�By retiring Patrick Roy�s number 33, we�re acknowledging the greatest goaltender ever to play in the National Hockey League,� said Colorado Avalanche President and General Manager Pierre Lacroix at Patrick Roy�s retirement announcement on May 28. �Patrick has been an integral part of this team for the eight seasons we have called Denver home, and the impact he had on this team and community will be remembered forever.�
Roy retired as Colorado�s all-time franchise goaltending leader in every category, including games played (478), minutes played (28,317), wins (262), goals against average (2.26), and shutouts (37). He established franchise single-season records for games played (65 in 1997-98), minutes played (3835 in 1997-98), wins (40 in 2000-01), goals against average (1.94 in 2001-02), and shutouts (9 in 2001-02). He won 30 or more games in every full season with Colorado, the lone exception being 1995-96, when he was acquired in early December of that season.
Roy departed the National Hockey League as the greatest goaltender ever to play the game, and his regular season accomplishments can only be rivaled by his post season prowess. His regular season records include most games played (1,029), most minutes played (60,235), most wins (551), and the most 30-plus win seasons (13). His .618 winning percentage ranks him 8th all-time, and he ranks 11th all-time with 66 career shutouts. His 45 career assists are good for third all-time, and he is the only goaltender in history to notch 200-plus games with two different clubs.
His marks on the NHL�s record books continue into post season play. Roy is the NHL�s goaltending leader for most games played (247), minutes played (15,209), shutouts (23), consecutive wins in the post season (11 in 1993), and has the most 10-plus win playoff campaigns (9). Roy claims the NHL�s second longest scoreless streak in the Stanley Cup Finals (227:41, the longest since 1926), and became the first goaltender since 1965 to record two shutouts in the Finals (2001). His .616 winning percentage is good for third all-time.
33 will mark the second sweater number to be retired in the eight-year history of the Colorado Avalanche and will be the sixth retired number in the overall history of the franchise. The Quebec Nordiques had retired the sweater numbers of four players: Peter Stastny (26), Marc Tardif (8), J.C. Tremblay (3), and Michel Goulet (16). Michel Goulet has been with the Avalanche as the Vice President of Player Personnel since 1996. Ray Bourque�s number 77 is proudly displayed in the Pepsi Center rafters as the first Avalanche number to be officially retired.
Tickets for the game on Tuesday, October 28 as well as the entire 2003-04 Colorado Avalanche home schedule will go on sale beginning Saturday, September 20 at 10:00am. More details surrounding Patrick Roy Night will be announced in the near future. |
