Montreal Canadiens Rookie Joshua Roy Faces Backlash for Missing Fan Meet and Greet Event
Joshua Roy of the Montreal Canadiens was supposed to meet some of his fans at an autograph session but he left them there for hours and never showed up.
Fans of the Montreal Canadiens are livid with rookie forward Joshua Roy after an autograph signing event went sideways. The 21-year-old Roy was set to meet with fans at Universe Collectibles in Vaudreuil, Quebec on Sunday, which was an opportunity many fans had been looking forward to. About 60 fans showed up looking to meet the young player who had just been reassigned to the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens' AHL affiliate. The minutes ticked by and the excitement turned to confusion, then eventually disappointment. More than an hour after the beginning of the event, it was obvious Roy wasn't going to show up.
Fans who had taken time off work and made the drive to see him were rightly upset. Some had even brought merchandise or memorabilia that they had hoped he would sign. They left the store with a sense of letdown or feeling disrespected in the crowd. Many fans were still wondering why Roy hadn't come, and it could have been helped if an announcement had been made. For some who had made plans around this rare opportunity to meet the young rookie, disappointment was hard to conceal.
News about the no-show spread like wildfire on social media and ignited an impassioned debate among the team's fans and followers. Some came to Joshua Roy's defense and said that something beyond his control could have happened or a miscommunication put him in a Catch-22 situation. Other people speculated it could be his agent, Olivier Fortier, mishandling it or that the reason lay elsewhere in logistical aspects. The fact that there was no immediate explanation from Roy or his representatives only served to fuel speculation and frustration.
After the growing controversy, his agent finally made a public statement during an appearance on BPM Sports Radio. While he spoke to acknowledge the situation, his explanation was pretty vague and did not offer the kind of detailed clarification many fans might have been looking for in a situation like this. Fortier explained that there were mitigating circumstances, outside of Roy's control, yet he stopped well short of offering an explanation or an apology for the player's absence. His words did little to ease the growingly frustrated mass of fans of the Canadiens. The event was badly handled according to many fans.
But despite the hiccup, Joshua Roy, who scored nine points in 23 games with the Canadiens last season, is said to be determined to make it up to his fans. How exactly that is remains to be seen, but it does seem apparent that Roy realizes the value of keeping connected with supporters, particularly as he continues his development in the NHL. Time will tell whether that will be enough to heal the disappointment of those who waited for him, but for now, the young player has some catching up to do.
