| Dwayne Roloson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Roloson with theTampa Bay Lightning in April 2011 | |||
| Born | (1969-10-12)October 12, 1969 (age 56) | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Goaltender | ||
| Caught | Left | ||
| Played for | Calgary Flames Buffalo Sabres Minnesota Wild Edmonton Oilers New York Islanders Tampa Bay Lightning | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 1994–2012 | ||
Medal record | |||
Albert Dwayne Roloson (born October 12, 1969) is a Canadian former professionalice hockeygoaltender and former goaltending coach of theAnaheim Ducks of theNational Hockey League (NHL).[1] He is currently the Goaltending Coach and Director of Player Development forLake Superior State University Men's Ice Hockey of theCentral Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).
During his NHL career, Roloson played for theCalgary Flames,Buffalo Sabres,Minnesota Wild,Edmonton Oilers,New York Islanders andTampa Bay Lightning.
He is often affectionately referred to by his fans as "Roli the Goalie". FollowingMark Recchi's retirement in 2011, Roloson became the oldest active NHL player at the time and the last active NHL player to have been born in the 1960s.
Roloson was born on October 12, 1969, inSimcoe,Ontario. He graduated from theUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell.
AHobey Baker Award nominee andNational Collegiate Athletic Association All-American while tending goal forUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell, Roloson went undrafted after graduating. He was signed as a free agent by the NHL'sCalgary Flames in 1994. After splitting time between the Flames and theirAmerican Hockey League (AHL) counterpart, theSaint John Flames, he was signed as a free agent by theBuffalo Sabres to back upDominik Hašek.[2] Following two years with the Sabres, he was picked up in the2000 NHL expansion draft by theColumbus Blue Jackets.[3] Rather than joining the Blue Jackets, Roloson signed with theSt. Louis Blues and spent the entire season with their AHL affiliate, theWorcester IceCats.[4]
Roloson earned a roster spot with theMinnesota Wild in 2001.[5] In the2002–03 season, Roloson shared goaltending duties withManny Fernandez as the Wild made their first ever appearance in theStanley Cup playoffs, reaching the Western Conference Final. Despite splitting goaltending duties with Fernandez, Roloson earned his firstAll-Star appearance at age 34, appearing in the2004 NHL All-Star Game with the Western Conference team. He also won theRoger Crozier Saving Grace Award for having the NHL's best save percentage.[6] During the2004–05 NHL lockout, Roloson played forLukko of the FinnishSM-liiga.
On March 8, 2006, Roloson was traded to theEdmonton Oilers in exchange for the first round pick that later became part of a trade forPavol Demitra and a conditional draft pick that later became a third-rounder.[7] Initially, Oilers general managerKevin Lowe was harshly criticized for the acquisition when Roloson struggled during the regular season. Lowe was criticized both for not acquiring a better goaltender, and also for surrendering a first-round draft pick to a divisional rival.
Criticism was muted following sensational play by Roloson, backstopping the Oilers tothe final of the2006 playoffs. He had a record of 12–5 through the first three rounds, and along withChris Pronger, was considered a front-runner for theConn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP if the Oilers were victorious in the finals.
However, during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against theCarolina Hurricanes, Roloson suffered a third-degreeMCL sprain of his right knee when Hurricanes forwardAndrew Ladd was pushed into Roloson by a back-checking Oiler defensemanMarc-André Bergeron. Oilers head coachCraig MacTavish announced Roloson would not be able to continue in the series. It was also learned he had hyper-extended his right elbow in the collision as well. Back-up goaltenderTy Conklin replaced Roloson for the remainder of Game 1 and co-backup goalieJussi Markkanen finished the series. The Oilers lost to the Hurricanes in seven games. Months of intense rehabilitation would follow in order to prepare Roloson for the 2006–07 season.
Roloson could have tested the unrestricted free agency market in the summer of 2006 but opted to re-sign with the Oilers on July 1, 2006, on a three-year contract.[8]
In the2007–08 season, Roloson started out strong before seeing his record fall to 7–12–0. By early January 2008, backup goaltenderMathieu Garon had taken the reins as starter. It was not until March 13, 2008, that Roloson saw regular play, coming in as relief for an injured Garon, starting each subsequent game.
When the2008–09 season began, Roloson found himself vying for the starting goaltender position with Garon and upstartJeff Deslauriers. For the beginning of the season, it appeared Garon was once again the starter but after some bad games Oiler head coach Craig MacTavish decided to rotate Garon, Deslauriers and Roloson by playing whoever had the hot hand. Eventually, the team traded Garon to thePittsburgh Penguins and Roloson claimed the starting spot. Down the stretch, he started 36 consecutive games as the Oilers fought for a playoff spot. During this time, he became the oldest goaltender to start more than 60 games in a single season. Though the Oilers ultimately did not qualify for the playoffs, Roloson put up solid numbers, making upwards of 40 saves on a regular basis.
