Travis Roche
A dependable offensive defenseman who carved out a long professional career across North American and European leagues, known for his power-play savvy.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: June 17·Generation X
Biography
Travis Roche's hockey journey is that of the quintessential journeyman, a player whose skill and adaptability granted him a 15-year career across continents. An undrafted defenseman from Alberta, he made his mark in the NCAA with the University of Minnesota-Duluth before turning pro. While his NHL stints with Phoenix and Minnesota were brief, he found his true calling as a dominant force in the American Hockey League and, later, in Europe's top circuits. Roche was the quarterback every coach wanted on the power play—a smart passer with a hard, accurate shot from the point. He won championships in Germany's DEL and became a veteran leader for teams in Switzerland and Austria. His career stands as a testament to the value of high hockey IQ and professionalism, thriving long-term in the global hockey ecosystem.
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.
Travis was born in 1978, 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 Travis Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Travis's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
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
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
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
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) championship with the Eisbären Berlin in the 2011-2012 season.
- Named to the AHL Second All-Star Team in 2004 while playing for the Utah Grizzlies.
- Scored over 300 points in his professional career across various North American and European leagues.
- Captained the EHC Biel team in the Swiss National League during the 2013-2014 season.
- Played a key role in the University of Minnesota-Duluth's run to the NCAA Frozen Four in 2004.
Did You Know?
He was a teammate of Shane Doan on the Phoenix Coyotes during his NHL tenure.
He led all AHL defensemen in scoring during the 2003-2004 season with 60 points.
He played for teams in five different countries: USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
His younger brother, Nathan Roche, also played professional hockey in Europe.
He retired in 2016 after a season with EHC Black Wings Linz in Austria.
“I showed up every day ready to work, no matter the jersey.”
