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In a perfect example of how time heels all wounds, the Montreal Canadiens have made it official that this coming November, they will, indeed, retire goalie Patrick Roy’s number.
Roy, who burst onto the scene with the Canadiens in 1985, immediately became a fan favorite, when during that magical spring, he won his first of three Conn Smythe Trophies, while backstopping Montreal to a Stanley Cup win.
This Hall Of Famer, who is the all- time leader among goalies, with 551 victories, enjoyed ten magical seasons in Montreal (including another Stanley Cup in 1993), before this Quebec City native left in a cloud of controversy on December 2, 1995.
Even though Roy was a past recipient of such awards as the Vezina, William Jennings, and was named to All- Star Team over the years, he had an ugly blow up with, then coach, Mario Tremblay, on December 2, 1995; when the coach refused to pull his goalie, who was being shelled by the Detroit Red Wings.
In what turned out to be a lopsided affair, Roy showed his frustration, when after finally being pulled, he passed Tremblay on the bench and whispered to the team owner, sitting right behind, that he would never play for Montreal again.
A lot of fans in Montreal booed him that night, and still have not forgiven him for that outburst. The Canadiens organization, however, have proved that 13 years later they have turned the page, when they announced that on November 22, before a home game against the Boston Bruins, the number 33 will be retired to the rafters.
“It’s a great honor to have the chance to come back with the organization and the family of the Montreal Canadiens,” Roy, who was traded to the Colorado Avalanche after that outburst, said “I think when you talk about the Canadiens, you have to put the word, family, in front of it.”
From Montreal , Roy, who was enshrined to the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 2006, went to Denver, where he helped them win a Stanley Cup that year, and won another one with them in 2001.
Taking a moment to reflect on his career with Montreal , Roy, who already has his number retired with the Colorado Avalanche, admits that he might have done things a little differently during that fateful night in Montreal .
“It was more difficult than people might think to leave Montreal ,” Roy said.
“Yes, I would have liked to leave on a different note, but there is nothing you can do today; and the message that I want to send is that it’s time for me to move on, and I hope it’s the same for them.”
“I always have been proud of my 10 years in Montreal. I learned a lot and this is where I learnt to be a winner.”
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