual success, Price never won a Stanley Cup. He came closest in 2021, leading an underdog Canadiens team to the final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. A degenerative right knee injury cut his career short, limiting him to just five more games after that playoff run. His final NHL appearance was a 10-2 victory over the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre on April 29, 2022. At the time, fans did not know it would be his last game.

"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." Price is a member of the Ulkatcho First Nation in British Columbia. His father, Jerry, used to fly him 320 kilometres from their remote hometown of Anahim Lake to Williams Lake three times a week so he could play minor hockey.

What is the ring of honour and what comes next?

The Canadiens' ring of honour is a team tradition that recognizes legendary players. Price's portrait now hangs above the stalls in the dressing room alongside other members. When asked if he thinks about having his number retired, Price said he takes 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," Price said. He now lives in Kelowna, B.C., with his family.

During the ceremony, Price also addressed the current Canadiens players. "To the boys, this is your time now. Enjoy it," he said. The Canadiens lost the game 2-1 in overtime to the Minnesota Wild. One fan said Price's return felt like closing a chapter and opening a new one for the team on the ice.

With files from The Canadian Press, Global News and CityNews