Price masks to aid 31 Canadian charities
Goalie teams up with video game-maker Ubisoft for Assassin’s Creed-themed gear
Carey Price happily reports that he’s showing improvement in his ability to play the action-adventure video game Assassin’s Creed III. That’s probably a good thing, given that the Canadiens goaltender is a high-profile poster-boy for the enormously popular game.
And now, as Price hones his AC III expertise on his Xbox, 31 charities from coast to coast in Canada will benefit from his partnership with the game’s creator.
Thirty-one full-sized helmet masks themed to AC III are being auctioned online through Sunday, every one attached to a charity. Price will sign each for auction winners at a gala Montreal dinner on Jan. 31, an event that will have the goalie, many of his Canadiens teammates and a number of Habs legends mingling with hundreds of ticket-buying guests.
Every dollar raised from the mask auction will go to their linked charities, with another significant sum divided evenly among the 31 groups from dinner ticket sales and live and silent auctions to be held that night.
The Price/Assassin’s Creed III connection is a joint project of Montreal-based game creator Ubisoft and Wess Perisa, who works with a number of NHL players — including Price and fellow Canadiens Josh Gorges, Max Pacioretty and Travis Moen — and their agents to create and broker business and charitable partnerships.
Perisa is a clearing house of sorts for the proposals that cross agents’ desks, separating the wheat from the chaff while independently developing ideas and executing projects that range from autograph sessions to corporate endorsements.
Ubisoft’s latest instalment in its massively popular Assassin’s Creed franchise stars Ratonhnhaké: ton, more commonly known as Connor, an American Revolution warrior born to a First Nations mother and British father.
Of course, Price has First Nations blood from his mother, Lynda, a former chief of the Ulkatcho in northern B.C.
“Ubisoft wanted to team up with Carey because of Connor’s bloodlines. They were really keen on tying in with Carey because they thought it would be a really unique partnership,” said Perisa, whose business platform, hockeyhelps.com, brings under one roof the charitable efforts of all players he represents and supports other groups with their charity initiatives.
Three professional mask designers/painters created three mask versions, themed in the Canadiens red, white or blue using AC III artwork produced by Ubisoft. Fans then were given the chance to vote on their favourite.
The white model prevailed — “It was my favourite from the start,” Price says — and that design is now on the 31 full-sized auction masks, created by renowned Swedish mask artist/painter David Gunnarsson of Daveart Designs.
Among the charities to benefit from this sale and related dinner gala — their number not coincidentally matches that on Price’s jersey — are many that touch the lives of Montrealers.
Of specific local note are nine masks, those attached to the children’s foundations of the Canadiens, Montreal General Hospital and Hôpital Ste. Justine, Quebec Society for Disabled Children, MileEnd Mission, Centraide, Club des petits déjeuners, Make-aWish Québec and Opération Enfant Soleil (part of the Children’s Miracle Network).
Price didn’t need convincing when the fundraising idea was pitched to him.
“When my agent (Gerry Johansson) and Wess put it to me, and they told me 31 charities would benefit, it was kind of a no-brainer,” Price said. “It was an opportunity to promote the game and for me to support 31 charities.”
Perisa said he’s done many individual events with Price to raise funds for charity.
“But something for 31 at once is pretty bold,” he said. “For this, we need all hands on deck, each of the 31 supporting it.”
For Price, meanwhile, there’s work ahead on learning the complex AC III. It wouldn’t be good form for him to be embarrassed by a young gamer to whom sunlight is only a detergent beside the basement washing machine.
“I’m not the best at the game, but I have improved dramatically since I received it,” Price said with a laugh.
He says he’ll play AC III once or twice a week for a couple hours, “usually when I’m just lounging around on a weekend. I’ve got it on the Xbox, so I go down there and veg out for awhile.”
Price is not yet certain whether he’ll be able to wear an AC III-themed mask into a game (whenever that might be), given NHL regulations on sponsorship and uniforms.
A few seasons ago, then with the Colorado Avalanche, the mask of current Canadiens backup Peter Budaj featured the likeness of Assassin’s Creed character Altaïr, though Budaj wasn’t being paid to endorse the game.
“I’ll have to talk this over with the NHL,” Price said. “Hopefully, it will be this season.”
This goalie, it seems, is the most warm-blooded assassin you’re likely to find.
“This really is a good project,” Price said. “It’s great to be able to help so many people.” Bid on any of 31 Carey Price-themed Assassin’s Creed III masks at hockeyhelps.com. Auction ends Sunday at 1 p.m. for mask No. 31, bidding for the other 30 closing in reverse order through the afternoon. Details on the Jan. 31 dinner event coming soon at the same website.