Aaron Rome

Lore & Background

Rome played junior hockey in the WHL from 1999 to 2004, moving through four teams: Saskatoon Blades, Kootenay Ice, Swift Current Broncos, and Moose Jaw Warriors. He was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2002 draft but went unsigned, becoming a free agent in 2004. He signed with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and spent most of his early professional career in the AHL with Cincinnati and Portland. He played one NHL game with Anaheim in 2006–07 and appeared in one playoff game during their Stanley Cup-winning run, receiving a ring but not having his name engraved on the trophy.

In November 2007, Rome was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets along with Clay Wilson for Geoff Platt. He split time between the AHL's Syracuse Crunch and the Blue Jackets, scoring his first NHL goal against Dominik Hašek in April 2008. He played eight games with Columbus in 2008–09 and appeared in one playoff game during the franchise's first postseason. After becoming an unrestricted free agent in July 2009, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks, where he established himself as a regular. He scored his first goal as a Canuck in March 2011 and finished the season with a career-high 56 games. In the 2011 playoffs, he scored his first NHL postseason goal against the San Jose Sharks before being concussed by a hit from Jamie McGinn.

Reader's Guide

Aaron Rome's NHL career is most defined by a single play: his late hit on Nathan Horton in game three of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. The hit, delivered over a second after Horton released a pass, caused a severe concussion and resulted in a four-game suspension, sidelining Rome for the remainder of the series. The Bruins outscored the Canucks 23–8 over the remaining games and won the championship. The incident remains a notable moment in Stanley Cup Final history, often cited in discussions about late hits and supplemental discipline. Beyond that, Rome had a journeyman career, playing for four NHL organizations and spending significant time in the AHL. He was part of the Anaheim Ducks' 2007 Stanley Cup championship organization, receiving a ring despite not playing in the final. After three seasons with Vancouver, he signed a three-year contract with the Dallas Stars but played only 52 games over two seasons before being bought out. He later became a skills coach with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the WHL.

Did You Know?

• Rome played alongside his older brother Reagan Rome as defensive partners for a short span with the Saskatoon Blades in 1999–2000.
• He was awarded a Stanley Cup ring by the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 despite not playing in the final.
• During a three-game stint with the Vancouver Canucks in 2009–10, he played forward for the first time in his career.
• He scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Dominik Hašek in a 3–2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on April 3, 2008.