Des Roche

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. 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, scoring 14 goals and adding 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 Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1925–26 Montreal Victorias MCJHL 6 4 1 5 2 4 3 1 4 2 1926–27 Montreal Victorias MCHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1927–28 Montreal Bell Telephone MRTHL — — — — — — — — — — 1927–28 Montreal St. Anthony's MRTHL 13 7 0 7 — — — — — — 1928–29 Montreal Bell Telephone MRTHL — 5 4 9 20 — — — — — 1928–29 Montreal Martins MRTHL — 7 0 7 — — — — — — 1929–30 Montreal Bell Telephone MRTHL 10 6 0 6 8 2 1 0 1 2 1930–31 Montreal Maroons NHL 19 0 1 1 6 — — — — — 1930–31 Windsor Bulldogs IHL 26 10 2 12 16 6 1 0 1 2 1931–32 Windsor Bulldogs IHL 42 11 12 23 42 6 2 0 2 6 1932–33 Montreal Maroons NHL 5 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1932–33 Windsor Bulldogs IHL 20 7 4 11 32 — — — — — 1932–33 Ottawa Senators NHL 16 3 6 9 6 — — — — — 1933–34 Ottawa Senators NHL 46 14 10 24 22 — — — — — 1934–35 St. Louis Eagles NHL 7 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1934–35 Montreal Canadiens NHL 5 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1934–35 Buffalo Bisons IHL 1 1 1 2 2 — — — — — 1934–35 Detroit Red Wings NHL 15 3 0 3 10 — — — — — 1934–35 Detroit Olympics IHL 7 0 3 3 6 5 6 2 8 4 1934–35 London Tecumsehs IHL 3 0 0 0 4 — — — — — 1935–36 Pittsburgh Shamrocks IHL 25 7 7 14 26 — — — — — 1935–36 Cleveland Falcons IHL 19 3 5 8 10 2 0 0 0 0 1936–37 St. Louis Flyers AHA 4 3 0 3 2 — — — — — 1937–38 Tulsa Oilers AHA 32 12 9 21 27 — — — — — 1938–39 Spokane Clippers PCHL 45 14 11 25 33 — — — — — NHL totals 113 20 18 38 44 — — — — —