Canadiens' goalie Carey Price enters player assistance program
CBC
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 Wednesday announced the 34-year-old goalie's decision. It did not estimate a time for his return and said there would be no further comment.
General manager Marc Bergevin and head coach Dominique Ducharme are providing a media update at 11:15 a.m.
The news follows remarks from Ducharme on Wednesday that Price 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."