Ex-RHI Player wins Stanley Cup

**RichardGraham** · 06-11-2001, 05:30 PM

Hi Folks,

Last Saturday night, Eric Messier helped his team win the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup.

Messier, a left winger for the Colorado Avalanche, played for the Montreal Roadrunners of Roller Hockey International in the summer of 1995.

According to the Associated Press, Bob Hartley saw Messier play while coaching against him for two seasons in the Quebec minor hockey minors. The future NHL coach went to a roller hockey game in August 1995 and ended up giving Messier his card and a message to call. Things mushroomed from there, and Messier made the Avalanche squad.

In Colorado's 3-1 victory last Thursday night, Messier led all forwards with 19 minutes, 35 seconds of ice time.

Does this make Messier the first RHI player to have his name on the Stanley Cup? I think so. Congratulations, Eric!

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

http://www.inlinehockeycentral.com/i...editphoto2.jpg

**morrisville75** · 06-11-2001, 06:47 PM

this news is great to the sport

**reaper_rider** · 06-11-2001, 08:41 PM

Richard,

That is SO AWESOME!!! Makes me want to play inline even more although my goal is excellence on the ice.

Say, I understand there still is a professional roller hockey league, do these guys get paid? If so what's the average salaray?

**RichardGraham** · 06-12-2001, 12:03 AM

Hi Reaper,

There's a pro league in Finland, and one in Australia, but I'm not sure how much the players are paid. There is no longer a pro league in North America, where the inline game originated. Go figure.

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

http://www.inlinehockeycentral.com/i...editphoto2.jpg

**reaper_rider** · 06-13-2001, 07:27 AM

Richard,

Here's Eric Messier's RHI stats!
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...3?pid=00021486

If none of you have been to hockeydb.com, go there and drool.

**morrisville75** · 06-13-2001, 12:18 PM

i love that site

**RichardGraham** · 06-13-2001, 03:57 PM

Hi Reaper,

The Hockey Database search function is right on the IHC Home Page. (In case you didn't know.)

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

http://www.inlinehockeycentral.com/i...editphoto2.jpg