Roy embraces coaching challenge
Oct 15, 2005 8:58:38 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2005 8:58:38 GMT -5
www.canada.com/sports/hockey/canadiensstory.html?id=33338205-9133-4062-8c33-229f60b3ec55
Former Canadien takes next step in hockey career by stepping behind bench of QMJHL's Remparts
Patrick Roy turned 40 last week and the goaltending legend marked the mid-life milestone publicly, at least, as, "No, big deal."
But if the second half of Roy's life in hockey is as interesting as the opening act, his recent slide behind the bench of the Quebec junior Remparts could become a 'big deal' for one of the greatest competitors the game has ever known.
Since bursting onto the scene in 1986 to lead the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup, through to his stormy exit from Montreal in 1995, followed by two more Cups with the Colorado Avalanche, Roy's volcanic hockey career has been the stuff of legend.
After retiring from the NHL in 2003, he returned to his hometown of Quebec City and became part-owner and general manager of the Remparts.
When the junior club stumbled to a 1-4 start this season, Roy fired coach Eric Lavigne and stepped behind the bench for the first time since guiding his son's bantam team to a 20-3-1 championship season.
Under Roy, the reinvigorated Remparts were 4-1 heading into last night's game against Baie-Comeau.
Roy, a three-time Conn Smythe playoff MVP who retired as the winningest goalie in NHL history with 551 wins and four Stanley Cups, admits he missed the action at ice level.
"Yes I did, but not to the point where I said 'I want to come back or I want to go coach'. I realize more today that I was missing it. I feel so much better now," said Roy. "To be honest with you, the only regret I have is not taking over sooner. But there was a guy there before and I had to show him respect and support."
While Roy is coaching mostly teenagers, he understands how hard to push them and himself.
"Somehow, a lot of people think, 'Oh Patrick, he has a temper,' and stuff like that, but I always felt I was always able to adjust. There is a difference between coaching in the NHL and junior."
As former Canadiens president Ronald Corey discovered from his front-row seat at the old Forum on a December night in 1995, Saint Patrick is no saint behind the bench, either. He can growl with the best of 'em, his eyes, tiny drill bits of intensity.
"I'm not a person that likes to sit or stand behind the bench and not say a word. I like to be vocal and teach," Roy said.
"I learned a lot over the years as a player and now it's time to share it . I see coaching as a great experience, a great challenge.
After taking the coaching reins, Roy told reporters in Quebec City he'd like to borrow the charisma of Jacques Demers and the technical expertise of Bob Hartley and Pat Burns. "But more than that, I want my own identity. And that's what the players and the fans are going to get. I'm going to be extremely demanding because I know what my players can give me. And they'll answer the call."
One player who has delivered for Roy is Angelo Esposito, the 16-year-old rookie centre who is tearing up the QMJHL.
"He's already had a flashy start, and I think he will be a star in this league," Roy said. "Angelo wants to learn and get better. He's never satisfied. He's also very humble."
Although Roy is bullish on the smooth-skating Espo, he could do without the comparisons to you-know-who from Cole Harbour, N.S.
"They're different styles. I'm not sure, maybe Angelo is a little faster? Maybe (Sidney) Crosby has better hands? They both see the ice very well, but I don't want to start doing comparisons. It's the last thing I want to do.
"We want Angelo to be Angelo, At the end of the season if he does better than Crosby, then so (be it). Down the road, Angelo doesn't need to be compared to anybody. You want to be yourself."
As for the one gnawing question that stirs up sediment from his hasty departure from Montreal, Roy was asked at what point would he yank one of his goalies?
"I might go to the dressing room before (the goalie) comes to the bench," he wisecracked.
"Just kidding ... I'm certainly going to do differently than that," he said, referring to Mario Tremblay's fateful decision to let Roy's wounded pride boil over after surrendering nine goals to the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 2, 1995.
So then, when does a coach yank his goalie? At 4-0? 7-0?
"You know," Roy said pointedly. "You know when a guy is getting embarrassed out there. It also depends what kind of message you're trying to get across. To me, it's a matter of respect."
"As a coach, I always believed your relationship with your goalie should almost be like your best friend on the team. If your goalie doesn't stop the puck, you're in trouble as a coach. And if he does well, then it's good for you because you're winning hockey games."
As for the brave new NHL, Roy approves of what he's seen - except for the no-fly zone for goalies. "The goaltender not being allowed in the corners has no affect at all," he said. "I think it's a bit ridiculous to not allow a player to go in a certain area. It's like telling Wayne Gretzky, 'because you're scoring too many goals, you're not allowed behind the net.' "
While Roy is earning a new set of butterfly wings with the Remparts, he would not rule out coaching in the NHL someday.
"It's not something I look at. When I came back to Quebec, I never thought I'd be coaching the team and here I am.
"It's not part of my plan, but I guess you never know."
