KAMLOOPS | Patrick Roy has never been afraid to give his opinion, and some of his statements have marked the collective imagination over the years, both as a coach and‘as a player.
His most famous spat was probably the one with Jeremy Roenick in the 1996 playoffs. While with the Avalanche, Roy had mentioned to the media that he didn’t hear what Roenick was saying about him because he had his ” two Stanley Cup rings in the ears”.
As we say that it marked the imagination, we note that a colleague asked him about it on Saturday, on the sidelines of the Memorial Cup tournament.
“What’s your most memorable NHL spat?” he was asked.
“Everyone remembers the one with Roenick. It was Mike Keane’s idea. I am determined to win and passionate about the sport. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do and I was ready to do anything to win. When I played, I was not afraid to put pressure on myself. When you say something in the media, you have to be able to answer for your words. Many people don’t want to do it because they are afraid of it. In my leadership role, it was important to be there for my team. That’s what leaders do.”