Roman Josi is a Swiss professional ice hockey player widely regarded as one of the premier defensemen of his generation.
Born on June 1, 1990, in Bern, Switzerland, he serves as the captain of the Nashville Predators in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Josi has built a remarkable career as a two-way defenseman known for his skating ability, offensive contributions from the blue line, leadership, and consistency.
He stands as the highest-scoring Swiss-born player in NHL history and holds numerous franchise records with the Predators.
Siblings
Roman grew up in a sports-oriented household where his mother was a former Swiss national team swimmer and his father played competitive soccer.
His older brother, Yannic Josi, shares the family passion for ice hockey.
Yannic competed in lower-tier Swiss leagues, including with HC Bern Altstadt in SwissDiv3, while their father Peter has been involved with SC Bern, serving on its board of directors.
Also Read: Jamie Oleksiak Siblings: Meet Jake, Hayley and Penny Oleksiak
Career
Josi began playing hockey at a young age in Bern after initially splitting time between soccer and hockey.
He committed fully to ice hockey around age 10 and developed through the youth ranks of SC Bern.
Selected by the Nashville Predators in the second round (38th overall) of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, he made his NHL debut in 2011.
Over more than a decade with the Predators, Josi has emerged as the face of the franchise.
He was named the eighth captain in team history and became the first player to reach 1,000 games played entirely with Nashville.
Known for his durability and production, he has consistently ranked among the league’s top-scoring defensemen.
Josi has represented Switzerland internationally on numerous occasions, including at World Championships and Olympics, adding to his reputation as a global ambassador for Swiss hockey.
Off the ice, he married model and musician Ellie Ottaway in 2019, and the couple has two children, a son named Luca and a daughter named Ivy.
Nashville has become a true home for the Josi family.
Accolades
Josi won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman in the 2019-20 season, becoming the first Swiss player to achieve this feat.
Josi has been selected to the NHL First All-Star Team multiple times and has appeared in several NHL All-Star Games.
He has led defensemen in scoring in multiple seasons, set Predators franchise records for points by a defenseman, and surpassed previous marks for Swiss-born players in the NHL.
Additional recognition includes strong finishes in Hart Trophy (MVP) voting and consistent selections to All-Star consideration.
His leadership helped guide the Predators to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2017 and a Presidents’ Trophy-winning season.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
