UNBC’s Graduating class of 2024 walked the stage today, accompanied by some high-profile guests.
Former Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price, Grammy, Latin Grammy, and Juno award-winning artist Alex Cuba, and founder of the Goodsir Nature Park Jim Good all walked the stage with the graduating class, receiving honorary Doctor of Laws degrees.
Dr. Carey Price!
Congratulations on receiving an honorary doctorate from @UNBC – Class of 2024!!
Price est désormais titulaire d’un doctorat honorifique de l’Université du Nord del la Colombie-Britannique – cohort 2024!! pic.twitter.com/iGwGuPRZ8r
— University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) (@UNBC) May 31, 2024
“It was special to come here and speak with the students,” Price said after the ceremony, thanking the university for the opportunity. “I am a father of three kids under eight years old, I also have my PHD in patience right now.”
Admitting he is not a man of many words, Price’s message to the graduates was to “keep working hard, and good luck in your journeys.”
Calm, cool and collected.
Congrats once more, Carey! 👏
🎥 @UNBC pic.twitter.com/EphDSpsXwe
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 31, 2024
Prince last played for the Canadiens in the 2021-22 season, where he suited up for five games.
He played 712 regular season games in his career between 2007 and 2022, winning 361 of them. In addition, he helped bring the Canadiens to the playoffs 10 times and played in 92 postseason games, including a run to the Stanley Cup final in 2021.
While he has considered coaching or going to school later on down the road, Price said time with his young family is the priority right now.
“I tell people all the time, my children are at an age right now where that time is precious,” he said. “Coaching takes up a lot of time, I am just going to enjoy being a father for the time being.”
“I do miss playing the game of hockey, I wouldn’t mind being able to go out and score a couple of goals, that would be fun” he added. “We’ll see how it feels.”
“I played defense first, I really enjoyed that. Learned how to skate, stick handle. I switched to goal because one kid didn’t show up, they tossed me in and I’ve kind of been in there ever since,” he remembered.
Born in Anaheim Lake and growing up playing hockey in Williams Lake, Price said he had many fond childhood memories of tournaments Prince George.
When he was a goaltender for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, he said he remembered playing against then Prince George Cougar Dustin Byfuglien and “watching him run everyone over.”
Dr. Alex Cuba! Congratulations on receiving an honorary doctorate from UNBC – Class of 2024!#UNBCGrad2024 #ThisIsUNBC pic.twitter.com/uxSXoodJEk
— University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) (@UNBC) May 31, 2024
Alex Cuba also spoke to the media after the ceremony, celebrating his honorary doctorate as well as last night’s release of his newest album, Voices De Mi Familia.
“I am trying to make sense of both of them, like I am a doctor now because the album is amazing, or the album is amazing because I am a doctor now?” Cuba said with a laugh. “It feels fantastic, very close to my heart and I am very proud.”
The album released last night (Thursday), Cuba said it has already accumulated nearly half a million streams.
You can read more about Cuba on My Bulkley Lakes Now, here.
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