Montreal Canadiens: Joshua Roy May Have Forced Team Canada To Select Him

Montreal Canadiens prospect Joshua Roy always had the talent to be a great player.

That is why the Saint John Sea Dogs selected him with the first overall pick in the QMJHL Draft in 2019. He scored 44 points in 60 games as a rookie but was traded the following season after scoring 17 points in 15 games.

It wasn’t Roy’s talent level that resulted in a trade from the Sea Dogs.

His commitment to the game was questioned as he didn’t have the best workout habits and he was a bit lackadaisical, especially in the defensive zone. A renewed commitment to fitness and proper nutrition led to a rejuvenated Roy entering this season. He was not on Team Canada’s summer radar, but he has since probably forced his way onto the team for the upcoming World Juniors.

Roy has come out of the gates with the Sherbrooke Phoenix on fire this season. When he headed out for Canada’s development camp in Alberta this weekend, he was leading the league in scoring with 45 points in 25 games. He plays the wing on a line with Xavier Parent and Julien Anctil and the trio are perhaps the best line in the league, carrying the team to a 18-6-1-1 record which is second in the QMJHL.

That hot start was enough to grab Team Canada’s attention and Roy was invited to their evaluation camp. Still, with a deep lineup of recent first round picks, could a fifth round pick like Roy earn a role? Also working against him is that he is 18 years old and many players competing for spots in the top nine up front are a year older.

Roy was going to have to stand out at the camps only two exhibition games which are being played this weekend against a group of Canadian University All Stars. He certainly rose to the occasion last night.

Roy was on a line with Dylan Guenther, a top ten pick form last year’s NHL Draft, and Conor Bedard, who will be the first overall pick in 2023. It was a talented line, but a young one who could dominate this event a year from now. They combined to show they can stand out just fine this year as well.

Canada won the contest 3-0, and the Roy line did all the scoring. Roy tipped a point shot to extend Canada’s lead to 2-0 in the second period.

Roy made a terrific pass to Bedard in the third period and the young phenom made no mistake firing it home to extend the lead to three goals.

There are 21 forwards at the camp, and 14 will make the final roster so seven of them need to be cut. That should happen later today after a rematch with the University All Stars at 4:00 PM EST.

Roy needed to show that he can produce offence at this camp and he couldn’t have done much more in yesterday’s game. His line did all of the scoring and he made a tremendous pass that led to a goal and also redirected one in himself.

He has one more chance to shine this afternoon and then we will find out if he made the cut or not tonight.

Canadiens prospect Kaiden Guhle sat out yesterday’s game because he is assured of a spot on this team and is likely going to be named captain.