Garrett Roe Bio
Garrett Roe (born February 22, 1988) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger whose 14-season career spanned the AHL and multiple European top leagues. A 2008 NHL Draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, Roe moved from junior hockey through a standout NCAA tenure at St. Cloud State University into a professional career that included notable seasons in the Austrian EBEL, the German DEL, the Swedish SHL and the Swiss National League before a return to the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears and retirement in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Garrett Roe was born in Vienna, Virginia, and grew up in the United States where he developed as a junior hockey player before advancing to higher levels of competition. Details on family background and early home life are not publicly documented in the provided sources, but his upbringing in Virginia preceded a move into the United States Hockey League and later collegiate hockey.
Roe played junior hockey with the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League, a formative stop that positioned him for NCAA recruitment. His play in the USHL led to a four-year collegiate career beginning in 2007 at St. Cloud State University, where he emerged as an effective playmaker and offensive contributor.
Path to Hockey
Roe’s time in the USHL with the Indiana Ice provided early exposure to higher-level competition and helped him secure a place at St. Cloud State University in 2007. At St. Cloud State he developed a reputation as a skilled passer and reliable two-way forward, finishing his NCAA career as the school’s all-time assist leader and ranking third in school history in points scored.
Selected 183rd overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Roe completed his collegiate eligibility before turning professional in 2011. His draft selection by an NHL club and strong NCAA résumé opened the door to an entry-level professional opportunity in the American Hockey League.
Garrett Roe Career
Early Career (2011–2013)
Following graduation in 2011, Garrett Roe began his professional career in the American Hockey League with the Adirondack Phantoms. During these initial professional seasons he adjusted to the pro game, developing his playmaking instincts and competing in a development environment that feeds NHL organizations.
Roe’s early pro years were focused on establishing consistency and contributing offensively as a depth forward. Time in the AHL provided experience against seasoned professionals and created opportunities to explore options in European leagues where he later achieved notable success.
EBEL and DEL Breakthrough (2013–2015)
For the 2013–14 campaign Garrett Roe signed with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Austrian elite league EBEL, marking his first move to European professional hockey. The season in Salzburg represented Roe’s transition to international competition and showcased his ability to adapt to different styles of play and larger roles on club rosters.
On June 5, 2014, Roe joined EHC München of the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga on a one-year contract. In Munich he recorded a team-leading offensive season with 13 goals and 38 assists in 51 games, a performance that ranked him ninth in DEL scoring. That season established Roe as a high-end playmaker in one of Europe’s top leagues and significantly raised his profile overseas.
Swedish SHL and Swiss National League (2015–2019)
Roe moved to Sweden for the 2015–16 season, signing with Linköpings HC of the Swedish Hockey League, where he competed in a top-tier European environment against elite competition. His time in the SHL reinforced his reputation as a skilled center and left winger capable of contributing in both offensive and defensive phases of the game.
On April 27, 2017, Roe agreed to a two-year contract with EV Zug of the Swiss National League, stepping into one of Europe’s most competitive and well-regarded professional circuits. He completed the contract term with Zug and subsequently signed a two-year deal with ZSC Lions on April 24, 2019. The Lions extended Roe’s contract early on February 17, 2021, keeping him through the end of the 2022–23 season, a period that encompassed four seasons with ZSC and represented an extended and successful stint in Switzerland.
Hershey Bears Era (2023–2025)
After leaving ZSC Lions at the conclusion of his contract, Roe initially signed with the SCL Tigers of the National League but mutually terminated that agreement to return to North America. On July 19, 2023, he signed a one-year contract with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, marking his return to the AHL after a decade abroad and joining the reigning Calder Cup champions.
Roe spent two seasons with the Hershey Bears, bringing veteran experience and international pedigree to the club’s forward group. Following his second season in 2024–25, he announced his retirement from professional hockey, concluding a 14-season professional playing career that began in 2011.
Driving Style and Strengths
Garrett Roe played as a center and left wing who shot left and was known primarily for his playmaking ability and on-ice vision. His collegiate assist record and the 13-goal, 38-assist DEL season with EHC München reflect a player who created offense through passing and intelligent positioning. Across his career he operated as a versatile forward capable of contributing in transition, on the power play and as a dependable puck-distributor in the offensive zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Roe’s career include being selected in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings, finishing his NCAA career as St. Cloud State University’s all-time assist leader and third all-time in points, ranking ninth in DEL scoring during his 2014–15 season with EHC München, and earning multi-year contracts in the Swiss National League culminating in an extended tenure with ZSC Lions. His return to the AHL in 2023 and subsequent retirement in 2025 close a career that spanned North America and Europe.
Garrett Roe Career Wins
Garrett Roe’s career produced verified individual scoring highlights and team contributions across multiple leagues rather than a single cumulative wins total. Notable verified scoring output includes his 13 goals and 38 assists in 51 games with EHC München in the DEL, while his NCAA career at St. Cloud State left him as the school’s all-time assist leader and third in points, marking sustained offensive production at both collegiate and professional levels.
DEL Highlights
Roe’s 2014–15 season with EHC München stands as one of his most productive professional campaigns. Recording 13 goals and 38 assists in 51 games, he finished ninth in DEL scoring that season and established himself as one of the league’s top playmakers. That year remains a highlight in his European career and helped secure subsequent contracts in top leagues.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Beyond the DEL, Roe’s sustained contributions in the Swiss National League with EV Zug and ZSC Lions and his earlier NCAA achievements are the clearest markers of his professional impact. His long-term presence in Switzerland and repeated contract renewals there reflect valued performance and consistency in high-level European play.
Garrett Roe Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Garrett Roe was born in Vienna, Virginia, and developed through American junior and collegiate systems before embarking on a professional career abroad. Public records provided do not detail parental or sibling involvement in hockey, and no additional family racing or athletic lineage is documented in the verified sources.
Personal Life
Publicly available and verified personal details list Roe’s birthplace, draft selection and professional teams, but do not document a spouse, children or other private family details in the provided sources. After concluding his playing career following the 2024–25 season, Roe retired from professional hockey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season served as Garrett Roe’s final professional campaign, concluding his second season with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League. Returning to North America in 2023, Roe provided veteran leadership and playmaking depth to the Bears’ forward corps during his two-year stint before announcing his retirement at the end of the 2024–25 season.
Throughout the 2024–25 season Roe’s presence reflected the experience of a player who had competed at high levels in Europe and North America, offering stability in the lineup and mentoring younger teammates while contributing in special teams and five-on-five situations as dictated by the coaching staff.