Des Roche Explained

Position:Right Wing
Shoots:Right
Height Ft:5
Height In:6
Weight Lb:156
Played For:St. Louis Eagles
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Maroons
Ottawa Senators
Detroit Red Wings
Birth Place:Kemptville, Ontario, Canada
Career Start:1930
Career End:1939

Desmond Michael Patrick "Desse" Roche (February 1, 1909 – January 18, 1971) was a Canadian ice hockey player. He played four seasons in the National Hockey League for the Maroons, Senators, Eagles, Canadiens and Red Wings. He was one of only six NHL players to have worn the number 99.[1] His brother Earl Roche also played in the National Hockey League. Roche scored the final goal of the original Ottawa Senators franchise on March 17, 1934, to tie the Maroons 2–2 in Montreal.

Playing career

Born in Kemptville, Ontario, Roche moved to Montreal, Quebec as a youth. He played junior for the Montreal Victorias, and played for other teams in the local railway league. In 1929, he joined the Montreal Hockey Club, and, with his brother Earl, the team won the Allan Cup. He signed in the fall of 1930 with the Maroons, playing with the Maroons and the minor-league Windsor Bulldogs until 1933, when he was traded to the Senators for Wally Kilrea. At the same time, the Senators acquired his brother Earl, and the two played with the Senators NHL franchise until 1934 when it relocated to St. Louis to become the Eagles. Playing with his brother, Roche had his best season in 1933–34 with 14 goals and 10 assists in 46 games. He was traded to Boston in December 1934 by the Eagles; he was then traded by the Bruins to the Canadiens four days later. That season, 1934–35, Roche played for six pro teams; the three in the NHL and three minor-league teams. He did not play in the NHL again; he continued in the minor leagues until 1939.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGP PIMGP G A Pts PIM
1925–26Montreal VictoriasMCJHL6 4 1 5 24 3 1 4 2
1926–27Montreal VictoriasMCHL1 0 0 0 0
1927–28Montreal Bell TelephoneMRTHL
1927–28Montreal St. Anthony'sMRTHL13 7 0 7
1928–29Montreal Bell TelephoneMRTHL5 4 9 20
1928–29Montreal MartinsMRTHL7 0 7
1929–30Montreal Bell TelephoneMRTHL10 6 0 6 82 1 0 1 2
1930–31Montreal MaroonsNHL19 0 1 1 6
1930–31Windsor BulldogsIHL26 10 2 12 166 1 0 1 2
1931–32Windsor BulldogsIHL42 11 12 23 426 2 0 2 6
1932–33Montreal MaroonsNHL5 0 0 0 0
1932–33Windsor BulldogsIHL20 7 4 11 32
1932–33Ottawa SenatorsNHL16 3 6 9 6
1933–34Ottawa SenatorsNHL46 14 10 24 22
1934–35St. Louis EaglesNHL7 0 0 0 0
1934–35Montreal CanadiensNHL5 0 1 1 0
1934–35Buffalo BisonsIHL1 1 1 2 2
1934–35Detroit Red WingsNHL15 3 0 3 10
1934–35Detroit OlympicsIHL7 0 3 3 65 6 2 8 4
1934–35London TecumsehsIHL3 0 0 0 4
1935–36Pittsburgh ShamrocksIHL25 7 7 14 26
1935–36Cleveland FalconsIHL19 3 5 8 102 0 0 0 0
1936–37St. Louis FlyersAHA4 3 0 3 2
1937–38Tulsa OilersAHA32 12 9 21 27
1938–39Spokane ClippersPCHL45 14 11 25 33
NHL totals113 20 18 38 44

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Greatest Hockey Legends.com: Ask The Hockey History Blogger . November 20, 2009 . June 20, 2015 . Joe . Pelletier . Greatest Hockey Legends.com.