Carey Price and Five Others Enter Hockey Hall of Fame

Carey Price stood in the lobby of the Hockey Hall of Fame in downtown Toronto on Monday, looking at the interactive exhibits that honor the sport's history. The 39-year-old former goaltender joked that he wanted to take a shot at a netminder figure in the display, a nod to the gear he wore for 15 seasons. Price was inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class, joining five other individuals who were honored at a ceremony in the city.

The 2026 class includes Patrice Bergeron, Pekka Rinne, Keith Tkachuk, and Cindy Curley in the player category. Brian Burke was enshrined in the builder category. Price, who played exclusively for the Montreal Canadiens, had a career defined by a .917 save percentage and 49 shutouts in 712 games. He won the Hart Trophy and the Vezina Trophy in 2015, finishing his tenure with a 361-261-79 record before a knee injury ended his playing career after the 2021-22 season.

During his speech, Price recalled a childhood dream of walking a red carpet toward a towering figure, whom he identified as Patrick Roy. He noted that his opportunity to reach the Hall of Fame required immense time and sacrifice. "As a parent of a young family, I now understand what the biggest of many was, it was time," Price said. He also credited his teammates for their defensive efforts, joking that he no longer performs those tasks as a forward.

Patrice Bergeron, 41, spent 19 seasons with the Boston Bruins and won a Stanley Cup in 2011. The center recorded 1,040 points in 1,294 regular-season games and won the Selke Trophy six times. Bergeron said he hopes his journey encourages future players to dream big and believe in themselves. He added that his path included gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Pekka Rinne, 43, played 15 seasons for the Nashville Predators, finishing with a 369-213-75 record. The 2018 Vezina Trophy winner from Finland told young athletes that they do not have to be the most highly touted prospects. "Your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's. Mine certainly didn't," he said. Cindy Curley, 62, captained the U.S. women's team to three silver medals at the world championships in the 1990s. She described herself as a pioneer but preferred to say she simply grew up with the game.

Keith Tkachuk, 54, finished his 18-season career with 1,065 points. He accepted the honor with gratitude to everyone who was part of his journey. Brian Burke, 71, was recognized for his management career with teams including the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins. Burke won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007. He joked that nobody starts playing hockey at 13 in Minnesota expecting to be inducted unless they are an idiot.