An excerpt from the NHL.com live blogging from the Bell Centre and the Patrick Roy jersey retirement ceremony/Bruins vs Canadiens game:
Not surprisingly, Roy said tonight’s events put an end to the perceived rift between him and the Habs. The most important thing, though, was he finally got a chance to say good bye to the fans, to say thank you to the fans.
Roy never had a chance to do that. He abruptly left this town embarrassed by his last game in bleu, blanc et rouge. He’s not embarrassed anymore. He’s proud, very proud, and supremely thankful.
“I consider myself very lucky to have a night like this,” Roy said. “I don’t think there is a better way to talk to them (the fans). The meaning of tonight made it even more special because having that speech and talking to them, at least they know I didn’t want to leave that way. At least they know that I feel it should have been a lot different than it was then. Now they know that I wanted to come back and I would have loved to play my entire career with the Montreal Canadiens. There is no doubt.”
