New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy faces severe backlash after humiliating goaltender in NHL debut
Photo credit: NHL
As the New York Islanders season was over, it was time for the team to give their young players a shot, including 22-year-old former 3rd-round pick and goaltender Tristan Lennox.
Things surely didn't go as planned for the young goaltender in his NHL debut, and now Islanders head coach Patrick Roy is taking serious heat for it.
After a poor start to the game, the New York Islanders decided to pull goaltender Patrick Hogberg from the net, giving Tristan Lennox the nod as he was the teams' backup for the night.
The young netminder was stoked to play his first NHL game and even drove to meet the New York Islanders for their game against the Rangers at UBS Arena.
Lennox unfortunately let in the first goal of his career on his second shot of the game, and Patrick Roy humiliated him after that.
Just minutes after getting his first opportunity between the pipes, Roy himself signaled Lennox to get off the ice, as he put Hogberg back into the net.
This left fans and even reporters shocked, including TV host and former Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey.
Roy addresses pulling Tristan Lennox in NHL debut
The former goaltender Patrick Roy himself knew he made a mistake, and took full responsibility for his actions.
"After the sixth goal, I wanted to give a break to Marcus, mentally more than anything else. And I put Lennox in, and when I saw the first goal...it's on me. Maybe I should have kept [Hogberg in].
The kid didn't have a chance to practice, and I thought that was unfair to him, to put him out there like this. So that's why I put Marcus back in. Didn't want to expose him and put him in a tough spot."
The kid didn't have a chance to practice, and I thought that was unfair to him, to put him out there like this. So that's why I put Marcus back in. Didn't want to expose him and put him in a tough spot."
Roy's comments didn't put water on the fire that erupted over his controversial decision, though.
These out-of-anger moves could ultimately lead to Roy's firing as head coach of the New York Islanders this off-season.
Previously on HawksInsider
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