If you are a fan of ice hockey, you might have wondered if Nicolas Roy, the center for the Vegas Golden Knights, is related to Patrick Roy, the legendary goaltender and coach. After all, they share the same surname and both hail from Quebec, Canada. However, the answer is no, they are not related by blood or marriage. Here are some facts to explain why.
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Different Origins of the Roy Surname
The surname Roy is very common in Quebec, where it is pronounced as “Rwa”. According to Ancestry.com, Roy is derived from the Old French word roi, meaning “king”. It was originally a nickname for someone who acted in a regal manner or had some connection to the royal family. However, not all Roys in Quebec have the same origin. Some of them are descendants of French settlers who came to New France in the 17th and 18th centuries, while others are of Irish or Scottish ancestry and adopted the name Roy after anglicizing their original surnames such as O’Reilly or McRoy.
Different Family Trees of Nicolas and Patrick Roy
Nicolas Roy was born on February 5, 1997, in Amos, Quebec. His parents are Barbara Miller and Michel Roy. He has a younger brother named Stéphane. Nicolas began playing hockey at a young age and joined the Chicoutimi Saguenéens of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2013. He was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in 2018. He was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2019 and helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2023.
Patrick Roy was born on October 5, 1965, in Quebec City, Quebec. His parents are Barbara Miller and Michel Roy. He has a younger brother named Stéphane. Patrick became interested in being a goalie when he was seven years old and played for the Sainte-Foy Gouverneurs and the Granby Bisons of the QMJHL. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the third round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in 1985. He won four Stanley Cups with the Canadiens and the Colorado Avalanche and was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner three times. He retired from playing in 2003 and became a coach for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL and later for the Avalanche. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time.
As you can see, Nicolas and Patrick Roy have different family trees and do not share any common ancestors. They also have different middle names: Nicolas’s middle name is Nic, while Patrick’s middle name is Jacques.
Different Playing Styles and Achievements
Nicolas and Patrick Roy also have different playing styles and achievements on the ice. Nicolas is a center who plays a two-way game and contributes offensively and defensively. He has good size, speed, and vision and can play on any line. He has scored 42 goals and 58 assists for 100 points in 202 regular season games and 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 49 playoff games in his NHL career so far.
Patrick was a goalie who played with a butterfly style that revolutionized the position. He had excellent reflexes, positioning, and competitiveness and was known for his clutch performances in big games. He holds several NHL records, including most wins (551), most playoff wins (151), most playoff shutouts (23), most playoff games played (247), and most playoff minutes played (15,209). He also won three Vezina Trophies as the best goalie in the NHL and four William M. Jennings Trophies as the goalie with the fewest goals allowed.
Conclusion
Nicolas and Patrick Roy are not related by blood or marriage. They have different origins of their surname, different family trees, different middle names, different playing styles, and different achievements. They are both talented hockey players who have made their mark in the NHL, but they are not part of the same family.
