Dieter Kochan

Dieter Kochan (born May 11, 1974), is a Canadian-born American former professional ice hockey goaltender who played for the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 2002 IIHF World Championship as well as 21 games for the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning and Minnesota Wild between 2000 and 2003. He was the first player to be called up directly from the UHL to the NHL. He notably scored a goal for the B.C. Icemen, on January 5, 1999. He was a member of the Calder Cup champion Houston Aeros in 2002–03. Internationally Kochan played for the American national team at the 2002 World Championship.

Kochan was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and raised in Madison, Wisconsin.

Roller Hockey Kochan grew up in Wisconsin where he also played roller hockey. He was the principal goaltender of the gold medal U.S. roller hockey teams at the 1996, 1997 and 1998 World Championships. He was also goalie of the gold medal team at the 1999 Pan American Games.

Post career Kochan announced his retirement on May 17, 2007, after playing the 2006–07 season with the Houston Aeros. He joined the Michigan State Police in 2008, and in 2025 he was joined by a police dog named Roy. He also spent time as a volunteer assistant goaltending coach with the Michigan Tech men's hockey team from 2008–2010 and in 2013–2014. He left the program after former goaltender Joe Shawhan joined the program as its new head coach, who noted that Kochan's available hours had been limited due to his full-time police role.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP W L T OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV% 1990–91 Edgewood High School HS-WI — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1991–92 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 23 7 10 0 — 1131 100 0 5.31 .875 — — — — — — — — 1992–93 Kelowna Spartans BCJHL 44 34 8 0 — 2582 137 1 3.18 .887 15 12 3 927 48 1 3.10 — 1993–94 Northern Michigan University WCHA 20 9 7 0 — 985 57 2 3.47 .875 — — — — — — — — 1994–95 Northern Michigan University WCHA 29 8 17 3 — 1512 107 0 4.25 .880 — — — — — — — — 1995–96 Northern Michigan University WCHA 31 7 21 2 — 1627 123 0 4.54 .871 — — — — — — — — 1996–97 Northern Michigan University WCHA 26 8 15 2 — 1528 99 0 3.89 .888 — — — — — — — — 1997–98 Louisville Riverfrogs ECHL 18 7 9 2 — 980 61 1 3.73 .891 — — — — — — — — 1998–99 B.C. Icemen UHL 40 18 16 5 — 2322 115 2 2.97 .907 4 1 2 208 9 0 2.60 .913 1999–00 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 5 1 4 0 — 238 17 0 4.28 .847 — — — — — — — — 1999–00 Springfield Falcons AHL 2 1 1 0 — 120 5 1 2.50 .921 — — — — — — — — 1999–00 Orlando Solar Bears IHL 4 4 0 0 — 240 4 1 1.00 .958 — — — — — — — — 1999–00 Grand Rapids Griffins IHL 2 1 0 1 — 93 1 0 0.64 .970 — — — — — — — — 1999–00 B.C. Icemen UHL 43 29 11 3 — 2544 110 4 2.59 .922 — — — — — — — — 2000–01 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 10 0 3 0 — 314 18 0 3.44 .870 — — — — — — — — 2000–01 Detroit Vipers IHL 49 13 28 3 — 2606 154 0 3.55 .894 — — — — — — — — 2001–02 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 5 0 3 1 — 237 16 0 4.06 .876 — — — — — — — — 2001–02 Springfield Falcons AHL 45 21 20 1 — 2518 112 2 2.67 .910 — — — — — — — — 2002–03 Minnesota Wild NHL 1 0 1 0 — 60 5 0 5.00 .821 — — — — — — — — 2002–03 Houston Aeros AHL 25 15 6 3 — 1447 61 1 2.53 .907 2 0 0 20 0 0 0.00 1.000 2003–04 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 45 20 17 7 — 2728 85 6 1.87 .933 4 1 3 281 12 0 2.57 .918 2004–05 Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL 39 19 19 — 0 2303 102 1 2.66 .914 — — — — — — — — 2005–06 Sibir Novosibirsk RSL 8 1 5 — 0 417 23 0 3.31 .872 — — — — — — — — 2005–06 Portland Pirates AHL 15 9 4 — 1 838 38 1 2.72 .916 — — — — — — — — 2006–07 Houston Aeros AHL 23 6 14 — 1 1188 65 1 3.28 .903 — — — — — — — — NHL totals 21 1 11 1 — 849 56 0 3.96 .862 — — — — — — — —

International Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% 2002 United States WC 3 — — — 149 5 0 2.01 .918 Senior totals 3 — — — 149 5 0 2.01 .918

Awards and accomplishments United Hockey League Second All-Star Team (2000) Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award (fewest goals against - AHL) (2004) (shared with Wade Dubielewicz) Member of Team USA at the 1996, 1997 and 1998 roller hockey World Championships & 1999 Pan American Games