On July 1, 2009, Roloson became an unrestricted free agent. After rejecting a one-year, $3 million offer from Edmonton, Roloson signed a two-year, $5 million contract with theNew York Islanders. The Islanders also signedMartin Biron, who was to serve as Roloson's backup goaltender whileRick DiPietro was out on injured reserve. Roloson lost his first game as an Islander on October 3, 2009, in a shootout.
On November 23, 2009, Roloson made 58 saves on 61 shots in a 4–3 overtime win over theToronto Maple Leafs. His 58 saves were the most by an NHL goaltender sinceRon Tugnutt stopped 70 shots in 1991.[9] Roloson also broke his own career-high andRick DiPietro's franchise record for most saves in a single game.[10]
On January 1, 2011, Roloson was traded to theTampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defencemanTy Wishart.[11] He won his first game with Tampa Bay in a 1–0 overtime shutout against theWashington Capitals. In his first 11 games with the Lightning, he recorded four shutouts. In April 2011, Roloson recorded a shutout in a first round playoff Game 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, making him the oldest goaltender to do so. Roloson and the Lightning ultimately advanced to the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals against theBoston Bruins. Going into game six of the games six and seven, Roloson had never lost an elimination game in his career and with the Lightning down 3–2 and on the brink of elimination, Roloson and the Lightning defeated the Bruins 5–4 to force a game seven where the Lighting would fall 1–0, resulting in their elimination from the playoffs, one win short from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals and marking the first and only time in Roloson's career where he had been in net for an elimination game.[12]
With his contract set to expire, the Lightning signed Roloson to a one-year, $3 million contract extension on June 29, 2011.[13] He retired at season's end after the Lightning failed to qualify for the2012 playoffs.
Roloson was a member of the Canadian2007 IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4–2 win against Finland inMoscow.
In 2009, Roloson (along with Oilers teammateShawn Horcoff) was called upon forCanada at the2009 IIHF World Championship. He played in the finals againstRussia, which Canada lost 2–1.[14]
Following his retirement from ice hockey, Roloson was immediately hired as a consultant to theAnaheim Ducks' AHL affiliate, theNorfolk Admirals. On June 10, 2013, Roloson was named as the replacement forPete Peeters as the Anaheim Ducks' goaltending consultant. On November 2, 2014, he suited-up in an emergency role after Ducks goaltenderJohn Gibson suffered a pre-game injury and could not play the game against theColorado Avalanche.[15]
Roloson and his wife Melissa, who were married in 1999, have two sons.[16] He is close friends withRob Blake, with whom he played minor hockey in Simcoe, Ontario.[17] He is also friends withAndrew Brunette.[18]
The Saint Paul Police Federation swore in Dwayne Roloson as an honorary police officer for his interest and involvement with local law enforcement. He teaches his goalie school with Minnesota Wild goaltending coach Bob Mason.[19]
While with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Roloson wore a mask that had a shamrock with the initials "KR" to remember Kelly Ryan, a 12-year-old player who attended several of Roloson's goalie camps. The shamrock also had the letters "TDLO", "The Dream Lives On".[20]
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1984–85 | Simcoe Penguins | NDJHL | 3 | — | — | — | — | 100 | 21 | — | 12.60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1985–86 | Simcoe Rams | NDJHL | 1 | — | — | — | — | 60 | 6 | 0 | 6.00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1986–87 | Norwich Merchants | NDJHL | 19 | — | — | — | — | 1091 | 55 | — | 3.03 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1987–88 | Belleville Bobcats | MetJHL | 21 | 9 | 6 | 1 | — | 1070 | 60 | 2 | 3.36 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1988–89 | Thorold Blackhawks | GHJHL | 27 | 15 | 6 | 4 | — | 1490 | 82 | 0 | 3.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Thorold Blackhawks | GHJHL | 30 | 18 | 8 | 1 | — | 1683 | 108 | 0 | 3.85 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | UMass Lowell | HE | 15 | 5 | 9 | 0 | — | 823 | 63 | 0 | 4.59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | UMass Lowell | HE | 12 | 3 | 8 | 0 | — | 660 | 52 | 0 | 4.73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | UMass Lowell | HE | 39 | 20 | 17 | 2 | — | 2342 | 150 | 0 | 3.84 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | UMass Lowell | HE | 40 | 23 | 10 | 7 | — | 2305 | 106 | 0 | 2.76 | .909 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 46 | 16 | 21 | 8 | — | 2734 | 156 | 1 | 3.42 | .900 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 299 | 13 | 0 | 2.60 | .897 | ||
