Manitoba Moose retire, raise Jimmy Roy’s number
Jesse Bonello - Staff Writer
Sioux Lookout’s Jimmy Roy is just the second player in Manitoba Moose history to have their number raised to the rafters at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg after the team officially retired his number during a home game on Feb. 7.
As part of celebrating its 20th season, the Moose, who are the official American Hockey League affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets, raised and retired Roy’s number 21 during an on-ice ceremony prior to their Feb. 7 game against the Chicago Wolves.
“It’s really hard to put it into words… It was unbelievable. To see my family and friends, to share it with all of them, it was an unbelievable experience,” said Jimmy Roy.
In a press release announcing his jersey retirement, the Moose shared, “Roy spent all nine of his North American professional seasons with the Moose where he played in 603 regular season games, tallying 101 goals, 111 assists and 1,434 penalty minutes. Roy is the franchise leader in games played and penalty minutes, while he is ranked second in goals, shots on goals (1096), game-winning goals (17) and shorthanded goals (10). Roy and the Moose reached the post-season eight of his nine campaigns with Manitoba.”
“During the 2002-03 season, Roy won the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award as the AHL’s Man of the Year in recognition for his involvement in the community. In addition, Roy was selected to take part in the 2006 AHL All-Star Classic serving as captain for the Canadian AHL All-Star team. The forward also received numerous team awards throughout his decorated career. Roy was awarded Manitoba’s Most Popular Player in back-to-back seasons (2001-02 and 2002-03). He was also the recipient of the Moose Community Man of the Year award on three occasions (2001-02, 2002-03 and 2005-06),” the press release continued.
Roy credited his parents, along with Sioux Lookout community members, for the impact they had on his childhood, his minor hockey years, and his overall hockey career.
“I think I’m very lucky. A lot of things have happened to have the stars line up and it would probably start with my parents. Everything they did for me as kid, all the hockey tournaments, and what they taught me through work ethic, leadership, and loyalty… It’s my name and number that’s up there, but there are so many people that are a part of it and have a piece of that,” said Roy.
“I actually left there (Sioux Lookout) when I was 14 to go to Kenora and live there to play hockey. As a young kid, through minor hockey (in Sioux Lookout), I think it was a real close knit group of parents and kids because there wasn’t very many of us. There was pretty much only two teams growing up and you played against each other all the time, but it was those parents, coaches, and a support system that was really neat to be a part of. Guys like Randy Henrickson or Bill Bertrand, they were people that coached me and supported me throughout minor hockey, as well as my dad, and they’re the ones that mold you and develop you into the person you are today,” he continued.
After nine seasons with the Moose, Roy spent five seasons playing for the Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany, starting in 2006. Roy picked up 48 goals and 48 assists in 290 games overseas.
Roy retired in 2011, and he’s been the Director of Player Development in the Winnipeg Jets organization ever since. Roy said his passion for hockey, from his playing career, has transferred over into his role as Director of Player Development, which sees him working with young prospects as they look to turn their NHL dreams into reality.
“I’m the Director of Player Development for the Winnipeg Jets, so I look after our prospects and young players within our organization and I try to help them do the things they need to do to get better, get to the next level, and become professional players. That’s where I spend most of my time travelling around, visiting other teams, watching, evaluating our young players, and try to help them… I still have the same passion, as a player, now on this side of the game,” said Roy.
“I think if you put in the work, find passion for something, and love what you do you can be successful at anything you do. I hope that my children learn that and kids see that. It doesn’t have to be hockey but, whatever you love to do, do it with passion, do it with work, and you’ll succeed,” he concluded.