After inking his entry-level contract a few months ago, Joshua Roy is going to get an early taste of professional hockey. Since that deal doesn’t kick in until the 2022-23 season, Roy is still eligible to sign an amateur tryout with the Laval Rocket and help them in their quest for the Calder Cup.
Roy, 18, was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft and something of an afterthought for many fans until he hit the ice with the Sherbrooke Phoenix this season. He led all QMJHL skaters with 119 points and carried that production right into the playoffs. As it currently stands, Roy leads the entire league in postseason scoring with 23 points in 11 games, though that still wasn’t enough to keep Sherbrooke in the hunt. They were defeated yesterday by the Charlottetown Islanders in the semi-finals, meaning Roy’s season has now ended.
Incredibly, the 2003-born winger will not be eligible for the AHL next season, despite his dominance of junior this year. He will turn 19 in August and have to return to the QMJHL for another season, assuming he fails to make the Montreal Canadiens roster out of camp.
This taste of pro hockey should be interesting, as if he gets into the lineup with Laval it will be like jumping onto a moving train. The Rocket are set to start the Eastern Conference Finals against the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday–a tough spot for an 18-year-old to make his debut. Whether he plays or not, it is certainly a nice reward for his outstanding season and will only help his overall development.