There will be a lot of talk about Roberto Luongo in the next few days. His 489 wins are fourth most in NHL history. Over 1000 games from his career. His Olympic titles, his place among the greats. And his upcoming induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Posted at 6:00 am
For an entire generation of young Quebec goalkeepers, Luongo was the best goalkeeper of his time. A particularly admired figure was Samuel Montembelt.
When he was drafted by the Florida Panthers in 2015, he had a framed portrait of Luongo in his bedroom at home. “In his first stay in Florida, when he had his yellow coho leggings,” the Canadian’s current goalkeeper takes care to mention.
On game night, it’s unusual to talk to athletes about things unrelated to the game in question. Last Wednesday, after beating the Vancouver Canucks at the Bell Centre, Montembault didn’t hesitate to talk about who his favorite player was during his childhood and adolescence. “One of my idols and one of the best Quebec goalkeepers in history,” he said immediately.
Such is the age difference between the two that the most defining moments of Luongo’s career came when the young Beaconcourt goalkeeper was glued to his television to follow his exploits.
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