ELMONT, NEW YORK | Despite all his experience, Patrick Roy made no secret of the fact that he had been having trouble falling asleep in the last few hours. With his first win under his belt, he finally hoped for a restful night.
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After all, the last few hours had been a whirlwind for the 58-year-old. Just over 24 hours after completing his contract with the Islanders, he found himself on the bench of an NHL team for the first time in seven years and nine months.
“I think I'll sleep well tonight! […] I was very nervous, I won't lie to you. You always want to win the first game and I would like to thank the players for the effort they put in today. I hope we put on a good show.
“It's always impressive and almost intimidating when you arrive somewhere for the first time and don't know the players. There was a bit of nervousness this morning. I spoke to Jacques Lemaire yesterday [samedi] and he told me it was important to make a good first impression. So there were a lot of things going through my head. I thought about how I would approach this first meeting and in the end I spoke from the bottom of my heart.”
- Listen to the interview with Nicole Bouchard, long-time follower of Patrick Roy, on the microphone by Alexandre Dubé via
QUB radio
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Successful first impression
Listening to Jean-Gabriel Pageau after the game, it seems that this first impression was successful.
“It was a great experience. He was a little nervous and so were we, we're arriving in a new system and you want to do it well. You want to show what you've got in your gut. It's new for him and he has his this morning “We put our cards on the table and told us he would probably be a little rusty. He did really well and I'm happy with the result.”
And he was rusty, Roy admitted bluntly. After all, he has been a leader in the youth ranks for the last five seasons.
“I haven't sat behind a bench since the Memorial Cup and… it's happening fast. I can tell you that. The puck moves and we played against an exceptional team. […] When you watch the game and try to analyze everything like you did on day one, it happens a little too quickly. We will take the time tonight and tomorrow to watch the game and continue to improve.”
As for his intensity behind the bench, Roy was just himself, he said.
“That's who I am. When I played I was very talkative and talked a lot to the player and I like to do the same behind the bench.
However, he calmed down a bit at the end of the game. “I think there are times when it's important to let the players play and be themselves. There are other moments that add intensity and show the players that I am here to win and that I will have their back.
Patrick Roy, Dobson, Barzal and Horvat Post-game media availability. 🎙
– New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 22, 2024
“He wants our good”
By the way, Pageau and Bo Horvat didn't hate this intensity from their new coach.
“You see it a little more often than the rest of us. “We’re watching the game,” Pageau said. But we definitely hear it. He's someone who knows hockey and I'm sure if he could skate and play again he would. He is a gamer. It's intense but positive. He wants our well-being, he encourages us and it’s really all positive.”
“He brings so much energy behind the bench,” Horvat added. It almost seems like he's playing on the bench for us the whole game. He is constantly engaging and gives us not only words of encouragement but also advice. He was very good behind the bench and I hope he continues like that.”