Dave Roche
PositionLeft wing
ShootsLeft
Height6 ft
Height in4
Weight lb230
Played forPittsburgh Penguins
Calgary Flames
New York Islanders
Birth dateJune 13, 1975 (age 51)
Birth placeLindsay, Ontario, Canada
Career start1995
Career end2004
Draft (1993)62nd overall
Draft teamPittsburgh Penguins

David Roche (born June 13, 1975) is a Canadian former ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders between 1995 and 2001. Roche was drafted by the Penguins in the third round, 62nd overall in the 1993 NHL entry draft.

Minor hockey

Roche grew up in the small community of Oakwood, Ontario just west of Peterborough with his younger brother Scott, who was also an OHL player and an NHL draft choice of the St. Louis Blues. Dave grew up playing AAA hockey for the Peterborough Minor Petes system and was part of one of the top Bantam-aged teams in 1990-91.

After Bantam hockey, Roche played the 1990-91 season with the Peterborough Roadrunners Jr.B. club in the Metro Junior B. hockey league.

Roche was drafted in the 1st round (15th overall) in the 1991 OHL Priority Selection by his hometown Peterborough Petes.

Playing career

Roche played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League prior to turning pro where he was a member of the OHL champion Peterborough Petes in 1992–93. In 1994–95 he was named an OHL First Team All-Star while a member of the Windsor Spitfires.

Roche turned pro in 1995–96, playing 71 games with the Penguins, and 61 more the following year. Unable to duplicate his junior scoring prowess, Roche soon found himself in the minor leagues until a trade to Calgary brought him back to the NHL for 36 games in 1998–99. In 2000, Roche helped lead the Saint John Flames to the Calder Cup.[1] Roche played one game with the Islanders in 2001–02, and retired following the 2003–04 campaign.

In 2008, Roche was inducted into the Lindsay and District Sports Hall of Fame.[1]

Roche currently lives in Ennismore, Ontario and works as a financial advisor in the Peterborough area, and coaches the Peterborough Minor Petes Midget AAA team with his brother Scott.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1990–91Peterborough Jr. PetesCJHL4022173986
1991–92Peterborough PetesOHL621017271341000034
1992–93Peterborough PetesOHL5640601001052114152942
1993–94Peterborough PetesOHL34152237127
1993–94Windsor SpitfiresOHL2914203473411215
1994–95Windsor SpitfiresOHL66555911418010961516
1995–96Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL7177141301627926
1996–97Cleveland LumberjacksIHL185510251363987
1996–97Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL615510155
1997–98Syracuse CrunchAHL73122032307520210
1998–99Calgary FlamesNHL3633644
1998–99Saint John FlamesAHL70336
1999–2000Saint John FlamesAHL6722214313030118
1999–2000Calgary FlamesNHL20005
2000–01Saint John FlamesAHL793226581791936943
2001–02New York IslandersNHL10000
2001–02Cincinnati Mighty DucksAHL29671341
2001–02Bridgeport Sound TigersAHL48251439642030320
2002–03Albany River RatsAHL7621163789
2003–04Toronto RoadrunnersAHL60713208830000
AHL totals43912512024590450871581
NHL totals1711515303341627926

References

  1. ^ "Sports Hall of Fame announces 2008 inductees". mykawartha.com. July 30, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2019.