Carey Price opens up about his struggles and being part of the Player Assistance Program

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Sam Hutch
January 13, 2023 (10:36)

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Since the 2021 National Hockey League playoffs, wether it be dealing with a hip issue or entering the player assistance program provided by the NHL and the NHLPA, it's been a trying couple of years for Montreal Canadiens great Carey Price.

Tonight, the second part of an interview with the Blue Pocket aired and Price opens up and continues to be vulnerable about his time with the assistance program and his drinking habits,

In the interview, he answers a series of questions, such as how he ended up in the program and so much more. Take a look:

The NHL has substance abuse support programs, it's a really good program for players, whether it's mental health or substance abuse and I felt like I was due.

I started drinking for fun, and I thought I was very good, even excelled, but it got to the point where it wasn't fun anymore. I would wake up on Sunday mornings and say to myself that I would never do that again in my life, but I would always do it again.

It got to the point where I really needed to stop and it was time to get help.

And that's the hardest part of breaking bad habits, is realising that you need help and there's nothing wrong with that. Everyone asks for help in their lives. I felt that asking for help was the right thing to do and it worked for me.

Price continues to explain his signing up for the player assistance program works and what it's like to be so vulnerable on the public eye.

The NHL signs you up for a program. There are a few different ways to do it. You can do it from a facility or you can do it at home. I found the best thing for me was to take a step back and walk away and go reset my brain.

I went to a place where I felt comfortable. So to be able to go there and to be able to interact with people who have gone through difficult times and where I went, there were very bright people. Very functional people who you would never think would have problems.

And to be able to hear stories and compare yourself to other people who were going through the same kind of thing, maybe not NHL hockey players, but people who are struggling in everyday life. And to be able to reset my brain and hold myself accountable was really a turning point in my life.

For a lot of NHL players, that's the hardest part, probably for most of the people who rip it off, too: the judgment. Once you get past that and understand that people aren't judging you and you can be proud and be yourself when you go out.

When I was going out, I used to drink a lot to be socially comfortable because I'm quite introverted and I get anxiety when we're in big groups. You might not think so, but that's the way I am and it led me to drink excessively. So I was thinking about changing my approach at social events and being myself and it's been a good change.

Price concluded the interview by saying this:

When you play hockey, people don't see you as a normal person. They see a uniform, a character on the ice. To get away from that and bring a reality to a situation can help

Being so open with his experiences will not only bring awareness to the what players go through, but break down the stigma around hockey players and once again set an example for younger people.

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