Former QMJHL star Roberto Luongo honoured

By admin August 22, 2009

MONTREAL, Saturday, August 22, 2009 – The Mayor of Saint-Leonard, Michel Bissonnet, accompanied by former QMJHL All-Star and current Vancouver Canucks backstop Robert Luongo today officially inaugurated the Roberto-Luongo arena.

"We are extremely happy and proud to rename one of our two existing facilities the Roberto-Luongo arena. Roberto grew up and started playing hockey in Saint-Leonard and today his parents, Antonio and Lina, are still proud residents of our fine community. By renaming the Hébert arena in his honour, we recognize Roberto Luongo's notoriety, his talent and his accomplishments and recognize him as one of the best goaltenders of the National Hockey League and even of the entire world," said Mayor Bissonnet during the ceremony.

Luongo played four seasons in the QMJHL with the Val-d'Or Foreurs and the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, registering 85 wins in 180 games. He maintained a 3.30 goals-against-average and .897 save percentage during his major junior career.

"It is an honour, but to see my name on the arena is a bit surreal right now," Luongo said to the crowd on hand for the ceremony. "At least a lot of people will see it (the name) since it is facing the highway."