“I spent almost half the season there in Anaheim,†he said. “I had almost a point a game in the AHL when I was there. So in my third year I was ready to pick it up and really take the next step and be a regular in the NHL. But I had a really tough break there.â€
During the Ducks’ 2018 training camp, Roy suffered a fluke injury to his right wrist. He was be sidelined for months, not making his AHL debut with the Gulls until February before eventually getting a three-game stint with the Ducks in March.
After the season ended, Anaheim let Roy walk with the expiration of his two-year entry-level contract.
“Being out that long, I felt like my game was a little behind everyone playing through the whole year,†he said, adding that it even carried even into last season. “I was still having issues with my injury and I was trying to get everything back together.â€
Roy split his 2019-20 AHL season with the Springfield Thunderbirds and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The professional sports pause that began last March ended up helping his career get back on track.
“The whole break (during the AHL shutdown), I got to get everything taken care of and get back to 100%,†he said.
Entering Friday’s 7 p.m. matchup against his old team, the Gulls (16-11-0-0), Roy’s 10 goals lead the Roadrunners (8-12-1-0) and are tied for seventh, league-wide. His 19 points are tied for 11th in the AHL.
