The first period was particularly difficult for Patrick Roy and the Islanders, but that wasn’t going to stop Baren and Lionel from enjoying this hockey match featuring their grandfather behind the visitors’ bench.
The family of Patrick Roy, who was received in a box at the Bell Center for Thursday evening’s game, was going to be delighted, regardless of how the game went.
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“The most beautiful thing for me at the moment is to see that my two little boys, Lionel, who is 6 years old, and Baren, 3 years old, can experience this,” confided Jana Roy, Patrick’s daughter. .
“Memories of seeing my father being encouraged like that in the National League, there are in my memory,” she agreed during an interview with The newspaper. In 2003, when my father retired from hockey [comme joueur], I was 10 years old. There, I see my children experiencing a bit of the same thing. It really brings back beautiful memories.”
A happy son-in-law
Former hockey player Pierre-Cédric Labrie, who is Jana’s husband and Patrick’s son-in-law, was obviously happy with the invitation and the efforts of the president and general manager of the Islanders, Lou Lamoriello, for this box in Montreal. He didn’t have to be asked to make the family trip from Quebec.
“When we knew we had a box, especially with the little family, we just couldn’t miss it,” said the former Tampa Bay Lightning player, now head of the Lions team. from Cégep Champlain St. Lawrence.
“They are at the age where they are starting to understand, especially Lionel, who started playing hockey,” added Jana. For him, it’s hockey all the time, even if he doesn’t necessarily yet understand the different levels that lead to the National League… He likes [Connor] McDavid and lately he was asking me if he was going to play against McDavid’s team soon.”
“I explained to him a little, telling him that grandpa was now a coach at the highest level,” Jana continued. He was very impressed!”
An absent vampire
Having been unable to attend the meeting on Thursday evening at the Bell Centre, Frédérick Roy, one of Patrick’s sons, nevertheless testified that he was happy for his father and touched by the love that the public has had for him since his appointment as head coach of the Islanders.
“I’m super happy for my father,” he said in a telephone interview. If there is something that cannot be taken away from him, it is his passion and his love for hockey. People feel that.”
The Montreal crowd once again gave the famous number 33 a warm welcome when photos of him, in the Canadian uniform, were broadcast on the giant screen during the national anthem.
“Of course there is a little disappointment to miss out, but you have to work hard,” explained Frédérick, to whom we spoke before the meeting.
The former color wearer of the Quebec Remparts, who combines the profession of actor with that of player agent for the Management Hockey group, had a filming planned for a web series, Thursday evening, in which he plays the role of ‘a vampire. To be continued…