Patrick Bordeleau
A 6'6" enforcer who carved out a four-year NHL role with his fists and physicality, embodying the tough-guy archetype of his era.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: March 23·Millennials
Biography
Patrick Bordeleau's path to the NHL was anything but direct, a testament to the sheer force of will required for a player whose primary asset was intimidation. Undrafted, he bounced through the ECHL and the AHL, his massive frame and willingness to fight keeping his professional dreams alive. His breakthrough came not with finesse but with fists, earning a contract with the Colorado Avalanche in 2012. For four seasons, Bordeleau was a fixture on the Avalanche's fourth line, a designated protector whose mere presence on the bench could alter the game's physical calculus. He logged more penalty minutes than points, a statistical profile that perfectly captured his role. A serious back injury suffered during a fight in 2014 ultimately shortened his NHL tenure, leading him to continue his rugged style in the notoriously tough LNAH. His career serves as a clear snapshot of a specific, fading breed of NHL player.
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.
Patrick was born in 1986, 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 Patrick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Patrick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 182 NHL games across four seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, primarily as an enforcer.
- Scored his first NHL goal in 2013 against the Dallas Stars, a memorable moment in a role not known for scoring.
- Built a professional career despite being passed over in every NHL draft, signing his first contract at age 26.
Did You Know?
He is the cousin of former NHL defenseman Paul Bissonnette.
Before his NHL call-up, he played for the Lake Erie Monsters, the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, where he led the team in penalty minutes.
His final professional team was the Jonquière Marquis in the LNAH, a league known for its high frequency of fights.
“I fought for every inch of ice I ever got.”
