Roy Won’t Play for Canada in Olympics

Patrick Roy, the most successful goaltender in NHL history, announced Wednesday he had withdrawn his name from consideration for Canada’s Olympic team at the Salt Lake City Games.

Roy started each of Canada’s six games at the 1998 Nagano Games, compiling a 4-2 record and 1.46 goals-against average. Canada finished fourth.

Although Roy has been bothered by a sore hip, his announcement was a surprise. He was selected the NHL’s player of the week and has a 2.01 goals-against average for the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.

“I don’t expect people to agree with my decision,” he said after watching his teammates lose to the New York Islanders, 5-4, at Uniondale, N.Y. “But I expect people to respect my decision.”

Roy, Curtis Joseph of Toronto, Martin Brodeur of New Jersey and Ed Belfour of Dallas participated in Team Canada’s orientation camp in September. Joseph appears to be the favorite to start for Canada at the Olympics. Teams must submit their 23-man rosters by Dec. 22.

“He just felt he wanted time to take off to rest and relax and put the Colorado Avalanche at a front-running position, as far as his priorities go,” said Wayne Gretzky, Team Canada’s executive director.

Alexei Yashin gave the Islanders the victory, scoring his 13th goal this season with 4:46 remaining.