Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price consoles boy who lost his mother

Athletes sign autographs for fans every day. Sometimes, they’ll also give a stick, a puck, a bat or a pair of shoes to a star-struck kid. But Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price went above and beyond the usual meet-and-greet routine with a touching display of kindness and compassion to an 11-year-old boy who had lost his mother only a few months earlier.

Anderson Whitehead of Brantford, Canada, always wanted to meet Price, and his mother, Laura, had tried to make it happen. She died of cancer last November before she could arrange for her son to meet his idol. After her death, family and friends went through every channel they could and managed to find a way for Whitehead to meet Price at the morning skate before a recent game at Toronto.

When Price left the ice and stopped to talk to him, Whitehead became overwhelmed and began to cry. Price instinctively reached up to envelop the boy in a lengthy hug, offering comfort that meant more than the sticks and autograph he also gave the boy. Anderson’s aunt captured the moment on video and you won’t be alone if your eyes suddenly become leaky when you watch it.

And here’s a link to the story behind this story, courtesy of the Montreal Gazette. You don’t have to be a hockey fan to appreciate Price’s heartfelt gesture and know what it meant to young Anderson.