Patrick Roy
I've been a huge fan of Patrick Roy since the first day I stared watching hockey on a regular basis so I feel I should post something about his retirement but have no idea where to start or what to say.
I have always liked watching many players such as Pavel Bure and Steve Yzerman but it was only Roy that I got attached to and ended up following his career. I have never met the guy or have I ever seen him play live but he became a definite favorite.
As expected. At the age of 37, Patrick announced his retirement from the game on Wednesday, May 28th after 18 seasons in the NHL. watch the press conference
"It's always been important for me to play with consistency, but also leave on my own terms," said Roy, who made the decision to retire before this season. "I think I've accomplished everything I wanted and I think I've done basically what I think I should."
Roy won four Stanley Cup titles -- two each with Colorado and Montreal -- and holds nearly every major goaltending record. He is the only three-time winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the playoffs, and is the league's career leader in wins and games played.
Roy also has the most playoff wins, games and shutouts, and he helped popularize the butterfly style of goaltending by dropping to his knees to stop shots. ESPN
One of the greatest goalies in NHL history had been preparing for this moment for nearly a year.
"I feel great about my decision," Roy said Wednesday after announcing his retirement. "I really feel like I emptied the tank and I'm ready to move on. I step aside with no regrets."
He is the league's career leader in victories with 551 and games played with 1,029, and he's also tops in playoff victories, games played and shutouts.
His 23 playoff shutouts and his 247 post-season games and 151 wins are well ahead of Grant Fuhr, who is second with 150 games and 92 wins. He also popularized the butterfly style of play. TSN
I don't think there will ever be another player like Roy where I will end up so "obsessed", that I would save almost anything I can get my hands on related to that one player. It's actually hard to think of a Christmas or Birthday in the past 10-15 years where I wouldn't get something related to Roy or the team he was playing for. Maybe someday this huge collection will be worth something.
This day will be remembered right up along side the Stanley Cup, Individual Awards and the day when Roy played his last game in Montreal against Detroit.
For a complete list of achievements and stats.