With Roy, one never does.
jmeagher@thegazette.canwest.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2005
Former Canadien takes next step in hockey career by stepping behind bench of QMJHL's Remparts
Patrick Roy turned 40 last week and the goaltending legend marked the mid-life milestone publicly, at least, as, "No, big deal."
But if the second half of Roy's life in hockey is as interesting as the opening act, his recent slide behind the bench of the Quebec junior Remparts could become a 'big deal' for one of the greatest competitors the game has ever known.
Since bursting onto the scene in 1986 to lead the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup, through to his stormy exit from Montreal in 1995, followed by two more Cups with the Colorado Avalanche, Roy's volcanic hockey career has been the stuff of legend.
After retiring from the NHL in 2003, he returned to his hometown of Quebec City and became part-owner and general manager of the Remparts.
When the junior club stumbled to a 1-4 start this season, Roy fired coach Eric Lavigne and stepped behind the bench for the first time since guiding his son's bantam team to a 20-3-1 championship season.
Under Roy, the reinvigorated Remparts were 4-1 heading into last night's game against Baie-Comeau.
Roy, a three-time Conn Smythe playoff MVP who retired as the winningest goalie in NHL history with 551 wins and four Stanley Cups, admits he missed the action at ice level.
"Yes I did, but not to the point where I said 'I want to come back or I want to go coach'. I realize more today that I was missing it. I feel so much better now," said Roy. "To be honest with you, the only regret I have is not taking over sooner. But there was a guy there before and I had to show him respect and support."
While Roy is coaching mostly teenagers, he understands how hard to push them and himself.
"Somehow, a lot of people think, 'Oh Patrick, he has a temper,' and stuff like that, but I always felt I was always able to adjust. There is a difference between coaching in the NHL and junior."
As former Canadiens president Ronald Corey discovered from his front-row seat at the old Forum on a December night in 1995, Saint Patrick is no saint behind the bench, either. He can growl with the best of 'em, his eyes, tiny drill bits of intensity.
"I'm not a person that likes to sit or stand behind the bench and not say a word. I like to be vocal and teach," Roy said.
"I learned a lot over the years as a player and now it's time to share it . I see coaching as a great experience, a great challenge.
After taking the coaching reins, Roy told reporters in Quebec City he'd like to borrow the charisma of Jacques Demers and the technical expertise of Bob Hartley and Pat Burns. "But more than that, I want my own identity. And that's what the players and the fans are going to get. I'm going to be extremely demanding because I know what my players can give me. And they'll answer the call."
One player who has delivered for Roy is Angelo Esposito, the 16-year-old rookie centre who is tearing up the QMJHL.
"He's already had a flashy start, and I think he will be a star in this league," Roy said. "Angelo wants to learn and get better. He's never satisfied. He's also very humble."
Although Roy is bullish on the smooth-skating Espo, he could do without the comparisons to you-know-who from Cole Harbour, N.S.
"They're different styles. I'm not sure, maybe Angelo is a little faster? Maybe (Sidney) Crosby has better hands? They both see the ice very well, but I don't want to start doing comparisons. It's the last thing I want to do.
"We want Angelo to be Angelo, At the end of the season if he does better than Crosby, then so (be it). Down the road, Angelo doesn't need to be compared to anybody. You want to be yourself."
As for the one gnawing question that stirs up sediment from his hasty departure from Montreal, Roy was asked at what point would he yank one of his goalies?
"I might go to the dressing room before (the goalie) comes to the bench," he wisecracked.
"Just kidding ... I'm certainly going to do differently than that," he said, referring to Mario Tremblay's fateful decision to let Roy's wounded pride boil over after surrendering nine goals to the Detroit Red Wings on Dec. 2, 1995.
So then, when does a coach yank his goalie? At 4-0? 7-0?
"You know," Roy said pointedly. "You know when a guy is getting embarrassed out there. It also depends what kind of message you're trying to get across. To me, it's a matter of respect."
"As a coach, I always believed your relationship with your goalie should almost be like your best friend on the team. If your goalie doesn't stop the puck, you're in trouble as a coach. And if he does well, then it's good for you because you're winning hockey games."
As for the brave new NHL, Roy approves of what he's seen - except for the no-fly zone for goalies. "The goaltender not being allowed in the corners has no affect at all," he said. "I think it's a bit ridiculous to not allow a player to go in a certain area. It's like telling Wayne Gretzky, 'because you're scoring too many goals, you're not allowed behind the net.' "
While Roy is earning a new set of butterfly wings with the Remparts, he would not rule out coaching in the NHL someday.
"It's not something I look at. When I came back to Quebec, I never thought I'd be coaching the team and here I am.
"It's not part of my plan, but I guess you never know."
With Roy, one never does.
jmeagher@thegazette.canwest.com
© The Gazette (Montreal) 2005