Rochon Released, Announces Retirement
October 20, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Mississippi Sea Wolves News Release
BILOXI, Miss. â Mississippi Sea Wolves general manager and coach Bob Woods announced today that the team has released defenseman Patrick Rochon (ROH-shawn), who announced his retirement after an eight-year professional playing career.
Rochon, 29, played parts of eight seasons with Mississippi and was the last original player from the Sea Wolves inaugural season in 1996-97. A member of Mississippi's 1999 Kelly Cup Championship team, the 5-foot-10 and 190-pound Rochon holds club records with 197 career assists, 500 regular season games played and 53 Kelly Cup Playoff games. Selected as Mississippi's Most Valuable Player in 1997-98, Rochon was named the Sea Wolves Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99.
A native of Ste-Martine, Quebec, Rochon represented Mississippi at the 1999 ECHL All-Star Game, which was held in Biloxi and won the "Fastest Skater" and "Puck Control Relay Individual Race" competitions at the All-Star Skills Competition.
Rochon spent time in his pro career with the Cornwall Aces (1995-96) of the American Hockey League, AHL Hershey Bears (1996-97), Springfield Falcons (1997-98) of the AHL, Chicago Wolves (1998-99) of the now-defunct International Hockey League and Manitoba Moose (1999-00) of the IHL.
On October 17, 2001, Rochon was traded by Mississippi to the New Orleans Brass of the ECHL. After a 43-game stint, the Sea Wolves re-claimed Rochon off waivers on January 31, 2002.
Totaling 620 professional games played combining regular season and playoffs, Rochon also tallied 43 goals, 244 assists and 287 points, while accumulating 1,067 penalty minutes.
Rochon played four years, from 1992-96, at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of the Eastern College Athletic Conference in Troy, New York. He compiled 84 college points, notching 18 goals, 66 assists and 284 penalty minutes in 140 college games.
"I look forward to starting a new chapter in my life," said Rochon. "Sea Wolves fans were great to me over my eight years with the team and I have a lot of wonderful memories, especially winning the Kelly Cup."
"Patrick will always be considered a Sea Wolf," said Woods. "It was a tough decision, but with the National Hockey League lockout, I feel that it was the best for both parties and the right time. We'll miss having him on the ice and in the locker room. He's a Sea Wolves icon that was part of all the big moments of this team and had eight great years. I wouldn't be surprised if No. 12 is hanging from the rafters soon. It's never easy at this point of an athlete's career, but I know by being around Paddy the last six years that he'll be very successful in the next phase of his life."
The Sea Wolves open their ninth season as a member of the 28-team ECHL at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, hosting the Louisiana IceGators at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. It's "2-for-1 Military Night", sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union. Fans are asked to bring "Care Package Items" to be delivered to the troops in Iraq. Each fan that brings an item will receive a free voucher for a future Sea Wolves game.
At 7:35 p.m. on Saturday, Mississippi hosts the Pensacola Ice Pilots at the Wolves Den. The game promotion features $2 hotdogs and $2 drafts from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Individual tickets for the opening weekend games can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 594-3707 and online at ticketmaster.com.
Season ticket packages, flex packs and groups tickets are on sale by calling (228) 275-WOLF or online at msseawolves.com.
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