In last year’s draft the Montreal Canadiens selected Joshua Roy in the 5th round, 150th overall. When you get to those lower rounds, you start throwing darts on the wall and start selecting what can only be hoped to be a sleeper pick that will suddenly stand out.
With Joshua Roy, the Canadiens are on their way of obtaining just that.
The St-Georges-De-Beauce native is tearing it up in the QMJHL, having thus far compiled 37 goals and 57 assists for 94 points in 51 games, with 15 games left to the season at the time of this writing.
Roy has completely changed his mentality when it comes to the life of a pro hockey player and life itself. He has taken a huge leap in maturity and now works hard, practices hard and surrounds himself with all the right people.
All of that has led to the ultimate reward for any young hockey player – an NHL contract. The Canadiens officially announced that Joshua Roy has signed an NHL entry level deal.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with forward Joshua Roy (2022-23 to 2024-25). #GoHabsGo https://t.co/YuZ38DrGfu
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 30, 2022
Roy then celebrated in the best of ways by playing the same night he signed the contract and went on to set the all-time record for points in a season for the Sherbrooke Phoenix.
#GoHabsGo Joshua Roy takes sole possession of the @PhoenixSherbroo record for single-season points with this one-touch pass over to Xavier Parent on the PP. pic.twitter.com/jNwtCJOwtO
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) March 31, 2022
The Phoenix are set to make the QMJHL playoffs this season and of course Roy will be an integral part of that quest for the President’s Cup. The Phoenix have never gone further in the second round since re-entering the league as an expansion team in 2012, replacing the defunct Lewiston Maineiacs. The city of Sherbrooke has not celebrated a President’s Cup victory since the days of the Sherbrooke Castors (Beavers in French), when they won three championships in the 1970’s and early 80’s.
Should the Phoenix have another early playoff exit, Roy would be eligible to make the jump to the AHL and join the Laval Rocket in their bid to reach championship glory.
Roy will turn 19 this August and you can bet he’s going to give it his all at next season’s rookie camp and eventually try to carve a place in the starting lineup of the Laval Rocket.
He is definitely one of the best feel good stories of the season.
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