Dwayne Roloson

Dwayne Roloson
Born	(1969-10-12) October 12, 1969 Simcoe, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Catches	Left
NHL team Former teams	Tampa Bay Lightning Calgary Flames Buffalo Sabres Minnesota Wild Edmonton Oilers New York Islanders
National team	Canada
Playing career	1994–present

Albert Dwayne Roloson (born October 12, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders during his professional career. He is often affectionately referred to by his fans as "Roli", which is on his mask, or Dwayne "The Rock".

Playing career

Pre-NHL

A Hobey Baker Award nominee and NCAA All-American while tending goal for University of Massachusetts Lowell, Roloson went undrafted after graduating. He was signed as a free agent by the Calgary Flames in 1994. After splitting time between the Flames and their American Hockey League counterpart, the Saint John Flames, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres to back up Dominik Hašek. Following two years with the Sabres, he was picked up in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Rather than joining the Blue Jackets, Roloson signed with the AHL team of the St. Louis Blues, the Worcester IceCats.

NHL years

Minnesota years

Deciding to give the NHL one more try, Roloson earned a roster spot with the Minnesota Wild in 2001. In the 2002–03 NHL season, Roloson shared netminding duties with Manny Fernandez as the Wild made their first ever appearance in the post-season, defeating the Colorado Avalanche in the first round and the Vancouver Canucks in the second round. Despite splitting goaltending duties with Fernandez, Roloson earned his first All-Star appearance at age 34, appearing in the 2004 NHL All-Star Game with the Western Conference team. He also won the Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award for having the NHL's best save percentage.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Roloson played with the SM-liiga's Lukko. He returned to the Wild once the lockout concluded.

Edmonton years and playoffs

On March 8, 2006, Roloson was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for the first round pick that later became part of a trade for Pavol Demitra and a conditional draft pick that later became a third rounder. Initially, Oilers General Manager Kevin 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.

Roloson, playing for the Edmonton Oilers.

Criticism was muted following sensational play by Roloson, backstopping the Oilers to the final of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He had a record of 12–5 through the first three rounds, and along with Chris Pronger, was considered a front-runner for the Conn Smythe Trophy if the Oilers were victorious in the finals.

However, during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Carolina Hurricanes, Roloson suffered a third degree MCL sprain of his right knee when Hurricanes forward Andrew Ladd was pushed into Roloson by a back-checking Oiler defensemen Marc-André Bergeron. Oilers coach Craig MacTavish announced that Roloson would not be able to continue in the series. It was also learned that he had hyper-extended his right elbow in the collision as well. As a result, Ty Conklin lost Game 1 after Roloson's departure and co-backup goalie Jussi Markkanen was left to finish the series. The Oilers eventually 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. The majority of Edmonton fans were expecting Kevin Lowe to sign Roloson to a one or two year contract due to his age, but in the end a three year deal was signed.

He was a member of the Canadian 2007 IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4–2 win against Finland in Moscow.

In the 2007–08 season, Roloson started out strong before seeing his record fall to 7–12–0. By early January 2008, backup goaltender Mathieu Garon had taken the reigns as starter. It wasn't until March 13, 2008, when Roloson had seen regular play, coming in as relief for an injured Garon, starting each subsequent game.

When the 2008–09 NHL season began, Roloson found himself vying for the starting goaltender position with Garon and upstart Jeff Deslauriers. For the beginning of the season, it appeared Garon was once again the starter, but after some bad games, Oiler coach Craig MacTavish decided to rotate Garon, Deslauriers and Roloson by playing whoever had the hot hand. Eventually, the team had to get rid of one of the goalies and ended up trading Garon to the Pittsburgh Penguins. 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 post-season, Roloson put up solid numbers, making upwards of 40 saves on a regular basis.

Only days after the last game of the season, Roloson (along with Oilers teammate Shawn Horcoff) was called upon for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships. He played in the finals against Russia, where Canada lost 2–1, regardless of some "great play" by Roloson.

New York Islanders

Roloson in goal for the New York Islanders during their season home-opener.

