Those who dream of Patrick Roy realizing at the end of the golf season that he’s bored with junior hockey and returning to some random role with the Remparts can lower their expectations. Roy was honored by the QMJHL on Sunday and confirmed that it was the end for him in this round.
Circuit Commissioner Mario Cecchini officially presented the Patrick Roy Trophy, which will be awarded to the QMJHL’s best goaltender starting this season. An honor that “surprised” and “touched” Roy.
“Patrick is one of those people that we don’t replace, we follow,” said Mr. Cecchini. His legacy is enormous. »
QMJHL Commissioner Mario Cecchini presented Patrick Roy with the trophy on his behalf, which is awarded to the best goalkeeper of the round. Marcel Tremblay / QMI Agency
That legacy on the circuit includes three seasons as a player with the Granby Bisons between 1982 and 1985, then more than 25 years with the Quebec Remparts, sometimes as co-owner, sometimes as general manager and as a coach.
In his career, Roy accumulated 518 regular season wins behind the Remparts bench, including 83 in the playoffs.
And there will be no more, he confirmed.
“It’s over for me. It was really a great adventure. […] I don’t know what the future holds for me as a head coach [dans les rangs professionnels] but if it was the end, then it was a very good end. I couldn’t ask for a better scenario,” he said of winning the Gilles Courteau Trophy and Memorial Cup last spring.
The Remparts’ biggest supporter
The fact that he has officially ended his career as a hockey player in the QMJHL and with the Remparts does not mean that he will no longer follow the team that he brought back to life in 1997-1998 together with his partner Jacques Tanguay.
Marcel Tremblay / QMI Agency
“I watched my friend Benoit Desrosiers’ game at the Gatineau Olympics on Friday and a lot of the game on Saturday. [des Remparts]. It’s fun to watch as an amateur. When I left I said it: I will be the best supporter of the Remparts and continue to follow the league with interest. »
The first of several honors?
Former Remparts President Jacques Tanguay was present at the press conference and watched with pride as his friend accepted the award from the QMJHL.
“The gesture is extraordinary. The fact that it happened so quickly is completely deserved. I’ve walked through every QMJHL city for 25 years and no matter where we went, there were lines of people wanting to meet Patrick. He never refused an autograph.”
Jacques Tanguay Marcel Tremblay / QMI Agency
“I hope this is the first of many honors. I hope that the next event will take place at Place Jean-Béliveau and will take place quite quickly. He is a hockey icon. He spent as much time as a manager of an ice hockey team as he did as a player. It’s quite a career. »