Cats make it seven in a row on the backs of the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan last night, winning 4-2. The complete domination that was prevalent Friday night in Bathurst was less so. After a first period in which Moncton indeed dominated for stretches but were held to just one goal, Bathurst scored early in the second (their first goal in a little over four periods in this weekend home and home) and for the next 20 minutes were the better team. They used their speed, won the majority of battles for loose pucks and probably played closer to their full capabilities (which doesn't seem to happen in Bathurst much anymore for whatever reason, no matter who's behind the bench). The turning point (and most crucial goal this weekend so far) goes to Ivan Barbashev, who converted a centring pass late in the second and from that point on, it was back to business as usual for the home side. Moncton didn't go all full court press on Bathurst in the third, but certainly outplayed the Titan to seal the deal. Dannick Emond came up with the insurance goal early in the third. I mention this only because I may never get to say it again. Jacob Brennan was solid in defeat for Bathurst, keeping the score more than respectable after the first period, while I found Brayden Wood played one of his best games of the season on the back end.
Cats are back at it again today at 4PM against everybody's favourite Memorial Cup party crasher Patrick Roy and his Quebec Remparts.
Now, a few words about Patrick, and my chronological personal history, as a follower of both the Habs and the Q, regarding my feelings towards him.
When I first truly started to follow the Habs, Roy wasn't even the clear cut number one. There was a guy named Bryan Hayward in the mix who was not only challenging for that spot, but winning it. I was a Hayward fan. It's not that I disliked Roy, I just enjoyed watching Hayward more and wanted him to stick around because this is how 7 and 8 year olds and John Ferguson Jr. determine things when building teams in their minds.
Of course, Patrick stuck around... and that probably worked out for the best. He is pretty much the singular reason why there is a banner at the Bell Center that reads "Coupe Stanley Cup, 1992-93". For that I always appreciated what Roy brought to the table. I just wasn't a huge fan. I look at Manny Ramirez's days with the Red Sox in the exact same light. "Love what you did for us, but I just happen to enjoy watching this guy and this guy more. Nothing personal. Put down that knife. No I won't buy your barbecue."
Then came December of 1995. Anyone who even somewhat followed the Canadiens during that era when the interwebs were still in their relative infancy knew there was a powder keg forming throughout the fall. Guess what went boom? Everyone knows the story, so it bears no repeating here. But I will say this... when Roy stopped by Ronald Corey on his way to the stool of shame that night at the Forum and - as we all found out the next day - said he had played his last game in Montreal - I can honestly say it was the first time ever that I was fully and completely in Patrick Roy's corner. Love him or hate him, he as well as any veteran star player should be owed some form of gratitude by those on their respective clubs that they provide service to. I'm not talking about material perks... I mean little things like not publicly embarrassing them in front of their home fans. This is what happened as Mario Tremblay came down with the biggest case of penis envy in NHL history and in the process, stripped the Montreal Canadiens of their primary competitive edge for the rest of the decade... and the next one as well. I still maintain that Roy would not have finished his career in Montreal. He would've gone somewhere... anywhere. I think life as a Hab would've eventually led to him finding a way out. However, it didn't have to go down the way it did.
I wasn't upset when he won the two cups in Colorado... he definitely didn't steal those away from the Habs. I was very happy for Joe Sakic and Ray Bourque in '96 and '01 respectively. He just went out and continued to win... something he probably wouldn't have had the luxury of doing in Montreal at those times. For me, it was a non-issue.
After his retirement in 2003, Patrick became more involved in the QMJHL team he had purchased a stake in back in the late '90s, the Quebec Remparts. Two seasons later, Patrick put himself behind the bench and led the Remparts to some sort of championship that I've erased from my memory. Go look it up on Wikipedia.
It was of course during that tournament that Roy became public enemy #1 in Moncton. He played mind games with the Wildcats, particularly coach Ted Nolan and goaltender Josh Tordjman. These two teams had seen alot of each other in the couple of weeks leading up the the Memorial Cup, having played in the Q finals. Roy knew he needed an advantage, any advantage, to gain the upper hand. He was willing to do whatever he needed to do and the fans hated him for it.
In the end, something worked. Was it him? Was it the luck of the draw that his team was better than the Wildcats on the last day of the CHL season? I think it was a bit of both... but definitely more the former than the later.
There was also the Patrick Roy that strolled around town that week in 2006 singing autographs and visiting disabled children. In the days since that tournament, I've had the opportunity to interview Roy and although distant, he was more that obliging to talk as long as I wanted. I had to wait for him to sign a few autographs first of course, but I guess that come with the territory when you are who he is.
Bottom line is, when you boo Patrick Roy today, boo him knowing full well that he is money in the bank for the Q. While other teams struggle mightily to balance the check book every month, he induces a boost of cash flow and sometimes controversy everywhere he goes. He's a smart hockey man who draws a large crowd. He teams are almost always competitive and play an exciting brand of hockey. And he's outspoken, not generic. What's not to appreciate about that?
It's been 25 years since I first realised who this guy was... and although I still don't hate him, I'm still not a huge fan. I appreciate what he did for the Habs. I appreciate what he's done for the Q (his eldest son and that one Sunday in May being exceptions). But whenever I hear the boos rain down from the stands at the Coliseum, I always think back to what Patrick himself said during the Memorial Cup in 2006. "They boo me during the games, but they always ask for my autograph afterwards." I think that sums it up better than anything. He's the guy Wildcats fans love to hate. Think about that while gobbling your timbits up this afternoon.
In other news, the Commandos attempted the whole comeback thingy once again, falling behind 4-1 in Truro, getting it back to 4-3 before ultimately losing 6-3. Next week's agenda for our local Jr.A guys? How about a 3 in 3 involving Campbellton (road), Summerside (road) and Woodstock (home). No one said life would be easy, guys.
No comments:
Post a Comment