On July 1, 2009, Roloson became an unrestricted free agent. After rejecting a one-year, $3 million deal from Edmonton, Roloson signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the New York Islanders. The Islanders also signed Martin Biron, who was to serve as Roloson's backup goalie while Rick 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 in Toronto. The 58 saves were a career high, and broke the Islander club record of 56, held by Rick DiPietro.

Tampa Bay Lightning

On January 1, 2011, Roloson was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenceman Ty Wishart. He won his first game with Tampa Bay in a 1-0 overtime shutout against the Washington Capitals. However, Roloson started again the next day in Pittsburgh against the Penguins and allowed 3 goals before being pulled and replaced by Dan Ellis in the first ten minutes of the first period. He would return for the second period only to be replaced again at the start of the third period after allowing an additional two goals in the second. The game would end in an 8-1 loss for Tampa Bay. In his first 11 games with the Lightning, he recorded 4 shutouts.

Awards and achievements

• HE First All-Star Team - 1994
• HE Player of the Year - 1994
• HE William Flynn Tournament MVP Award - 1994
• NCAA East First All-American Team - 1994
• AHL Baz Bastien Memorial Trophy (Best Goaltender) - 2001
• AHL First All-Star Team - 2001
• NHL Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award – 2004
• NHL All-Star Game – 2004

Career statistics

Regular season

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	T	OT	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1990–91	UMass-Lowell	HE		15	5	9	0	–	823	63	0	4.59	n/a
1991–92	UMass-Lowell	HE		12	3	8	0	–	660	52	0	4.73	n/a
1992–93	UMass-Lowell	HE		39	20	17	2	–	2342	150	0	3.84	n/a
1993–94	UMass-Lowell	HE		40	23	10	7	–	2305	106	0	2.76	n/a
1994–95	Saint John Flames	AHL		46	16	21	8	–	2734	156	1	3.42	.900
1995–96	Saint John Flames	AHL		67	33	22	11	–	4026	190	1	2.83	.905
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
1999–00	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		14	1	7	3	–	677	32	0	2.84	.884
2000–01	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		52	32	15	5	–	3127	113	6	2.17	.929
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
2003–04	Minnesota Wild	NHL		48	19	18	11	–	2847	89	5	1.88	.933
2004–05	Lukko Rauma	Fin		34	20	10	4	–	2048	70	4	2.05	.931
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
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
NHL totals				462	167	198	42	25	26102	1141	23	2.62	.910
AHL totals				179	92	60	25	–	10733	493	9	2.76	.911

Playoffs

Season	Team	League		GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1994–95	Saint John Flames	AHL		5	1	4	299	13	0	2.60	.897
1995–96	Saint John Flames	AHL		16	10	6	1027	49	1	2.86	n/a
1998–99	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		4	1	1	139	10	0	4.31	.870
2000–01	Worcester Ice Cats	AHL		11	6	5	697	23	1	1.97	.931
2002–03	Minnesota Wild	NHL		11	5	6	578	25	0	2.59	.903
2004–05	Lukko Rauma	Fin		9	4	5	512	18	2	2.10	.941
2005–06	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		18	12	5	1159	45	1	2.33	.927
NHL totals				33	18	12	1878	80	1	2.56	.915
AHL totals				32	17	15	2022	85	2	2.52	?

International statistics

Year	Team	Event		MINS	GA	GAA	SO	Sv.%
1995	Canada	WJC		-	-	-	-	-
1995	Canada	WHC		-	-	-	-	-
2007	Canada	WHC		240	10	2.50	0	.910

Personal life

• Roloson and his wife, Melissa, who were married around 1999–2000, have two sons, Brett, 7, and Ross, 5
• Best friends with Rob Blake, with whom he played hockey with in high school also with Andrew Brunette[1]
• Dwayne wears contact lenses and writes with his left hand.
• The Saint Paul Police Federation swore in Dwayne Roloson as an honorary police officer for his interest and involvement. The award is to recognize the contribution and support to local law enforcement. Roli can now patrol his former neighborhood from when he played for the Wild.
• Teaches his goalie school with Wild goaltending coach Bob Mason.

External links

• Dwayne Roloson player profile at NHL.com
• Bio on hockeygoalies.org
• Dwayne Roloson career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Roloson Mason Goalie Schools
• 21 December, 2009 Roloson save