SPHL Fayetteville Marksmen

FireAntz Sign Enforcer Roach

Published on August 20, 2009 under SPHL (SPHL)
Fayetteville Marksmen News Release


Jordan Roach hasn't played professional ice hockey in three seasons, but he hasn't lost his passion for the sport.

Roach, 27, will come out of retirement this season to literally add some punch to the Fayetteville FireAntz roster. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound forward knows what will be expected of him - and it isn't scoring.

"One thing that Fayetteville's lacked the last couple of years, from what (head coach Tommy Stewart) told me, is an enforcer," Roach said Wednesday from his job at an oil field in Alberta, Canada. "I've played that everywhere I've been and stepped up whenever the gloves are dropped or there's a big hit on one of the other players."

Stewart, whose team reached the Southern Professional Hockey League championship round last season, said the addition of Roach was a necessity for 2009-10.

"His M.O. is to provide protection and some space and have our players well-protected," Stewart said. "When you see some of the players that the other teams in the league have signed, it's obvious we needed somebody like him, too. I know he'll be a fan favorite."

Stewart attempted to bring Roach on board last year, but immigration issues at the time couldn't be resolved. Roach said he didn't give up on the idea of playing again, so he sent Stewart an e-mail in the offseason to inquire if his services might still be needed.

"I had hurt my hand a few times," Roach said of the reason behind his retirement. "But it's in good shape now, and I wanted to play one more good year as a pro. I've got the fire back in my stomach."

Roach has pro experience with Bakersfield of the defunct WCHL, Tulsa of the Central Hockey League, and Port Huron of the UHL. He last skated in 2005-06 with the Laval Chiefs of the LNAH (Ligue Nord-Americaine de Hockey), which is considered by many as the world's roughest hockey league.

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