André Roy
André Roy, born on February 8, 1975, is an American-born Canadian with a diverse and multifaceted career. He began his journey in the public eye as a professional ice hockey player, participating in the 1989 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament and playing junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 1994, the Boston Bruins selected Roy through a draft, after which he went on to play for the Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning (where his team secured the Stanley Cup in 2004), Pittsburgh Penguins, and Calgary Flames. His professional hockey career included a 13-game suspension in 2002 for assaulting a linesman, and a subsequent fallout with coach John Tortorella that led to his removal from the Tampa Bay Lightning roster. Beyond his athletic background, Roy is recognized as a Canadian author, humorist, director, and producer. Roy got two Bachelor's degrees from the University of Moncton, one in drama and one in communications. Since 1997, he has been actively involved in humorous projects, including writing scripts for various formats like documentaries, short films, and commercials. Roy’s company, Productions l'Entrepôt, received a Gemini nomination in 2019 for 'The Newbies,' reflecting his dedication to producing creative content. He collaborates with numerous broadcasters, including Radio-Canada and AMI tele, and has appeared as an actor in television series such as 'Les Newbies', 'Le Siege', and 'Le Clan'. Roy is also fluent in Canadian French. Roy’s comedic talents extend to live performance, where he works as an improviser, comedian, host, and director. He has been performing at 'L’Entrepôt du rire' at the University of Moncton since October 2013, hosting shows and performing stand-up. He is a member of comedy groups like Les Mains d’Nez and participates in shows such as 'La Revue Acadienne' and 'S.I.M.'. Roy also portrays the character Peigne at Pays de la Sagouine, contributing to its video segments and television advertising contracts. He previously hosted the morning show '2 Bon’heures' on TV Rogers. In 2020, he received a Talent to Watch grant with his team from the New Brunswick Filmmakers' Co-operative and Telefilm for a French web series project, which is scheduled to begin filming in June 2022. André Roy also served as an ex-sports journalist, writing a weekly column called 'Un peu de tout' for L’ÉVEIL and LA CONCORDE, highlighting athletes from the region. Recently, on March 6, 2024, he was honored with the Coronation Medal of King Charles III, awarded to approximately 30,000 Canadians.