The second annual Louis Estates Lucky 7’s team steer-roping event featured plenty of talented rodeo competitors, and one more known for his ability to stop a hockey puck.
Montreal Canadiens’ starter Carey Price made the trek from his offseason home in Kelowna to put his roping skills to the test. He only earned a share of a $600 prize, but then again, as he is likely to command a new multi-million dollar contract this summer, he’s not in it for the money.
Price told the Montreal Gazette he expects to compete in maybe four events this year, down from the dozen he ventured to last summer.
The 24-year-old Anahim Lake product owns three horses – Fuzz, Comet and East – and trains several times a week at Louis Estates on Westside Road. He competes with the horse that’s sharpest in training.
“Kinda like my starter and backup, fighting for a job,” he joked with the Gazette reporter Dave Stubbs.
Price is scheduled to become a restricted free agent July 1 unless Montreal signs him before that date.
“I’m pretty confident we’ll get something done,” said Price. “I’m really not the type of guy who’s going to push everything to get (a contract) done faster.”
Price and Habs’ d-man Josh Gorges, a fellow Kelowna summer resident, will soon begin offseason training with Canadiens’ strength and conditioning coordinator Pierre Allard.
In other Lucky 7s roping action at Louis Estates, the duo of Ernie Willis and Rod Lewis ($2,544 each) hauled in first place; second went to the tandem of Daniel Kaiser and Lane Wolfe (horse blankets); third-place honours went to Kyle Bell and Jay Crawler ($1,542 each); fourth went to Kaiser and Ty Yellowbird ($1,079 each); and fifth went to Bell and Carey Isnardy ($539 each).
Open champions were Jackson Louis and Isnardy (horse blankets), with runners-up Cecil Louis and Yellowbird.
Event sponsors include Vernon Dodge, Butcher Boys, Baron Insurance, Canwest Propane, Armstrong Co-op, Sunrise Trailers, Noble Tractor, Kal Tire and Star Autobody.
Louis Estates is always on the lookout for arena advertisers. Contact Cecil or Bobby Louis at (250) 542-4527.