| 1995–96 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 67 | 33 | 22 | 11 | — | 4026 | 190 | 1 | 2.83 | .905 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 1027 | 49 | 1 | 2.86 | .908 | ||
| 1996–97 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | 481 | 22 | 1 | 2.75 | .910 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 31 | 9 | 14 | 3 | — | 1618 | 78 | 0 | 2.89 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — | 245 | 8 | 0 | 1.96 | .939 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 39 | 11 | 16 | 8 | — | 2205 | 110 | 0 | 2.89 | .897 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Rochester Americans | AHL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 120 | 4 | 0 | 2.00 | .922 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 18 | 6 | 8 | 2 | — | 911 | 42 | 1 | 2.77 | .909 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 139 | 10 | 0 | 4.31 | .870 | ||
| 1999–00 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 14 | 1 | 7 | 3 | — | 677 | 32 | 0 | 2.84 | .884 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Worcester IceCats | AHL | 52 | 32 | 15 | 5 | — | 3127 | 113 | 6 | 2.17 | .929 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 697 | 23 | 1 | 1.97 | .931 | ||
| 2001–02 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 45 | 14 | 20 | 7 | — | 2506 | 112 | 5 | 2.68 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 50 | 23 | 16 | 8 | — | 2945 | 98 | 4 | 2.00 | .927 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 578 | 25 | 0 | 2.59 | .903 | ||
| 2003–04 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 48 | 19 | 18 | 11 | — | 2847 | 89 | 5 | 1.88 | .933 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Lukko | SM-l | 34 | 20 | 10 | 4 | — | 2048 | 70 | 4 | 2.05 | .931 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 512 | 18 | 2 | 2.10 | .941 | ||
| 2005–06 | Minnesota Wild | NHL | 24 | 6 | 17 | — | 1 | 1361 | 68 | 1 | 3.00 | .910 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 19 | 8 | 7 | — | 5 | 1163 | 47 | 1 | 2.42 | .905 | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1159 | 45 | 1 | 2.33 | .927 | ||
| 2006–07 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 68 | 27 | 34 | — | 6 | 3931 | 180 | 4 | 2.75 | .909 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 43 | 15 | 17 | — | 5 | 2340 | 119 | 0 | 3.05 | .901 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 63 | 28 | 24 | — | 9 | 3597 | 166 | 1 | 2.77 | .915 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | New York Islanders | NHL | 50 | 23 | 18 | — | 7 | 2897 | 145 | 1 | 3.00 | .907 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | New York Islanders | NHL | 20 | 6 | 13 | — | 1 | 1206 | 53 | 0 | 2.64 | .916 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 34 | 18 | 12 | — | 4 | 1993 | 85 | 4 | 2.56 | .912 | 17 | 10 | 6 | 982 | 41 | 1 | 2.51 | .924 | ||
| 2011–12 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 40 | 13 | 16 | — | 3 | 2099 | 128 | 1 | 3.66 | .886 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 606 | 227 | 257 | 42 | 40 | 34,297 | 1552 | 33 | 2.72 | .908 | 50 | 28 | 18 | 2860 | 121 | 2 | 2.54 | .918 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | W | L | OTL | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Canada | WC |  | DNP | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2007 | Canada | WC |  | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 240 | 10 | 0 | 2.50 | .911 | |
| 2009 | Canada | WC |  | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 304 | 11 | 0 | 2.17 | .930 | |
| Senior totals | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 544 | 21 | 0 | 2.32 | .922 | ||||
Buffalo Sabres: Agreed to terms with free agent goaltender Dwayne Roloson, who had been with the Calgary Flames, on a multi-year contract.
Minnesota Wild -- Signed unrestricted free agent... goaltender Dwayne Roloson.
Just after the Moreau penalty expires, the Wild gets Andrew Brunette's 20th goal of the season to take a 1-0 lead. Marek Zidlicky led the charge across the blueline on the left wing side. He fed a cutting Marian Gaborik, whose shot was blocked and ended up on the stick of Brunette, who held onto it and slid a backhander by good friend Dwayne Roloson.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Hockey East Player of the Year 1993–94 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | William Flynn Tournament Most Valuable Player 1994 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Winner of theCrozier Award 2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award 2000–01 | Succeeded by |
