Corban Knight
A cerebral center whose hockey journey from college stardom to the professional fringe was defined by academic excellence and relentless perseverance.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: September 10·Millennials
Biography
Corban Knight’s path in hockey was unconventional. A standout at the University of North Dakota, he wasn't just a player; he was a Hobey Baker Award finalist in 2013, recognized as one of the top collegiate athletes in the nation, blending skill with scholarly achievement. Drafted by Florida, a contract impasse rerouted his career to Calgary, a twist that set the tone for a professional life spent navigating the margins of the NHL. Knight became the embodiment of a hockey journeyman—possessing the intelligence and two-way game coaches admire, but often finding himself as a valuable asset for AHL franchises or in brief NHL call-up roles. His story is less about stardom and more about the sustained, high-level competence required to make a living in the sport's most competitive leagues, always prepared for the next shift, the next opportunity.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Corban was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Corban Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Corban's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2013 as one of the top players in NCAA men's ice hockey.
- Played four seasons of Division I college hockey for the University of North Dakota, a perennial national powerhouse.
- Played professional hockey across the NHL and AHL for multiple organizations over a decade.
Did You Know?
He was a fifth-round draft pick (135th overall) of the Florida Panthers in 2009 but never signed with them.
He was traded to the Calgary Flames after the Panthers failed to sign him to a contract.
He played college hockey at the University of North Dakota, a program with a storied history.
“I play a two-hundred-foot game, not just a highlight reel.”
