May 29, 2003 5:30 AM

Au revoir...

A legend walks away: NHL's all-time wins leader retires after 18 seasons

Patrick Roy was, in my estimation, the greatest goaltender to ever grace the NHL with his presence. In a modern era that has been defined by goaltending excellence, Roy has created a standard that is unlikely to ever be exceeded.

DENVER (AP) -- Patrick Roy's piercing blue eyes gave no hint of the emotional moment. While those around him choked back tears and had trouble speaking, Roy barely blinked.

One of the greatest goalies in NHL history had been preparing for this moment for nearly a year.

"I feel great about my decision," Roy said Wednesday after announcing his retirement. "I really feel like I emptied the tank and I'm ready to move on. I step aside with no regrets."

Roy is just two years removed from his best regular season and is still considered one of the league's premier goalies at 37, but he figured it would be better to go out on top rather than tarnish his image.

"It's always been important for me to play with consistency, but also leave on my own terms," said Roy, who made the decision to retire before this season. "I think I've accomplished everything I wanted and I think I've done basically what I think I should."

We should all be so lucky to be able to go out on our own terms. Not bad for a kid from Quebec City who just wanted to play in the NHL.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on May 29, 2003 5:30 AM.

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