Andrew Ference
A durable, hard-nosed defenseman who hoisted the Stanley Cup with Boston, then became a vocal leader for environmental and social responsibility in hockey.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: March 17·Generation X
Biography
Andrew Ference carved out a 16-year NHL career defined not by flashy stats but by resilience, intelligence, and an unshakeable conscience on and off the ice. The Edmonton-born defenseman was a journeyman in the best sense, bringing a stabilizing presence to teams in Pittsburgh, Calgary, Boston, and finally Edmonton. His pinnacle came in 2011 with the Boston Bruins, where his steady play and veteran grit were integral to a Stanley Cup victory. Yet, Ference's legacy extends beyond checks and blocked shots. He was an early and forceful advocate for sustainability in hockey, famously biking to games and pushing for league-wide green initiatives. As the first active NHL player to marry a same-sex partner publicly, he also used his platform to champion inclusivity, setting a new standard for athlete activism.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Andrew was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup in 2011 as a key defensive contributor for the Boston Bruins.
- Served as captain of the Edmonton Oilers from 2013 to 2015, providing leadership during a rebuild.
- Became the NHL's first official environmental ambassador, helping to launch the league's carbon offset program.
Did You Know?
He was known for biking to games throughout his career, even in the winter, to reduce his carbon footprint.
He and his wife, Krista, were the first active NHL player and spouse to publicly participate in a gay pride parade.
He wore number 21 for the Boston Bruins in honor of his former teammate and friend, defenseman Hal Gill.
“I ride my bike to work and carry that same work ethic onto the ice.”
