A Goalie By Any Other Name...

Like any other goalie in the ECAC, Harvard freshman Allain Roy has heard the traditional goalie chants from the opposing crowds.

"Roy, Roy," the spectators yell from their seats. "Roy, Roy."

As in Clarke. Or Rogers. Or Orbison.

Problem is, that's not how Roy pronounces his name.

"I notice it, but I just laugh," says Roy, who will start tonight for the Crimson against Vermont, "because it's not my name."

ECAC fans, it's French lesson time. Roy, a native of Campbellton, New Brunswick, would prefer that people check the Harvard media guide's pronunciation guide. The real way to say his name is "WAAH."

"It's a hassle making people pronounce it," Roy says.

Just ask his Harvard teammates. They gave up a long time ago. So they just call him "Elroy," from Jetsons' fame.

But while Roy had difficulties convincing people to pronounce his name correctly, he still led the ECAC in goaltending this season, posting a 2.07 goals-against average in 10 games.

Roy will take that. Or will he?

"Stats have never been a big thing for me," says Roy, who is a member of the ECAC All-Rookie Team and an All-ECAC Honorable Mention selection, "so I really didn't care that much about it."

Mention the kind of season the top-ranked Crimson is having, however, and Roy will start talking about a "dream land."

"I don't think it has sunk in yet," Roy says. "I couldn't ask for anything better. I hope we can go all the way to the NCAA Championships."

And Roy is one reason why the Crimson might be thinking about another trip to the Final Four.

When Harvard defeated Boston University, 9-6, in the Beanpot finals last month, Roy was guarding the net. His third-period performance silenced the Terriers and propelled the Crimson to its first Beanpot title since 1981.

When Harvard grabbed the regular-season ECAC title February 24 with a 4-2 win over St. Lawrence, Roy was in between the pipes.

"Al's more of a technique goaltender," Harvard Captain Lane MacDonald says. "Fundamentally, he is very solid and he is very quick."

Roy's most memorable play came December 10, when Harvard traveled to Durham, N.H., to face the University of New Hampshire. In that game, Roy collected 40 saves, and Harvard captured a 4-3 overtime victory.

In that game, he also made The Save.

With less than a minute remaining in regulation and the score tied, 3-3, UNH's Chris Jennes skated all alone into the Crimson zone. He unleashed a slapshot that had Roy beat.

Almost.

Roy leaped from the ice and kicked it away with his leg.

The UNH fans knew how to pronounce his name that night.

Career Move I

Like any other young Canadian boy, Roy started to play organized hockey at the early age of five.

During his rookie season, Roy laced up the skates and tried out the forward position.

"I couldn't skate that well," Roy says.

So the next year, at the age of six, Roy decided to make a career move.

Next stop, goaltender.

"My dad was my first coach when I was six," Roy says. "They needed a goaltender, and I wanted to play."

And like any other young Canadian goaltender, there was only one idol, Ken Dryden. Right?

"I didn't like Ken Dryden that much," Roy says. "I didn't like his style. He wasn't flashy enough."

Roy admits he's not the flashy type. But he's not the stand-up, conservative type, either. Kind of "half-and-half," he says.

Career Move II

Roy's second career move came years after he had nabbed the goalie position for his father's team. While attending public school in Canada, Roy had a choice: continue playing hockey in Canada or start thinking about college.

"I wanted to play in Canada," Roy says. "It's good hockey, but the only thing you'll have is hockey."

Instead, Roy chose to attend Choate Academy during the middle of his high school years. His g.p.a. was just as important as his g.a.a.

No surprise, then, that Roy decided to attend Harvard, although Cornell also heavily recruited him.

"Harvard's just the best of both worlds," Roy says.

But Cambridge has its minor disadvantages, hockey not being one of them.

"I don't speak French here that much," Roy says. "[Teammate] Chuckie Hughes sometimes asks me for a few lines for his girlfriend, but that's about it.

And then there's all those mispronunciations.

But if the crowds won't pay attention, Roy won't mind.

Beanpot, ECAC honors. Playoffs. It's been some year. Pay attention to that.