Goaltender Carey Price said on Instagram Tuesday that he was already aware of the December 6, 1989 Polytechnique massacre, contrary to information released by the Montreal Canadiens the previous day.
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In the morning, number 31 spoke again on social media, the day after a hectic day in which his team had to try, with more or less success, to deal with the sensitive issue of Price and his opinion on hunting gun ownership. However, the star athlete somehow contradicted the organization of Montreal.
“My heart and prayers go out to the families and victims of the Polytechnique shooting today,” he wrote. Despite a previously released statement, I was aware of the tragedy. I’ve been a part of the Montreal community for 15 years and I understand the weight this day carries in the community.
On Saturday, Price spoke out against an amendment to the federal government’s C-21 bill that would place more restrictions on gun owners. On this subject, however, he has not changed his mind, on the contrary.
“Since I have no control over the timing of this change, the opinions I shared remain the same. However, I understand that this week’s talks about guns have upset several people affected by the events of 1989 and I would like to apologize for that,” the Guardian wrote.
- Listen to the interview with Polytechnique massacre survivor Nathalie Provost on Benoit Dutrizac’s broadcast QUB radio :
Awkward
The Bleu Blanc Rouge’s handling of the case is likely to raise further questions. On Monday, the day before the 33rd anniversary of the Polytechnique tragedy, Chantal Machabée, vice president of Hockey Communications, the Canadiens, told TVA Sports that Price said he was unaware of the tragedy as well as publicity initiatives undertaken by Coalition Canada for gun rights. The pro-gun organization recently made headlines after creating promo code “POLY” to encourage purchases of merchandise on its website.
Number 31 said on Monday that it did not approve of the controversial initiative by this coalition.
Screenshot from Instagram account @cp0031 (Carey Price)
All this confusion does not seem to have impressed Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who learned of the reversal of the Canadian’s famous flag-bearer at a lengthy press conference. He is also one of the first to demand answers, targeting the pro-arms coalition in particular.
“He was approached by groups who left out certain information. I still can’t digest this promotional code. It’s shameful, unbearable, he said in particular. Was he given all of the background or was he just given a few snippets of information? I don’t hate Carey Price as much as bands that don’t tell the whole story.”
“The time we spend criticizing Carey Price, whose life’s work is to stop hockey pucks, we will not spend denouncing groups who likely manipulated a player by not giving him all the information. “I have a problem with groups using POLY codes,” he added. The question that needs to be asked is who misinformed him. […] What I want to know is who contacted Carey Price in preparation for this release?