Roy's No. 33 to join Habs' greats

by James Mirtle on Sep 11, 2008 11:59 AM CDT Comment 3 comments

Canadiens president Pierre Boivin has called a news conference for 3 p.m. today at the Bell Centre at which time he will announce that the Canadiens will retire No. 33 in honour of Patrick Roy as part of the team's festivities celebrating its centennial season in 2008-09.
— Habs Inside/Out

Roy's 33 becomes the 14th number to be retired and he's the 15th player to receive the honour. His is also the only number 30 or over to be retired by the Habs:

No.	Player	Date
1	Jacques Plante	07-Oct-75
2	Doug Harvey	26-Oct-85
4	Jean Beliveau	09-Oct-71
5	Bernard Geoffrion	11-Mar-06
7	Howie Morenz	02-Nov-37
9	Maurice Richard	06-Oct-60
10	Guy Lafleur	16-Feb-85
12	Dickie Moore	12-Nov-05
12	Yvan Cournoyer	12-Nov-05
16	Henri Richard	10-Dec-75
18	Serge Savard	18-Nov-06
19	Larry Robinson	19-Nov-07
23	Bob Gainey	23-Feb-08
29	Ken Dryden	29-Jan-07
33	Patrick Roy	TBA

The Habs now have the third-highest total of retired numbers in North American pro sports, behind the Boston Celtics (21) and New York Yankees (16). The Chicago Bears have 13 retired numbers.
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If I'm not mistaken, I believe Elmer Lach was also honoured along with Henri Richard for having worn the number 16.

by Anonymous on Sep 11, 2008 2:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not as such, no, but the number's gone regardless. See also Aurele Jolait and Newsy Lalonde (4) and a half-dozen goalies (1).

by Doogie2K on Sep 12, 2008 7:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

BTW, James, the date of the Roy ceremony is Nov. 22 (11th month, 22nd day: 11+22=33) against the Boston Bruins. Weird, because the Bruins in Roy's heyday had his number (in particular Cam Neely).

Those years about the only time in the long history of the Boston-Montreal rivalry that Boston had a clear advantage.

by saskhab on Sep 12, 2008 9:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs