Patrick Roy

Chad Klassen
Love of Sports Correspondent

Patrick Roy’s career didn’t end the way he would’ve liked.

Andrew Brunette put the moves on him to score the Game 7 overtime winner as Minnesota eliminated the Avalanche from the 2003 NHL Playoffs.

But we certainly haven’t forgotten the fact Roy’s the greatest goalie ever, boasting four Stanley Cup rings and holding four NHL records, including most wins (551).

This repertoire of incredible accomplishments ultimately guaranteed his worth as an unquestionable first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2006, as the best to ever play the position.

The Montreal Canadiens will recognize his greatness by retiring #33 on Saturday night when they faced the original-six rival Boston Bruins.

The Avalanche organization had already taken the initiative to raise Roy’s jersey to their rafters as well, but it was unsure whether Montreal would do the same, given that he demanded a trade and stormed out of town in the midst of the 1995-96 season. But this was absolutely the right move, because he did great things as the Canadiens netminder for 10 seasons.

In his inaugural campaign, after being taken 51st overall in the 1984 NHL Draft, he made an immediate impact with Montreal during the 1985-86 season, especially in the postseason.

After playing 47 regular season games that year, he won the starting job in the playoffs, eventually backstopping Montreal to the Stanley Cup in his rookie season. He became the second Montreal goaltender (the legendary Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden being the other) to accomplish the feat and remains the youngest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP.

Roy was the backbone of another championship team in 1993 – the franchise’s last Stanley Cup win – when the Canadiens beat the L.A. Kings in five games. He went to Colorado three years later and earned two more rings to his fingers. The first as an Avalanche came in the team’s inaugural 1996 season, then he later led them to another Cup in 2001.

However, his remarkable dominance at the old Forum in Montreal is what defined his career and the reason why #33 is being raised to the rafters on Saturday night.

For his 551 wins and four Stanley Cups roaming the crease, we’re giving some OLD SCHOOL LOVE to the greatest goaltender to ever hit the ice.