CAREY PRICE

While playing hockey on backyard rinks in Anahim Lake, British Columbia, as a boy, Carey Price (Ulkatcho and Nuxalk) was readying himself to become a champion NHL player.

It was Carey’s father, Jerry, once drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers himself, who sacrificed so that his son could play. Drives to practice took three hours each way, and as Carey improved, Jerry purchased a small plane to cut down on the transportation time. Between the ages of 9 and 15, Carey played on a Minor Hockey Association team, leading them to a provincial championship. By age 15, he had been drafted by the Tri-City Americans of Kennewick, Washington. This meant Carey had to leave home and stay with a host family. By age 20, he was playing for the NHL. Though he went through several years of injuries, Carey’s tenacity always seemed to catapult him back into record-setting play, including a gold medal win for the Canadian team at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Carey Price is the story—enhanced by black-and-white photos and text boxes with hockey-related anecdotes and information—of a First Nations kid who continually pushed through obstacles to become the best hockey player he could be. Deeply rooted in his Indigenous heritage and devoted to First Nations youth, Carey now supports many community endeavors.

An inspiring story, especially for hockey fans—and not just for reluctant teen readers.