The first period was particularly difficult for Patrick Roy and the Islanders, but that didn't stop Baren and Lionel from enjoying this hockey game with their grandfather on the visitors' bench.
The family of Patrick Roy, who was welcomed into a box at the Bell Center for Thursday night's game, would be happy no matter how the game went.
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“The best thing for me right now is seeing that my two little boys, Lionel, 6 years old, and Baren, 3 years old, can experience this,” confided Jana Roy, Patrick’s daughter.
“I still remember how my father was so encouraged in the National League,” she agreed during an interview with Le Journal. 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 fond memories.”
A happy son-in-law
Former ice hockey player Pierre-Cédric Labrie, Jana's husband and Patrick's son-in-law, was obviously pleased with the invitation and efforts of Islanders president and general manager Lou Lamoriello for this box in Montreal. He didn't need to be asked to take the family trip from Quebec.
“Once we knew we had a box, especially with the small family, we just couldn't miss it,” said former Tampa Bay Lightning player, now Lions team leader Cégep Champlain St. Lawrence.
“They are at an age where they are starting to understand, especially Lionel who has started playing hockey,” Jana added. For him it's always hockey, even if he doesn't necessarily understand the different levels that lead to the National League… He likes [Connor] McDavid and recently he asked me if he would play against McDavid’s team soon.”
“I explained it to him a little and told him that Grandpa is now a coach at the highest level,” Jana continued. He was very impressed!”
An absent vampire
Frédérick Roy, one of Patrick's sons, was unable to attend Thursday night's meeting at the Bell Center, but testified that he was happy for his father and touched by the love the public has had for him since he was named head coach Islanders.
“I’m really happy for my dad,” he said in a telephone interview. If there's one thing you can't take away from him, it's his passion and love for hockey. People feel that.”
The Montreal crowd once again gave the famous number 33 a warm welcome as photos of him in the Canadian uniform were broadcast on the big screen during the national anthem.
“Of course you can miss a little disappointment, but you have to work hard,” explained Frédérick, with whom we spoke before the meeting.
The former color bearer of the Quebec Remparts, who combines the profession of an actor with that of a player's agent for the Management Hockey group, had scheduled filming on Thursday evening for a web series in which he plays the role of a “vampire”. Be continued…