Carey Price How a First Nations kid became a superstar goaltender

This slim, pocket-size biography manages to convey an awful lot of information through engaging, brief chapters and breezy vocabulary. Readers will come away with an overview of acclaimed goalie Carey Price's hockey career to date, going back to his first skating lessons on a frozen creek, his strong relationship with his family, his pride in his Ulkatcho First Nation heritage, and his strong commitment to giving back, especially to First Nation kids. Chronological chapters document his accomplishments, and a helpful list of career highlights summarizes his awards and medals, including a 2014 Olympic gold for Team Canada. Price comes across as hardworking, determined, and humble, a celebrity who gives ample credit to his wife (his high-school sweetheart, naturally); his mom, the first woman chief of the Ulkatcho First Nation; and his dad, a one-time NHL draftee. Occasional black-and-white illustrations and trivia boxes add context, making this a satisfying overview of a still-active sports superstar who is also an inspiring role model.--Kathleen McBroom Copyright 2018 Booklist

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 storyenhanced by black-and-white photos and text boxes with hockey-related anecdotes and informationof 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 fansand not just for reluctant teen readers. (glossary, career highlights, index) (Biography. 12-18) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.