Canadiens retiring Patrick Roy's No. 33

The Montreal Canadiens will retire goaltending legend Patrick Roy's No. 33 at a Nov. 22 game against the Boston Bruins, 13 years after his bitter departure from the NHL team.

Roy, 42, led Montreal to Stanley Cup titles in 1986 and 1993, and finished his 18-year NHL career with a league-record 551 regular-season victories as a member of the Colorado Avalanche and Canadiens.

"It's a great day," Roy said at a news conference Thursday. "[Canadiens president Pierre Boivin] asked me if I was ready [to have my number retired]. It's time for me to move on [from the events in 1995], and I hope it is the same for everybody."

Roy's number is the 15th retired by the Canadiens and first marking the team's 100th season in 2008-09.

The others hanging from the rafters at the Bell Centre include:

• Jacques Plante (No. 1)
• Doug Harvey (2)
• Jean Beliveau (4)
• Bernie Geoffrion (5)
• Howie Morenz (7)
• Maurice Richard (9)
• Guy Lafleur (10)
• Yvan Cournoyer and Dickie Moore (12)
• Henri Richard (16)
• Serge Savard (18)
• Larry Robinson (19)
• Bob Gainey (23)
• Ken Dryden (29)

Colorado, which traded for the Hall of Famer in 1995, retired Roy's number five years ago after he helped the Avalanche win two Stanley Cups.

"In Colorado, we honoured his career and achievements because of the immediate and continued impact he had on our team," Avalanche president Pierre Lacroix said in a statement released after Thursday's announcement.

"This celebrates the player that he was, the pioneer he became and the legend he will remain."

Lacroix added that he was thrilled to see Roy recognized by the Canadiens, in the province where his career began.

"This is obviously a well-deserved honour for Patrick," he said. "To have number 33 hang from the rafters in Montreal, a place where the game’s greatest goaltender began his career, is truly special. For me, it’s another reminder of the legacy that Patrick has left behind. I know fans in the Quebec province appreciate his contributions and many will remember how far he came from his early days wearing the Canadiens’ sweater. We were able to witness the creativity and style that he developed and realized that he was in a league of his own at an early age."

Roy traded after bitter split

On Dec. 2, 1995, then Canadiens coach Mario Tremblay left Roy in net for nine goals against the visiting Detroit Red Wings, prompting Roy to storm past the coach and directly to team president Ronald Corey, seated behind the Montreal bench, after he was finally pulled.

"It's my last game in Montreal," Roy said afterwards.

A few days later, the Canadiens traded Roy — the 51st overall pick in the 1984 NHL entry draft — to Colorado.

"It was more difficult than people might think to leave Montreal. I had a lot of friends in the city and [still do]," the Sainte-Foy, Que., native said Thursday. "Yes, I would have loved to have left on a different note, but there's nothing we can do today.

"The message I want to send is that it's time for me to move on. It's a great honour to have a chance to come back with the organization and the family of the Montreal Canadiens … I've always been proud of my tenure in Montreal.

"I learned a lot. This is where I learned to be a winner and [have] the chance to be involved with great players. [Canadiens general manager] Bob [Gainey] was probably the best captain I ever had. You tried to follow [his lead] and use it to your advantage.

"When I went to Colorado," Roy added, "I certainly tried to be a leader, and the fans made me realize it was important, every night, to be accountable for your teammates, and you had to do whatever you could to win hockey games."

Roy, now co-owner, GM and head coach of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Quebec Remparts, also holds NHL goaltending records for career games played (1,029) and playoff wins (151).

He credits a lot of his success to goaltending trainer François Allaire.

"I am privileged to still have contact with him," said Roy. "My son [Jonathan] went to his hockey school this summer.

"If I did help goaltenders [over the years], I'm extremely happy," said Roy, adding former NHL goalie Daniel Bouchard influenced his career. "He helped me to want to play the position, to enjoy the game by following what [he was] doing on the ice."

With only 20 minutes of NHL experience, Roy was named Montreal's starting netminder for the 1985-86 season and flourished in the role.

After leading the Canadiens into the playoffs, he posted 16 wins and a 1.92 goals-against average on the way to a Cup championship and Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the post-season.

Roy displayed a similar level of dominance for Montreal in the spring of 1993, winning 10 consecutive overtime games in the Canadiens' championship campaign.

A controversial figure

Since the end of his playing career, Roy has been a controversial figure both on and off the ice in junior hockey, with the Remparts' 10-player brawl against Chicoutimi last March 22 making headlines.

Quebec goalie Jonathan Roy is accused of skating the length of the ice and pummelling Sagueneens counterpart Bobby Nadeau, who was unwilling to fight and covered himself up.

The Roys later were suspended — Jonathan for seven games and his father for five.

The younger Roy also was charged with assault. He is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 16 and faces a fine of up to $2,000 and six months in prison.