Sabres Prospect Derek Roy propels Kitchener

[Don Cherry]

Sun, May 11, 2003

http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/Sports/2003/05/11/84465.html
A French kiss for Kitchener

Rangers oust 67's to earn ticket to Quebec City

By TERRY KOSHAN, Toronto Sun




KITCHENER -- Not since Scott Stevens, Al MacInnis and Brian Bellows ruled the Ontario Hockey League in 1982 have the Kitchener Rangers been able to lay claim to an OHL title.

But for the first time in 21 years, there's a new group of champions in town, this one led by Derek Roy, Scott Dickie and Steve Eminger.

Roy, the heart of the Rangers and blue-chip prospect for the Buffalo Sabres, scored the winning goal last night as the Rangers clinched the third championship in team history with a 4-1 victory against the Ottawa 67's in Game 5 of the OHL final in front of 6,427 at the Kitchener Auditorium.

"Sixty-eight games in the regular season, 20 more in the playoffs ... this is unreal," said Roy, who had 32 points in 21 post-season games and won the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the most valuable player in the playoffs. "Our emotions are so high right now I can't even describe it. I thought I played well in this series, but all of our guys did."

The Rangers advance to the Memorial Cup in Quebec City, where they will face off against the host Quebec Remparts in the tournament opener on Saturday.

[Rude American]

They're good. They beat out Plymouth, the bastards.

I'm surprised Locke and Foy didn't do more.

[Dozerdog]

Since I am no expert on OHL players by along shot, is this Roy kid the real deal?

What NHL player would you compare him to?

[Rude American]

Geez, I don't know at this point. Too hard to say. I only saw them play in Plymouth 3 times. He was a solid player throughout the series. But sometimes the very best OHLers can't make the NHL. He might be one of them because he's not very big (5-9, 185), but he's pretty strong on his skates. Good hands, smart. Maybe a Cliff Ronning type of player.

[BillC]

Thanks!

[MissBuffalo]

I hope Darcy doesn't blow this one and wait untill the last possible minute to sign this kid. His stats are pretty damn good.

Season & Team Games Goals Assists Points PIM
02-03 K Rangers (Playoffs)21 9 23 32 14
02-03 K Rangers 49 28 50 78 73
01-02 K Rangers 62 43 46 89 92
00-01 K Rangers 65 42 39 81 114
99-00 K Rangers 66 34 53 87 44

[Rude American]

You Sabres fans should be paying close attention to the name "Chris Thorburn." This kid could be a great player some day... like an Andreychuk maybe.... just maybe. You never know. I've seen him play countless times this year. He's an outstanding young player, and he's a big kid too.

http://plymouthwhalers.com/whalers/playerDescription.cfm?playerID=CA15EC14-207B-11D7-984C-0002A5092B1F&rand=91011

[Ð]

He's a helll of a snooker player