By Jessica Geller, sports editor
Junior forward Kevin Roy has been dazzling ice arenas with his goal-scoring capabilities since he was in high school. Roy, who just celebrated his 100th goal as a Northeastern Husky, first became notable when a video of him in a shootout competition at age 13 gained traction online.
On Jan. 6 versus Yale University at Matthew’s Arena, Roy became the 21st Northeastern men’s hockey player to reach the 100-point mark in three seasons.
“I’ve always wanted to be an impact player and make a difference,” Roy said. “My way of helping is scoring goals and setting up goals. It’s always fun to score goals. That’s what drives me and, by doing that, it helps the team.”
After the game, his achievement was mentioned, followed by applause from Roy’s teammates and coaches. There was no celebration from him, however.
“If you saw Kevin off the ice, you wouldn’t know how good of a hockey player he is,” Assistant Coach Jerry Keefe said. “He doesn’t like the spotlight.”
The psychology major is humble and always puts the team before himself, said his older brother and Husky teammate redshirt sophomore Derick Roy. Kevin Roy credits the entire team and coaching staff in helping him reach 100 points.
“It has a lot to do with who you’re around, the opportunities the coaches give you and how much they believe in you,” Roy said. “I was fortunate enough to come in and right from my freshman year have good ice time. It’s pretty special but it has a lot more to do with than just me.”
Roy first donned the Husky uniform in 2012. His rookie season, he led NU in goals scored (17) and total points (34). Roy was also in the national spotlight as he finished with an average of 1.17 points per game, first among freshmen and 13th among all National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey players.
Roy increased his points per game average to 1.24 in the 2013-14 season, tying for 12th in the NCAA. He not only led NU in points (45) but was also one of only 14 players in the nation to earn at least 45 points.
“To be honest, I don’t think anyone was too surprised that he was going to hit 100 points,” junior forward and Roy’s roommate Mike McMurtry said. “I don’t think he was that surprised either.”
Kevin Roy grew up in Lac-Beauport, Quebec with his brother Derick Roy. They played hockey together until they attended prep school in the US, followed by the junior leagues.
Roy has had national attention since a high school shootout contest in Maine surfaced on YouTube when he was 13 years old. In the clip, Roy skates down the ice, hitting the puck back and forth before sending it between his legs and flipping the puck for the goal. Thinking back, he laughs at this video as it was just a fun contest, but that fun led to so much more.
“It was a great experience experiencing my first interviews,” Roy said. “It helped me become the player I am right now with all the experience that came [out of] it.”
Roy played with the Lincoln Stars in the United States Hockey League (USHL) from 2011-12. He smashed the previous scoring and point total records of 47 goals and 83 points. His 54 regular season goals and 104 points earned him USHL forward of the year and player of the year recognitions.
Kevin and Derick are two years apart and wanted to play together again in college. After turning down Brown University, they found themselves in Beantown.
“When you can go to college with your brother, be on the same team, be roommates, it’s something that not a lot of people can do,” Kevin Roy said. “It’s special to share this close experience with your brother. You can’t really ask for more.”
Derick Roy feels lucky to have been on the ice when his brother scored his 100th point.
“Sometimes I think he doesn’t realize how good he is, how much of an impact he makes,” Derick Roy said. “I think that’s what makes him special within the team.”
McMurtry, Derick Roy and Keefe all said that what also makes Roy special is the humor he adds to the team. French was his first language so his English is still improving. McMurtry, also a native French speaker, sees the accent as comic relief.
“He can’t say documentary yet,” McMurtry said. “It’s doc-u-men-tear-y for him. I think the whole room says doc-u-men-tear-y now just because he’s got it stuck in our head.”
Roy has room for growth, said Keefe. Fellow linemen McMurtry has been able to witness firsthand Roy’s defensive improvement in the last three months. He is always aware of his teammates, the puck and the next step to take in order to be the best player he can be, according to McMurtry. Three years ago, Roy was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the fourth round, 97th overall, in the National Hockey League’s 2012 draft. Keefe sees Roy becoming a much better prospect than his original draft placement might suggest.
“He’s a smaller kid so he’s always had to prove himself a little bit,” Keefe said. “With his hockey smarts and his desire to get to that highest level, I definitely see Kevin being a very good pro in the future.”
Photo by Scotty Schenck
