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Posted Sept. 2, 2002
Americans hope 15-year-old fits into their future
By Annie Fowler
Herald staff writer
When the Tri-City Americans had a chance to draft a top-notch goalie in Dan Blackburn in the 1998 Bantam draft, they drafted a defenseman.
So Kootenay general manager Bob Tory selected Blackburn, who in turn led the Ice to the Western Hockey League title in 1999-2000.
So when Tory, now the Tri-City Americans GM, found goalie Carey Price of Williams Lake, British Columbia still available in the first round of this year's bantam draft, he took him with the seventh pick overall.
"Our philosophy is to pick the best player regardless of position," said Tory, who saw Price play in the B.C. Games in Williams Lake in February. "Carey has played well, has had good schooling and has good bloodlines."
Blackburn went on to win the 2001 Canadian Hockey League Goaltender of the Year award, then was selected by the New York Rangers in the in the first round (10th overall) of the 2001 NHL draft.
Price, 15, was the only goaltender taken in the first two rounds of this year's bantam draft. There was only one goalie taken in the first rounds in 2001 and 2000.
"If you are going to take a goalie in the first round, you have to have guts," Tory said. "It's a tough decision. If you are wrong, it puts a pretty big hole in your depth chart."
Price has had the benefit of having a former goalie in his own living room to learn from - his father.
Jerry Price played in the Western Hockey League for the Calgary Centennials who, four franchise moves later, became the Tri-City Americans in 1988. He was traded to the Portland Winter Hawks in his final WHL season. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1978 and played in their minor league system.
"Being here has brought back a memory or two," the older Price said of watching the action at camp.
With a hockey player for a father, Carey was destined to lace on the skates and pick up a stick.
Carey started skating when he was 3 and started playing hockey when he was 8. He was a defenseman for two years before switching to goalie.
"My dad was a goaltender. He's my mentor," Carey said.
Father and son also have spent a lot of time together because of hockey, but most of that quality time was spent in the car.
"When he first started playing hockey, we had to travel 400 miles round trip three times a week for practice because we lived in remote British Columbia (Anahim Lake)," said Jerry Price. "The nearest rink was in Williams Lake."
All the miles and hard work have paid off for his 6-foot-2, 185-pound son.
Last season, Price was in goal for 31 games for the Williams Lake Bantam AAA team with a 2.89 goals against average.
"I think he has looked very good," said Americans head coach Shaun Clouston after evaluating Price in camp the past four days. "At 15, he won't be playing for us (this year), but he is part of our future."
Price will be back in Williams Lake this season. League rules restrict 15-year-olds to a handful of games until their own club team ends its season. Sometimes, that's as early as February.
"I'm not really nervous," Price said. "I'm 15 and I'm not fighting for a spot. I've learned a lot here. I need to have these experiences."
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