While at prep school (Choate) in the U.S.A., I was recruited to play football by former head coach Charlie Baillie. Once Charlie told me he spoke with the hockey coach and that they would allow me to play both hockey and football, I decided to turn down an NCAA Division 1 hockey scholarship to come to McGill. McGill was a much stronger academic university than the offer I received, and it was a chance to play football with my brother J.P.
It was truly an honour to be inducted into the McGill Sports Hall of Fame of such a prestigious university with a long history of accomplished current and former student-athletes.”
First and foremost, anywhere you are in the world, people know about McGill University, so I feel very fortunate to have earned a BCom degree from McGill. On top of that, I played for a top football and hockey program, and spending four years competing on the ice/field with the same guys as well as living the college life was priceless. I made friends for life.
I entered McGill with a dream, but no aspiration of playing professional sports. I basically wanted to keep playing while earning a degree that would afford me many post-university opportunities. I was fortunate enough to play 12 years of professional hockey, but this degree helped me in my involvement with the NHL Players' Association and being a member of the negotiating committee during the last labour negotiation in 2012. My degree also afforded me an opportunity to join an outstanding company (Delmar International) once I retired – a job I held for over six years until I made the jump back into hockey.
I truly believe my time at McGill had a major impact on my career, as much on the ice as it has off the ice.”
It was truly an honour to be inducted into the McGill Sports Hall of Fame of such a prestigious university with a long history of accomplished current and former student-athletes. To be inducted with my brother was a very special moment for my family. On top of it, my two boys Samuel and Benjamin were there to witness it with us.
I am extremely proud to have had a 12-year pro career coming out of CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport), which you don’t see that often. My first NHL game was special as it happened six to seven months after graduating from McGill. But I have to say that spending three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens (my childhood team) was extremely gratifying. On top of that, we reached the conference finals in my first season with the Canadiens.
In this current job, I get to combine two passions for me – hockey and business management. I truly believe my time at McGill had a major impact on my career, as much on the ice as it has off the ice. My time at McGill gave me many tools that I put in practice daily in my life…and I met my wife at McGill as we have the same degree!!! (Stephanie Roberge, BCom’01).