A chance of a lifetime to meet a legend
Courtesy Montreal Canadiens
Two weeks ago, when the Sports and Recreation Unit of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) and Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS) started to work with the Montreal Canadiens to send some community members to their home opener, they did not think it would end with them spending hours hanging out with Montreal Canadiens legend - and, technically, current San Jose Shark - Carey Price and his family.
The request for who to send to the game from Kahnawake ended up being from Price himself, explained Roiatate Horn, director of the Sports and Recreation Unit.
“The request was kids in the community who may never get a chance to really see a hockey game, or just really needed a confidence boost and something good to happen to them,” said Horn.
As such, they worked with KSCS’ youth programming and foster programs to send 12 kids and guardians to the game, accompanied by Horn and Walter Whitebean, KSCS’ team leader - post majority support services.
They knew they would get a chance to be in a loge and meet a “Canadiens alumni,” but had no idea it would be Price until they walked into the loge saw Price’s wife Angela and their kids, with Carey Price joining them soon after.
“I tried for a few days to get it out of them, but they wanted to keep it a secret and surprise,” said Horn.
When they found out it would be Price, everyone was shocked.
“It was a nervous excitement to be able to hang out with Carey Price for the game,” said Horn.
They expected him to join them for a few minutes, maybe a period if they were lucky, but he and his family stayed with them for the entire game, a 5-4 win in overtime against the Seattle Kraken.
“He socialized the whole game, leading to overtime, and when we left, he was still there. He was a really, really gracious host,” said Horn.
“They were really interested in the community and learning our stories and learning about what we do for a living. I didn’t take it as just a photo op, they were there to really get to know us and become friends.”
Twelve youth and guardians from Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS) youth programming and foster program - whose faces are covered for privacy and security reasons - got the surprise of a lifetime on Tuesday for the Montreal Canadiens’ home opener, getting the chance to share a loge at the Bell Centre with none other than Carey Price and his family. Courtesy Sports and Recreation Unit
Whitebean said getting the opportunity to give these experiences to kids and families who may never get the chance otherwise is one of the highlights of his job.
“I was going to check out the view of the rink and one of the kids said, can you believe it, we didn’t have to pay for these seats and look at this view. He was so genuinely excited. I was very, very happy to be in that moment with them. It was pretty special,” said Whitebean.
He said the kids took full advantage of the opportunity they were given to enjoy the loge and be with Price.
“He signed anything and everything they gave him. They were taking their shoes off, everything. The kids went over the top,” said Whitebean.
“The highlight was they ended up getting on the Jumbotron and they felt like the stars of the Bell Centre.”
Whitebean said they got to see a side of Price they would not usually see: him just being a dad.
“It was very heartwarming to see,” said Whitebean.
“That was my highlight, to see him just sit down with some of the kids and watch some of the game and just be at peace like that.”
Both he and Horn said this would be an experience they, and the kids, would never forget.
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“It was just amazing. I’m still at a loss for words. It’s been hours since the game’s been done, and I’m still floating,” said Horn.
“I never expected to be treated in such a way by the Montreal Canadiens’ organization. It’s nice to see the human side of big organizations,” said Whitebean.
