Hong Kong ice hockey goalie Jordan Laroche on the game he loves – ‘the whole thing was crazy, and I would do it again in a heartbeat’

The 24-year-old had big dreams, but felt the sting of the game in many ways

Now living and working in Canada, he reflects on the game that has given and taken so much from him

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Hong Kong’s Jordan Laroche, seen here suiting up for Hong Kong in 2015 for an international friendly game against China, said even though his career as an ice hockey goalie didn’t pan out, he would do it all over again for the memories with his teammates. Photo: Handout

Published: 10:15pm, 21 Sep 2021Updated: 1:02am, 22 Sep 2021

Through it all – bouts of depression, anxiety, concussions, injuries, moving continents, endless travel, getting cut and traded – Jordan Laroche said he has no regrets.

The ice hockey goalie’s story is a familiar one, as for every Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Marc-Andre Fleury, there are millions of athletes who never made it for various reasons.

Laroche’s quest to become a professional ice hockey goalie took him from Hong Kong to Canada, and through a series of trials and tribulations, which he said he wouldn’t trade for the world.

“The whole thing was just crazy,” said the 24-year-old, who now lives in Toronto, Canada. “I went through bouts of depression and anxiety throughout my career, and I would do it again in a heartbeat in the exact same way. I wouldn’t change anything.”

Born and raised primarily in Hong Kong to a Canadian father and Australian mother, Laroche’s first step was getting called up to Hong Kong’s top men’s league at the age of 14 in 2011. Laroche found the position by chance at 12, after his team’s regular goalie missed a game and he offered to don the pads. He found netminder suited him and his personality.

Jordan Laroche said trying to make it as a professional hockey player in Canada was a struggle, but he wouldn’t have traded it for the world. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong ice hockey goalie Jordan Laroche on the game he loves – ‘the whole thing was crazy, and I would do it again in a heartbeat’

The 24-year-old had big dreams, but felt the sting of the game in many ways Now living and working in Canada, he reflects on the game that has given and taken so much from him

The 24-year-old had big dreams, but felt the sting of the game in many ways

Now living and working in Canada, he reflects on the game that has given and taken so much from him