December 2, 1995
The Detroit Red Wings are at the Old Forum. At the second period, the score is already 7-1 for the Wings. Patrick Roy is still in the net. The score is 9-1, and Mario Tremblay finally replaces the goaltender. Arriving at the bench, Roy declares to President Ronald Corey that it would be his last game as a Canadiens.
December 6, 1995
Patrick Roy and Mike Keane are traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Rucinsky, and Andrei Kovalenko.
June 11, 1996
The Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup.
October 28, 2003
The Colorado Avalanche retire the No. 33.
Present Day
The season is one month away and we are about to celebrate the centenary. Words have been spread last season about retiring the No. 33 for this special season. But it won't pass without controversy, if it does pass.
A few days after the brawl scandal involving Patrick Roy and son Jonathan during the QJMLH first round playoffs, veteran Sports Columnist Red Fisher published an article in The Gazette: "No.33 Not Fit to Be Retired."
- B/R Ticket Guide
Among other arguments about Roy's character, behavior, and arrogance, Fisher argued that "Canadiens owner George N. Gillett Jr. and team president Pierre Boivin should know it's a bad decision—and has been from the start. If they have, what they must do is look long and hard at it and then decide whether retiring his No. 33 is good for the game and for the organization."
Legend Jean Beliveau still wonders. "Honestly, I don't know what I would do. Should the on-ice milestones be separated from the every day life? Those are questions the committee should ask itself."
Agreed, confusion is legitimate. But not retiring his number would mean not acknowledging what he did for the organization AS A PLAYER.
Recalling his rookie-year Stanley Cup and the 1993 run to the 24th, Red Fisher continues, "those were on-ice moments to cherish, but there have also been off-ice issues that people can't forget or forgive. Ugly moments. Controversial moments. Disgusting moments such as Saturday's brawl during which Roy's son continued punching a defenceless Nadeau after he had been wrestled to the ice."
To take Fisher's very own sentence, "those were on-ice moments to cherish."
For sure, Roy's credibility and sportsmanlike behavior have been everything but admirable lately. But should we then erase what he did as a player? Should we erase from our memories the images of this rookie goaltender lifting the cup?
"Saint Patrick" has always been a big part of the history of the Habs, like Larry Robinson, Bob Gainey, Jean Beliveau. And what the other three have in common is when you raise your eyes at the Bell Center, you would see the honor the team made them, in response to the honors they gave to the team.
Don't get me wrong. I was as shocked as anyone seeing what happened for the Patrick/Jonathan Roy incident. I guess Roy is the most controversial coach the QJMHL will ever have!
But if he had said that night, "in the name of the Montreal Canadiens, I, Patrick Roy, order you (Jonathan) to go and punch the kid," then I would have sent Red Fisher a basket of fruits for his amazing and convincing article.
But Patrick Roy is Patrick Roy. And for what he gave us back in the time, he deserves his number to be retired.
Now, that is just about my humble opinion. How the Canadiens will handle the case, and how the case will impact on the fans, that is another story.
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2 months ago
Good question, should they?
They have retired pretty much every number of great players maybe minus Steve Shutt, Guy Lapointe, or Jacques Lemaire, and Patrick Roy is one of the last remaining ones to be retired. Roy's number 33 hasn't been used since he left Montreal and I think it's for a reason.
I can't see them retiring any other number this coming season and if they are going to do it, it will be a sort of welcoming back to Montreal after all the debacle that surrounded Roy's departure. Maybe come back as a goalie coach or assistant.
Good read Miah!
2 months ago
imagine ... patrick roy coaching carey price ... that would be pretty insane !
2 months ago
Political correctness should never cancel out on ice (or field) performance. Run the #33 up to the rafters and let ol' Red choke on his bile.
2 months ago
Without Patrick Roy and his without his contribution to the the glory of the habs. We would be no better then leaf fans by give or take a decade of winning 79/67. IMO their hasn;t been a more complete hockey player (Physically/Mentally) the Mr Roy.
Hey Miah Patrick Roy's experience/fire + Carey Price's ability=Stanley Cup
Think about it.
Raise 33 to where is belongs.
GO habs GO
2 months ago
thanks for the comments guys!
the problem with that decision is that the Habs may be afraid for the credibility/reputation of the team.
on Patrick Roy + Carey Price = just insane! it would be amazing to see those two ... for sure!
2 months ago
This is a No Brainer...
Of course 33 should and will be retired...
End of story
2 months ago
Roy should have his number retired regardless of what happened in the QMJHL, he did so much or this team that it would be a disgrace if they didn't rise 33 to the rafters!
2 months ago
I was always under the assumption that the tradition of retiring a players number is a ritual to honor the individuals accomplishments as an athlete and what they've done for the team. Patrick Roy is one of the greatest goaltenders to ever lace a pair of skates, he is responsible for the last two Stanley Cup Championships in Montreal, his 11 straight overtime victories during the cup run in '93 is an astonishing record that may never be broken, his place in Habs history belongs in the company of greatness. Retire #33 it is only fitting.
I was appalled by the QMJHL incident like everyone else but Hockey Legends are human beings too. We are all capable doing things that aren't very amiable. He made a mistake but that shouldn't tarnish the great memories he gave us during his glorious years as a member of the Canadiens.
2 months ago
I disagree, but agree only with Earl's first sentence above.
Roy is NOT in the same league as a Beliveau, Richard, Robinson, Gainey, Lafleur or Savard.
While he may have helped the *team* win the last 2 Stanley Cups the *team* has seen, and granted that he had bad chemistry with Mario Tremblay (who should have never been a coach to start with), and granted that Régean "Peanut" Houle had no place being a GM), he was not a team player. His arrogance, his 'me first' attitude and his enormously inflated ego that came after the 2nd cup puts him waaaayyy out that company.
He got his dues in Colorado, even though he was caught cheating on his wife and after police were called to his home after verbal and (unproven in the court of Colorado law) physical abuse. He broke down doors in the last episodes.
While kids may not remember (or choose not to remember) these incidents, his life outside of the Montreal Forum is not something I'd like my kids to remember and justify as appropriate. Red Fisher may be well past retirement age, and not always right in my books. But he has a lot more respect than Patrick Roy can hope to regain in his lifetime.
Just because a goalie is the most visible player on a hockey team doesn't earn him the right to be called a saint. Many other players which formed part of those 2 winning cup teams had an impact in the final glory. Had he kept his composure on and off the ice during his tenure in Montreal, I'd join the rest of the sheep that seem to idolize this millionaire, classless bum.
2 months ago
no question... retire 33 in Roy's name... honestly... do you really think anyone would really wear the number anyway? I don't hink so..
2 months ago
come on honesty.. no one will wear that number out of respect.. retiring the jersey shouldn't be a hard question.... GO HABS GO
2 months ago
I personally think Roy has always been missing a few marbles, but I think the media blew the QMJHL issue out of hand. I have seen much worse than that with little or no media coverage. The only reason this was pasted across media headline was because it involved Roy and his son. Anyone else and it might have received some local attention at most.
2 months ago
It now looks ike the rumour mill about Roy's jersey retirement In Montreal is in full swing, by none other than the French press in town. And my above comments seem to echoed by many others in this Canadian Press article: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080829.wspthabs29/GSStory/GlobeSportsHockey/home
from 2 months ago
got the article!
take a look at the comments on the right, seems it is going to be a lot controversial ...
my last sentence "how the case will impact on the fans" now makes all its sense.
2 months ago
I think that Roy helped a below average team achieve great things and should be recognized. Sure he is a jerk but goalies are all a little whacked, they have to be.
Rank the greatest Montreal Canadiens of all time
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