Jeff Deslauriers
A towering goaltender who battled through the minors to earn his shot guarding the net for the Edmonton Oilers in the NHL.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: May 15·Millennials
Biography
Jeff Deslauriers's hockey journey is a classic tale of persistence. Drafted in the second round by the Edmonton Oilers in 2002, the Quebec-born goalie spent years honing his craft in the minor leagues, from the Greenville Grrrowl to the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he backstopped a Calder Cup championship. His 6-foot-4 frame and agility finally earned him a full-time role with the struggling Oilers in the 2009-10 season, where he faced a barrage of shots as the team's primary netminder. Though his NHL tenure was brief, spanning parts of three seasons with Edmonton and a stint with Anaheim, Deslauriers left an impression with his work ethic and several spectacular performances, embodying the dream of countless Canadian kids who grow up between the pipes.
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.
Jeff was born in 1984, 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 Jeff Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jeff's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
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
2000Could drive
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
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 62 games as the primary goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers during the 2009-10 NHL season.
- Won a Calder Cup championship with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs in 2007.
- Was selected 31st overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Did You Know?
He is fluent in both English and French.
Before his NHL call-up, he played for the Oilers' ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Grrrowl.
His full surname is Drouin-Deslauriers, though he was listed simply as Deslauriers in the NHL.
“You have to be ready when your name is called, no matter how long you wait.”
