Earl Roche


Earl Joseph Roche was a Canadian ice hockey left winger. He played 147 games over five seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Maroons, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Eagles and Detroit Red Wings. His brother Desse Roche also played in the NHL. The brothers often played on the same line; Earl at left wing and Desse on right wing.

Playing career

Roche was born in Prescott, Ontario, but moved to Montreal where he played junior hockey for the Montreal Victorias and other teams. He moved up to senior hockey for the Montreal Hockey Club and played for their Allan Cup-winning squad of 1930. He signed with the Maroons of the NHL, playing for the Maroons and the Windsor Bulldogs until 1933. He was released by the Maroons and signed with the Bruins in January 1933 only to be traded to the Senators one month later. In his one full season with the Senators in 1933–34 he showed a scoring touch, scoring 13 goals and 16 assists in 45 games. The next season, the Senators relocated to St. Louis to become the Eagles. Roche was traded twice in 1934–35; from St. Louis to Buffalo, then to the Red Wings. That marked his last season in the NHL, as he subsequently played for various minor-league pro teams until 1942.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs