Roberto Luongo's jersey retired by QMJHL's Titan

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan retired the jersey of Roberto Luongo during a ceremony on Sunday evening.

The Vancouver Canucks goalie played with the Titan in 1999 before heading to the National Hockey League.

Luongo was traded to the Titan mid-way through the 1999 season after playing the previous three years with the Val-d’Or Foreurs.

He helped the Titan win the Presidents Cup, which is awarded to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s top team, and then played for the Memorial Cup.

Luongo told reporters on Sunday evening that he was honoured to see his jersey retired in Bathurst.

“It’s a great honour. It’s a special feeling to be able to have your jersey retired anywhere and the fact that I only played here half a year and had that opportunity is really flattering to me,” he said.

“I had some great moments here in that half a season and that playoff run that we had. I’m really excited to live this out tonight.”

Luongo was drafted fourth overall in 1997 by the New York Islanders. He has played for three NHL teams in his career.

Luongo was in goal for Canada’s gold-medal winning team during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

The veteran goaltender had some advice for some of the young players who have their eyes on a professional career.

“Back then it was big for me to be in the juniors, and now that I look back, it is fun, you are in the NHL and you get to live out your dream and do what you love to do,” he said.

“You have to keep working hard and have fun out there. And that’s what I try to do.”