Thousands of names have been engraved on the Memorial Cup, since the first team that lifted it at arm’s length in 1919. For Quebec Remparts goaltender William Rousseau, there is one in particular that stands out, in the 1957-1958 season: that of his grandfather, Bobby Rousseau.
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The latter, who then had a brilliant career of 15 seasons in the National Hockey League, raised the emblem of Canadian junior hockey with the Hull-Ottawa Canadiens in 1958, but participated in the tournament four times.
And, if you look closely, you will also find the name of another Rousseau, Roland, Bobby’s brother who also won the prestigious trophy in the uniform of the Montreal Royals in 1949.
“Hockey is a family sport,” Rousseau said Thursday, on the eve of the Quebec Remparts’ first game against the Kamloops Blazers.
“It would be incredible to go and join my grandfather’s name and refresh the Rousseau name on this trophy. It would be fantastic.”
A pleasure that would be shared by his grandfather, who does not miss a game of his grandson.
“He’s the only goalkeeper I love! The others all prevented me from earning a good living,” laughs Mr. Rousseau on the phone.
“I am very, very, very proud to see him evolve. He has a lot of fun playing and he is in control of his career. I can not wait to see it. I won the Memorial Cup just like my brother Roland and I wish he could too.”
ARCHIVE PHOTO, THE NEWSPAPER
Bobby (Robert) Rousseau is one of the best recruits in the history of the Montreal Canadiens.
A key role
He does not evolve in the same position as his grandfather, a right winger, but Rousseau now has the chance to play the same determining role that Bobby had played with his team in 1957-1958. In 13 games that year – the format was different – he had collected 24 points.
“My preparation started at the beginning of the year and we entered the most advanced today [jeudi]. I have to approach these matches as if they had no tomorrow and give my 100%.
There is no doubt that Rousseau finds himself in good company at the Memorial Cup tournament since the other three teams also have top-notch goaltenders. The proof, the trophy for the most useful player in the playoffs was awarded to a goaltender: Michael Simpson with the Peterborough Petes and Thomas Milic with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Milic, incidentally, was the starting goaltender for Team Canada at the last World Junior Hockey Championship in Halifax. Rousseau had very nearly participated in it too, before being the last goalkeeper cut off from the training camp.
“When I face him, for sure I will want to beat him. I would have really liked to carve out a position with the team, but that’s in the past. I have to focus on the present moment.”
A good time to do well
If the Remparts want to lift the Memorial Cup on June 4, they will obviously have to have everyone’s contribution, but Rousseau’s performance could play a big role.
“The guy I would like to have is the guy who played against Gatineau, said coach Patrick Roy. We would never have beaten Gatineau in four without him. He was then good against Halifax but he had been better against Gatineau. It’s hard to repeat, game after game after game. If there’s a week that Will wants to be hot in her life, that would be a good one.”