Patrick Roy

OK, maybe this is part of hockey - on some levels - but I have a major problem with what happened recently with future Hall of Fame NHL star Patrick Roy and his son at their Junior League game this past week.

Roy’s son, Jonathon, is a goaltender for the Quebec Ramparts, while Patrick is one of the coaches. While fights were breaking out across the ice, Patrick gave his son the order to go attack the opposing goalie.

Patrick had a habit of fighting the opposing goalie while he was playing in the NHL, and apparently he wanted to impart this upon his son.

So, Jonathon flew across the ice, despite the opposition of the referees, and started pummeling the goalie of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Unfortunately, this kid wanted no part of it and essentially allowed Roy to beat the snot out of him for a while, to the approval of his old man.

After the deal was done, Roy skated off the ice, gave the double middle fingers to the crowd and went straight to the lockerroom.

The league handed the son a seven-game suspension and Patrick a five-game one for issuing the order, but this sets an awful precedent.

Again, I know fighting is a part of the game at times, but this goalie had nothing to do with anything and got his ass beat for absolutely no reason at all. Roy should’ve been suspended for a lot longer, perhaps an entire year, to let players know this kind of unprovoked act doesn’t belong.

I don’t care what sport you’re playing. Even boxers don’t pummel each other after the bell without knowing they’re going away for a long time. This incident was basically “after the bell” if you will. It was outside of hockey. It was just plain mean.

And for that, the two Roys deserve the utmost in Tough Love from us.