Doug Soetaert, the newly minted general manager of the Tucson Roadrunners, knows what it’s like to play a critical supporting role for a successful franchise.

Soetaert served as the backup goalie to a precocious rookie named Patrick Roy during the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs. Roy started every game in the postseason for the Montreal Canadiens, leading them to an improbable championship.

Soetaert had his best statistical season that year before injuries struck and Roy essentially Wally Pipp-ed him. Soetaert accepted his fate. It’s what team guys do.

“I supported him 100 percent,” Soetaert said Wednesday during an introductory news conference at Tucson Convention Center. “We worked together during the course of the season. … Obviously it takes a lot of people to get to where you have to go.”

It isn’t that much different than what Soetaert is doing now. His job is to put together the best possible AHL team in Tucson, knowing full well that the Roadrunners’ role is to supply talent to their parent club, the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes.

“That’s the sole purpose,” Soetaert said. “Competing hard and teaching these young players how to play and how to compete and get to the next level.