Those who dreamed that Patrick Roy realized, at the end of the golf season, that he was tired of junior hockey and that he returned to any role with the Remparts can lower their expectations. Honored by the QMJHL on Sunday, Roy confirmed that this is the end for him on this circuit.
Circuit commissioner Mario Cecchini officially presented the Patrick-Roy trophy that will be awarded, starting this season, to the best goaltender in the QMJHL. An honor that “shocked” and “touched” Roy.
“Patrick is one of those people who we cannot replace but who we can succeed,” explained Mr. Cecchini. His legacy is immense. »
QMJHL Commissioner Mario Cecchini presented Patrick Roy with the trophy in his name to be awarded to the best goalie on the circuit. Marcel Tremblay / QMI Agency
This circuit legacy is three seasons as a player of the Granby Bisons, between 1982 and 1985, then more than 25 years of involvement with the Quebec Remparts, sometimes as co-owner, sometimes as general manager and as coach. chief.
In his career, Roy accumulated 518 victories in the regular season behind the bench of the Remparts, then 83 in the playoffs.
And no one else, he confirmed.
“It’s over for me. It was a great adventure. (…) I don’t know what the future holds for me as head coach (in the professional ranks) but if this is the end, it will be a very good end. I couldn’t have asked for a better scenario than that,” he said, referring to winning the Gilles Courteau Trophy and Memorial Cup last spring.
The biggest supporter of Remparts
That he has officially ended his career as a hockey player in the QMJHL, and with the Remparts, does not mean that he will not continue to follow the team he resurrected in 1997-1998. with his partner Jacques Tanguay.
Marcel Tremblay / Agence QMI
“I watched the Gatineau Olympic game with my friend Benoit Desrosiers on Friday and a good part of the game on Saturday (Remparts). It’s fun to watch as an amateur. I said this when I left: I am the best supporter of Remparts and I will continue to follow the league with interest. »
A first of many awards?
Present at the press conference, former Remparts president Jacques Tanguay watched with pride as his friend received the award from the QMJHL.
“The movement is amazing. Doing it quickly is perfectly fine. I have walked in every city in the QMJHL for 25 years and, everywhere we go, there are lines of people who want to meet Patrick. He never refused an autograph.”
Jacques Tanguay Marcel Tremblay / QMI Agency
“I hope this is the first of many tributes. The next one, I hope it will be in Place Jean-Béliveau and it should come soon. He is a hockey icon. He spent as much time as the manager of the hockey team as he did as a player. It’s a career. »
