Des Roche
Encyclopedia
Desmond Michael Patrick "Desse" Roche (February 1, 1909 – January 18, 1971) was a Canadian
professional ice hockey
player. He played four seasons in the National Hockey League
for the Maroons
, Senators
, Eagles
, Canadiens
and Red Wings
. He is one of only six NHL players to have worn the number 99. His brother Earl Roche
also played in the National Hockey League
. Roche scored the final goal of the original Ottawa Senators NHL franchise on March 17, 1934 to tie the Maroons 2–2 in Montreal.
, Roche moved to Montreal
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 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.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. He played four seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
for the Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
, Senators
Ottawa Senators (original)
The Ottawa Senators were an amateur, and later, professional, ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada which existed from 1883 to 1954. The club was the first hockey club in Ontario, a founding member of the National Hockey League and played in the NHL from 1917 until 1934...
, Eagles
St. Louis Eagles
The St. Louis Eagles were a professional ice hockey team and a former member of the National Hockey League based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Eagles existed for only one year, playing in the 1934–35 NHL season....
, Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
and Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. He is one of only six NHL players to have worn the number 99. His brother Earl Roche
Earl Roche
Earl Joseph Roche was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger. He played 147 games over five seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Maroons, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Eagles and Detroit Red Wings. His brother Desse Roche also played in the NHL...
also played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. Roche scored the final goal of the original Ottawa Senators NHL franchise on March 17, 1934 to tie the Maroons 2–2 in Montreal.
Playing career
Born in Kemptville, OntarioKemptville, Ontario
Kemptville is a community located in the Municipality of North Grenville in Southern Ontario, Canada in the northernmost part of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville...
, Roche moved to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
as a youth. He played junior for the Montreal Victorias
Montreal Victorias
The Victoria Hockey Club of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was an early men's amateur ice hockey club. Its date of origin is ascribed to either 1874, 1877 or 1881, making it either the first or second organized ice hockey club after McGill University. The club played at its own rink, the Victoria Skating...
, and played for other teams in the local railway league. In 1929, he joined the Montreal Hockey Club
Montreal Hockey Club
The Montreal Hockey Club of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was a senior-level men's amateur ice hockey club, organized in 1884. They were affiliated with Montreal Amateur Athletic Association and used the MAAA 'winged wheel' logo. The team is notable for winning the first Stanley Cup in 1893, and in a...
, and, with his brother Earl, the team won the Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
. He signed in the fall of 1930 with the Maroons, playing with the Maroons and the minor-league Windsor Bulldogs
Windsor Bulldogs
The Windsor Bulldogs are a defunct Canadian semi-professional and amateur senior ice hockey team. The team played in the City of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and participated in the International Hockey League and the OHA Senior A Hockey League prior to the IHL....
until 1933, when he was traded to the Senators for Wally Kilrea
Wally Kilrea
Walter Charles Kilrea was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 9 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Quakers, New York Americans, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Maroons and Detroit Red Wings. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario...
. At the same time, the Senators acquired his brother Earl, and the two played with the Senators 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.