Eyes on the prize, even as a Rookie - Uncovering the past - beginning of goaltender Patrick Roy's career - Brief Article

Hockey Digest, Summer, 2002 by Alex Gordon

PATRICK ROY, OUR 2001-02 PLAYER of the Year, first graced our cover way back in November 1986. Roy, of course, was coming off a spectacular rookie season in which he had lead the storied Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup.

Roy (whose name we quizzically explained back then is pronounced "HRWA") was the centerpiece of a story on how young goalies dominated the previous spring's playoffs by longtime HOCKEY DIGEST contributor Barry Wilner.

Besides Roy, we touted the Flames' Mike Vernon and the Rangers' John Vanbiesbrouck. While all three have enjoyed long and productive careers, here it is 16 years later, and not only is Roy the only remaining starter of the trio, he's coming off a career year.

Canadiens teammate Larry Robinson had this to say of the then 21-year-old net-minder. "The kid is so cool, nothing bothers him, not even when he lets in a goal." That may have appeared to have been the case back then, but Roy, of course, grew to be such a perfectionist that any flaw in his game would cause him to brood. As he explains in this month's issue, it wasn't until last season that Ray Bourque taught him to relax and have some fun on the ice and he truly began to really enjoy playing.

Even as a newcomer, though, Roy had his hockey priorities straight. "The trophy that means the most to me is the Stanley, Cup," he said. In the ensuing years, Roy has saved his best play for when everything is on the line in the playoffs. Among his postseason accomplishments heading into the 2002 playoffs are four Stanley Cups and three Conn Smythe Trophies. Plus he owns the records for most playoff games by a goalie (219), most playoff wins (137), and most playoff shutouts (16). Three times he's won 16 games in the playoffs and in 1993 he won 11 straight games, an NHL record.