Jason Bacashihua
An American goaltender whose professional hockey odyssey took him from the NHL crease in St. Louis to leagues across Europe and Asia.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: September 20·Millennials
Biography
Jason Bacashihua's hockey life reads like a global atlas of the sport. A first-round draft pick with high expectations, the Michigan-born goalie's NHL opportunity materialized with the St. Louis Blues in the mid-2000s, where he played 38 games over two seasons. While he never cemented a permanent starting role at the highest level, Bacashihua embraced the life of a hockey nomad with remarkable longevity. For two decades, his pads touched the ice in the American Hockey League, then across the elite circuits of Germany, Austria, and Sweden. His adventure even extended to unexpected stops in South Korea and Hungary. Along the way, he earned the chance to represent the United States at two World Championships. Bacashihua's career, ending in 2022, is a compelling narrative of resilience and adaptability, proving that a professional athlete's impact can be measured in passports filled as much as in trophies won.
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.
Jason was born in 1982, 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 Jason Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jason's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
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
2003Turned 21
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
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 38 games in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Blues during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
- Represented the United States men's national team at the IIHF World Championships in 2006 and 2007.
- Maintained a professional playing career for 20 seasons, from 2002 to 2022.
- Competed in top European leagues including the German DEL, Swedish SHL, and Austrian EBEL.
Did You Know?
He was selected in the first round (26th overall) by the Dallas Stars in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Bacashihua is of Lebanese and Italian descent.
He played for the South Korean club Anyang Halla in the Asia League Ice Hockey during the 2018-19 season.
His younger brother, Joe, was also a professional hockey player.
“A goalie's life is lived in the crease, one save at a time.”
