By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star
To hockey fans across the country, Carey Price is widely known as the starting netminder for the Montreal Canadiens. To Vernon Vipers’ equipment manager Gord (Hoon) Cochran, he’s just a good friend who happens to earn a seven-figure salary.
The two grew up playing minor hockey together in Williams Lake, and despite Price’s skyrocket to stardom, they remained close friends.
“He’s just one of my buddies. A couple of my other friends have trades, he plays hockey. He’s just one of the guys,” said Hoon, who traveled to Montreal for Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference final against Philadelphia.
When he heard Price would be heading up to Williams Lake from the U.S. this week, he invited him to stop by for a practice with the Vipers. No big deal.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound tender happily obliged, taking part in the drills and chatting with the players and coaches.
“I’ve known Hoon forever. Too long,” grinned Price, shortly before the session started Wednesday morning at Wesbild Centre.
“He was a solid defenceman, a stay-at-home guy (in Williams Lake).”
Even in minor hockey, Hoon said there was something special about Price.
“He was a year younger than me and he was always playing up (a division). I remember our Bantam coach saying ‘You guys are lucky because he’s going to go somewhere.’ We were like ‘Ya, whatever coach.’
“Then in the Bantam draft that year he went seventh overall (Tri-City Americans) and we were saying ‘Maybe coach is onto something here,’ and sure enough he ends up going fifth overall to Montreal.”
Asked if he ever scored on Price, Hoon laughed: “Probably when I was standing in front of the net and it went off my shin pad.”
Wednesday wasn’t Price’s first encounter with the Vipers. Playing a handful of B.C. Hockey League games with the Quesnel Millionaires, he suited up against Vernon once in 2002-03.
“It brings back memories,” said Price, of skating at Wesbild. “I actually played in this building at one point. I played in relief here one game. I remember it was a nice rink to play in.
“The B.C. junior league is a pretty good league. You’ve got a lot of good players coming from here.”
Price has another connection with the Vipers, as he once attended a goalie camp in Williams Lake headed by Sean Matile, now the Snakes’ goaltending coach.
In 2007, Price’s career surged after he went 6-0 with a .961 save percentage to lead Canada to gold at the 2007 World Junior Championships in Sweden.
In addition to collecting CHL Goaltender of the Year honours that season with the Americans, Price went on to backstop the Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal’s AHL affiliate) to the Calder Cup. Only 19 at the time, he was the youngest player in history to collect the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy (Calder Cup MVP).
Price’s name has surfaced fairly regularly, and almost always controversially, in the national press this summer. Following their Cinderella waltz to the Eastern Conference finals last season, the Habs dealt playoff hero netminder Jaroslav Halak to the St. Louis Blues, opting to stick with Price, who only recently turned 23, as their franchise starter.
After weeks of public speculation, he signed a two-year $5.5 million US contract with the Canadiens earlier this month.
“I’m happy to be signed and have that over with and head into camp,” said Price.
As a star netminder in a hockey-mad market, he handles the intense media scrutiny that goes along with his role with relative ease.
Asked if he feels any extra pressure, Price shrugs: “It’s just hockey, no matter where you’re at, for me. It doesn’t really matter where you’re playing, it’s still a game no matter what city you’re in.”
Hoon isn’t surprised to see how his long-time friend copes with the pressure.
“It’s just his personality – he’s the most relaxed guy ever. He’s just one of those guys that doesn’t gets flustered or too emotional about anything. It’s the way he has always been.”
Price leaves for Montreal Saturday. The Canadiens training camp begins Sept. 17.
