Rookie Joshua Roy off to fast begin with the Laval Rocket

Article content material

From the second he first laced on skates, Joshua Roy knew he was a pure scorer. Whether or not by artful anticipation or the puck simply following him, he has persistently produced.

“I’ve at all times had that contact of scoring targets, since I began to play,” the Laval Rocket rookie right-winger stated after Tuesday’s 60-minute observe at Place Bell.

Article content material

Whereas the Rocket misplaced its opening two AHL video games at house final Friday and Saturday to Abbotsford, Roy’s professional profession is off to a wonderful begin with a pair of two-point video games, cut up between targets and assists. Throughout Saturday afternoon’s 4-3 defeat, the 6-foot, 192-pounder fired a formidable 10 photographs on aim whereas enjoying on a line with Emil Heineman and Mitchell Stephens.

Article content material

Roy stated his mentality is that each shot may end up in a scoring likelihood. However the 20-year-old native of Saint-Georges, within the Beauce area, realizes the transition from junior to the AHL will take time, he stated.

“It’s as onerous as everyone stated,” Roy stated. “You simply must work onerous. I had a really massive summer season, coaching in Montreal. I feel that helped me loads to take a step.

“I had hope, like everyone, of sticking with the Canadiens. Nevertheless it’s not a nasty factor that I got here right here, take confidence, maintain working and getting higher.”

Though Roy was a former first general draft selection within the QMJHL, with Saint John, his play throughout his NHL draft-eligible yr was lacklustre, finally leading to a commerce to Sherbrooke. It’s most likely why Roy remained on the board into the fifth spherical, when the Canadiens chosen him a hundred and fiftieth general in 2021.

The commerce to the Phoenix rejuvenated Roy’s profession. He had a league-leading 51 targets and 119 factors in 66 video games for Sherbrooke through the 2021-22 season, including 46 targets and 99 factors in 55 video games final season. He accomplished his junior profession with 297 factors in 216 video games and was named to the QMJHL’s first all-star group final season.

Article content material

Article content material

Roy additionally was a key part on Canada’s gold-medal profitable squad ultimately yr’s world junior championship, producing 5 targets and 11 factors in seven video games. It helped that he performed on a line with Connor Bedard, chosen first general by the Chicago Blackhawks this yr. Bedard led the event with 9 targets and 23 factors, however Roy was second on the group in scoring and assisted on the golden aim.

Roy has been referred to as a cerebral participant by Adam Nicholas, the Canadiens’ director of hockey growth. An argument might be made that Roy is the most-improved prospect within the group’s system, though his skating might use some work. His conditioning will probably be examined as effectively, given the AHL’s rigorous schedule and lengthy bus journeys.

“The primary two video games right here, we gave him quite a lot of ice time — deservedly so,” Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle stated. “I assumed he was one among our good gamers. He confirmed that he’s obtained some talent and may put the puck within the web. He’s forward of the curve slightly bit. It’s nice to have a rookie forward of the curve. I feel he’s obtained a promising future forward of him.

Article content material

“You may’t train expertise,” Houle added. “It’s about getting video games beneath his belt. He can at all times get quicker, stronger, changing into a professional day in and day trip. Having that schedule, put together your self, earlier than and after video games. It’s approach completely different from junior. We’ll see what occurs when we now have back-to-back video games … 5 video games in seven nights in November. We’ll see how he fares with these.”

Roy could be on an early goal-a-game tempo, however realizes that’s not going to proceed. However he gained’t put limitations or expectations on his rookie marketing campaign. He’s grateful to have earned the belief and confidence of Houle up to now.

“I simply need to maintain working and getting higher so, in the future, I attain the NHL,” Roy stated. “Preserve grinding. I don’t need to give attention to my factors. That may distract me.”

In the meantime, the Rocket has misplaced Heineman indefinitely with an upper-body harm. He presumably might have been referred to as as much as the large membership to switch injured Canadiens ahead Kirby Dach, who is predicted to overlook the season with a knee harm. Heineman had seven targets in 11 video games with Laval final season.

[email protected]

twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1

Article content material

Article content material