Patrick Williamstheahl.com writer
Whether it’s his 1960s clean look, his 70s-style beard with Rochester Americans, or his proud father and grandfather who entered the AHL Hall of Fame this week, these pictures are all with the long René Drolet There are ties to the American Hockey League.
In his 80 years, hockey has brought Drolet to many different places. His hometown is Quebec City. Richmond, Virginia, has never had professional hockey before. Rochester, one of the cornerstone cities of AHL. Philadelphia and Detroit in the NHL. Bale’s shelf looked at the Laval Rockets. On Monday, the California Palm Desert was attributed to him in the AHL legend.
At 5-foot-7, Drolet has had a tough road in any NHL job in an era when there are much fewer opportunities. But he did, playing a game for the flyer in 1972 and a game for the Red Wings in 1974. He was a star in the American League, and in 1966-67 he broke into Richmond Robins, Virginia Wings and Rochester Americans full-time with Quebec ACES.
By the time of retirement in 1978, Drolet had pooled 741 points (298 goals and 443 assists) in 840 AHL games.
Riding with him is his wife Louise. They competed in the Calder Cup finals in 1968 and 1969. In 1971, they moved to Richmond, when Ahl AHL’s AHL branch moved to the South. They mastered English in the southern United States. daughter Julie I learned the language at school. René and Louise watch TV shows (e.g. Appropriate price and Let’s reach an agreement. Socialize with the player’s wife and girlfriend and they become more fluent and comfortable. Since then, Julie has been in touch with her family and friends.
“The people there, they really do us good,” Drolet said. “We made some good friends there…we are family.”
When Robins opened the Richmond Stadium in October 1971, hockey was a brand new city. AHL is entering new markets, and despite this, people eager to accept it have brought about an unfamiliar sport. It was obvious that the atmosphere there was different from their years in Quebec.
“The ladies were wearing long skirts, men in tuxedo, and they watched the show,” Deloret said with a smile as he recalled the opening scene. “My wife can’t believe it.”
But the hockey caught it quickly. Robbins never had much success in the standings, but they were ready for future flyers, and they would win the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975. Richmond has a competitive trade with Hershey,” Drolet said. “I would ask for a deal to Hershey. We spent most of our Saturday nights there and it was always a house full of. ” – Baltimore Clippers and their new neighbors in Norfolk, Tide (later Virginia) wings.
Year after year – almost 10 consecutive seasons – Drolet scored 20 or more goals. In four seasons of that season, he crossed 30 goals in 1972-73, including the best 34 of his career.
Drolet is an important key to AHL success in so-called non-traditional cities. Half a century later, Acrisure Arena couldn’t help but be shocked by the days of the league’s performances at the rink rather than the distance that Plexiglass circled out.
AHL’s talent also stands out. He was impressed when he competed in Laval’s Place Bell two years ago.
“I can’t believe how fast it is,” Drolet said.
People like Drolet helped AHL become the reality today. He turned professional in 1965 and he married Louise. After a long career, he played for a long time, and today, Drolet is completely immersed in life as a grandfather. He smiled when he mentioned his son Julie NicholasAnd his granddaughter Veronica All graduated from the prestigious McGill University in Montreal; Julie is a registered nurse at Dawson College, Nicolas is an administrator at McGill Dental School, Veronica ( Veronica) works for the Montreal League of Canada’s elite basketball league.
Monday’s ceremony brought back many memories of Deloret. He also noted in his speech that there were no video clips in his induction montage because when he played “that’s just pictures.”
Those days of playing were long ago. But they helped bring his family to this day. During all these years at the AHL, it moved to Richmond to try something outside the comfort zone, still making Drolet smile. While he is proud of his career, the ones he loves make him angry the most.
“I will be proud to be a player and a member of the Hall of Fame,” he said. “My hockey career has been good for me. But it’s great for my family.”
During the fifty years of the American Hockey League, Theahl.com writer Patrick Williams currently covers the NHL.com and Flosports leagues and is a regular contributor to Siriusxm NHL New Network Radio. He won the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his outstanding 2016 league report.
