Roy: 'I learned a lot during the tournament'

MONTREAL - Forward Joshua Roy wasn't necessarily looking to make a statement at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship in Halifax, but he definitely did.

The Canadiens' prospect tied for fourth in tournament scoring with 11 points - including five goals - in seven games, and collected the primary assist on Dylan Guenther's dramatic overtime tally that secured a second consecutive gold medal for Canada on home soil.
Only projected first-overall pick Connor Bedard and fellow NHL draftees Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud put up more points than Roy during the annual event, so he has every reason to be exceptionally proud of his overall performance for his country.
Roy, who also claimed gold in Edmonton last August, believes his personal success with the Canadian contingent this winter had a lot to do with his mindset… and his outstanding linemates, too.
"I went to Moncton for selection camp with a good mentality. It wasn't because I made the team this past summer that it was guaranteed I'd make the team again. I knew I had to earn my spot, so I worked very hard at camp. It went well and I had a lot of good practices, so I was confident heading into the tournament," explained Roy, a fifth-round selection of Montreal (150th overall) in 2021. "Then when I got to play with Bedard and Logan Stankhoven, we had very good complicity and it worked very well."

Point production aside, though, the 19-year-old Saint-Georges-De-Beauce, QC native says that playing with this latest edition of the Canadian contingent made him a more complete player.
He watched his more seasoned teammates closely, soaked up knowledge at every opportunity, took on some new responsibilities, and continually earned the trust of the coaching staff whenever it was his turn to jump over the boards and get into the mix.
"I learned a lot during the tournament from seeing how players were acting on and off the ice, guys like Shane Wright and Brandt Clarke with some AHL and NHL experience. That was good for me. They really showed how to stay calm in pretty stressful moments, like the two overtime games against Slovakia and Czechia in front of sold-out crowds. You really understand the importance of sticking together as a unit during those moments," insisted Roy, who matched Bedard with a tournament-best +14 differential. "It was also probably my first real time playing on the penalty-kill. I played a solid game defensively during the tournament. I think the main thing I proved to everybody is that I can play 200 feet. I'm still an offensive guy, but I can handle those responsibilities as well."

As for the pass to Guenther that sent the 10,735 fans at Scotiabank Centre into an absolute frenzy on January 5, Roy was over the moon with the result, of course, but he's rather modest about the feed itself.
That shouldn't really come as a surprise from the QMJHL's leading scorer last season who generated 68 of his 119 points with the Sherbrooke Phoenix via assists.
"It's for sure one of the top plays in my career, but it wasn't the nicest pass I've made in my life," joked Roy. "The moment was just crazy. When we went on the 2-on-1, the crowd stood up and started screaming. When I saw the defensemen slide pretty early and I knew I had Guenther with me, I was like, 'He isn't a bad player, so I'm going to give him the puck.' He just put it in and it was a great moment. Seeing the way our bench reacted after that was pretty nice to see, too."

Team Canada assistant coach Stephane Julien, who also helms the Phoenix and serves as general manager, spoke glowingly about his star pupil during a recent visit to the Bell Centre.
He was thrilled to see him step up and deliver again when it mattered most.
"What impressed me was the way he handled the pressure, the way he handled things on a day-to-day basis, how consistent he was and how poised he was with the puck, especially on the winning goal. It was pretty amazing," praised Julien. "When we put Josh with Connor, it's not easy to play with all the cameras and all the media focused around that player and you're always playing against the best defensemen from other countries. But, Josh showed that he can play at that level. His hockey IQ and his hockey sense is a lot higher than probably 70 percent of the players in the CHL and probably a couple of guys in the NHL, too. That's something that's hard to teach, and he's got it."
Speaking of consistency, Roy hasn't missed a beat since returning to his junior squad.
He has 20 goals and 39 points in 23 games and sits tied for first in team scoring with 82 points.
"I just want to keep going. I did well during the tournament and I just want to get better. I still have a lot of things to improve on, so I'm going to keep working. Most importantly, I want to keep showing that I'm a 200-foot player," said Roy, who currently has a five-game goal streak. "I had a meeting after I got cut in Montreal last training camp and they were saying they know I can put up points and they know what I can do in the offensive zone, but they really want me to show what I can do defensively. That's what I'm going to keep working on for the rest of the season."
Make no mistake about it, though, the reigning Jean Béliveau Trophy and Paul Dumont Trophy winner is primed to enter the pro ranks and turn some heads at the next level.
He's hungry for the next phase of his journey towards his ultimate goal - suiting up for the Habs someday.

"Maybe before the tournament, turning pro was a big step, but after the tournament I had, it made me really confident," mentioned Roy. "I'm just excited for training camp in the fall."
Julien is adamant that Montreal has a stud in Roy.
And his future is incredibly bright.
"When Josh started the tournament, he knew he was on a good track. He can play at the next level. He proved that he's a special player, and the way he handled the pressure in the tournament was perfect for a player with Montreal," said Julien. "If he plays like he did at the World Juniors and like he's playing with us right now in Sherbrooke, I don't see any reason why he won't have his chance in training camp. Anything can happen. He understands that if he has to play in the AHL for one or two years, that will be acceptable for him, but he's got all the talent to play in the NHL one day."
For now, however, his focus remains squarely on helping the Phoenix win the President's Cup.
And building on his impressive list of achievements in recent months.
"I would say that 2022 was a good year for me, especially with two gold medals. I don't know how many kids dream of winning a gold medal at the World Juniors and I had the chance to win two. Spending those moments with my family - my parents and my aunt and uncle - was pretty special," concluded Roy. "It was nice to experience that with them because they've made a lot of sacrifices for me since I was very young. I also had really good relationships with the guys on the team. We're going to stay friends for the rest of our lives."