Dave Roche

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. 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.

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 Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1990–91 Peterborough Jr. Petes CJHL 40 22 17 39 86 — — — — — 1991–92 Peterborough Petes OHL 62 10 17 27 134 10 0 0 0 34 1992–93 Peterborough Petes OHL 56 40 60 100 105 21 14 15 29 42 1993–94 Peterborough Petes OHL 34 15 22 37 127 — — — — — 1993–94 Windsor Spitfires OHL 29 14 20 34 73 4 1 1 2 15 1994–95 Windsor Spitfires OHL 66 55 59 114 180 10 9 6 15 16 1995–96 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 71 7 7 14 130 16 2 7 9 26 1996–97 Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL 18 5 5 10 25 13 6 3 9 87 1996–97 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 61 5 5 10 155 — — — — — 1997–98 Syracuse Crunch AHL 73 12 20 32 307 5 2 0 2 10 1998–99 Calgary Flames NHL 36 3 3 6 44 — — — — — 1998–99 Saint John Flames AHL 7 0 3 3 6 — — — — — 1999–2000 Saint John Flames AHL 67 22 21 43 130 3 0 1 1 8 1999–2000 Calgary Flames NHL 2 0 0 0 5 — — — — — 2000–01 Saint John Flames AHL 79 32 26 58 179 19 3 6 9 43 2001–02 New York Islanders NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2001–02 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks AHL 29 6 7 13 41 — — — — — 2001–02 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 48 25 14 39 64 20 3 0 3 20 2002–03 Albany River Rats AHL 76 21 16 37 89 — — — — — 2003–04 Toronto Roadrunners AHL 60 7 13 20 88 3 0 0 0 0 AHL totals 439 125 120 245 904 50 8 7 15 81 NHL totals 171 15 15 30 334 16 2 7 9 26