Roy returns to take helm of Remparts

QUEBEC — Patrick Roy is returning to the Quebec Remparts as coach and general manager.

The Hall of Fame goaltender announced Thursday that he has signed a two-year contract with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team.

The 52-year-old Roy previously acted as part-owner, coach and GM of the Remparts from 2005-13, winning a Memorial Cup in 2006.

“The Remparts have always been my passion,” he said.

Roy left the Remparts in 2013 for a three-year stint as coach and vice-president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche, during which he won the Jack Adams Trophy as NHL coach of the year in 2014.

The Quebec City native has not closed the door on an eventual return to the NHL, but said he hasn’t received any offers since his abrupt departure from Colorado, where he felt he was being shut out of hockey decisions.

He wasn’t looking for a junior job either, but began to consider it when Philippe Boucher resigned as the Remparts’ coach and GM two weeks ago. He was spotted at some QMJHL playoff games last week, stirring speculation he would return.

Roy said he went to the games “just to reassure myself that I was ready to come back to junior hockey.

“I was impressed by the pride of the people supporting their teams.”