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Monday, December 13, 1999
Luc's King for a day
Olympiques give Robitaille royal treatment in Hull return
Even 13 years later, Luc Robitaille remains No. 15 in the program, but No. 1 in their hearts.
In a ceremony fit for a hero yesterday at the Robert Guertin Arena, Robitaille was honoured by his former junior team as the Olympiques raised his sweater to the rafters and retired his No. 15.
Fans rose from their seats and offered Robitaille a three-minute-long standing ovation as he made his way around the rink waving from the back of a pickup truck.
Former linemates and good friends Pat Brisson and Guy Rouleau joined him halfway.
Brisson is not only Robitaille's best friend, he's his agent.
"He was my first client," said Brisson. "He gave me a great chance."
Aside from being a great hockey player, Brisson says it's Robitaille the man that makes him so special.
"He hasn't changed since he was making $50 a week here," said Brisson. "I often use him as an example for my other clients of how perseverance can pay off."
While many believed Robitaille would never make it to the NHL, Alex Smart, a scout with the Los Angeles Kings, fought to see Robitaille get his chance.
Robitaille knows without Smart, none of this would have been possible.
"I can't thank you enough," whispered Robitaille as he hugged Smart. "You were the only one who believed in me."
At Smart's pleading, the Kings drafted Robitaille in the ninth round, 171st overall.
"He's something special," said Smart.
When others said Robitaille couldn't skate well enough to make it to the NHL, Smart said the young Montreal native proved otherwise at an all-star game against the OHL.
"He scored three goals," Smart said. "On one of them, he went in from his own blue line and I turned to those around me and said 'can't skate?' "
The Kings left-winger is just the third player in the Olympiques' 26-year history to be recognized for his accomplishments with the team.
Robitaille's sweater will hang next to Rouleau's and teammate Sam Lang from the 1983-84 season.
"This is very special," Robitaille said. "I have a lot of memories here, this is where I grew up.
"I didn't know much about life or hockey when I got here."
Drafted in the first round of the 1983 QMJHL draft by Olympiques general manager Charlie Henry, Robitaille went on to score 155 goals and collect 270 assists in his three-year career.
During his career with the Olympiques, the 33-year-old set team records for most points (191), most goals (68) and most assists (123) as a left-winger.
FEELING NOSTALGIC
Walking into the arena yesterday afternoon, Robitaille said he couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic and think about the days he had spent at "the Bob."
While the memories are plentiful, the 1985-86 season, his final year, still remains the most special.
The team finished first overall in the league, went undefeated in the playoffs and advanced to the Memorial Cup final, before losing to the Guelph Platers, coached by Jacques Martin.
"We had started out being a losing team then went to be the best," he said. "We started a dynasty, the team hasn't missed the playoffs since. To be part of that history is very special."
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