Dwayne Roloson

Albert Dwayne Roloson (born October 12, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and former goaltending coach of the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is currently the Goaltending Coach and Director of Player Development for Lake Superior State University Men's Ice Hockey of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).

During his NHL career, Roloson played for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning.

He is often affectionately referred to by his fans as "Roli the Goalie". Following Mark 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.

Early life and education Roloson was born on October 12, 1969, in Simcoe, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Playing career Pre-NHL, Calgary and Buffalo A Hobey Baker Award nominee and National Collegiate Athletic Association All-American while tending goal for University of Massachusetts Lowell, Roloson went undrafted after graduating. He was signed as a free agent by the NHL's Calgary Flames in 1994. After splitting time between the Flames and their American Hockey League (AHL) counterpart, the Saint John Flames, he was signed as a free agent by 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 St. Louis Blues and spent the entire season with their AHL affiliate, the Worcester IceCats.

NHL career Minnesota Wild Roloson earned a roster spot with the Minnesota Wild in 2001. In the 2002–03 season, Roloson shared goaltending duties with Manny Fernandez as the Wild made their first ever appearance in the Stanley Cup playoffs, reaching the Western Conference Final. 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 for Lukko of the Finnish SM-liiga.

Edmonton Oilers 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.

Criticism was muted following sensational play by Roloson, backstopping the Oilers to the final of the 2006 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 as playoff MVP 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 defenseman Marc-André Bergeron. Oilers head coach Craig 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 goaltender Ty Conklin replaced Roloson for the remainder of Game 1 and co-backup goalie Jussi 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.

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 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 the 2008–09 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 head coach Craig MacTavish decided to rotate Garon, Deslauriers and Roloson by playing whoever had the hot hand. Eventually, the team traded Garon to the Pittsburgh 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.

New York Islanders 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 the New York Islanders. The Islanders also signed Martin Biron, who was to serve as Roloson's backup goaltender 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 over the Toronto Maple Leafs. His 58 saves were the most by an NHL goaltender since Ron Tugnutt stopped 70 shots in 1991. Roloson also broke his own career-high and Rick DiPietro's franchise record for most saves in a single game.

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. 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 the Boston 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.

With his contract set to expire, the Lightning signed Roloson to a one-year, $3 million contract extension on June 29, 2011. He retired at season's end after the Lightning failed to qualify for the 2012 playoffs.

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

In 2009, Roloson (along with Oilers teammate Shawn Horcoff) was called upon for Canada at the 2009 IIHF World Championship. He played in the finals against Russia, which Canada lost 2–1.

Post-playing career Following his retirement from ice hockey, Roloson was immediately hired as a consultant to the Anaheim Ducks' AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. On June 10, 2013, Roloson was named as the replacement for Pete Peeters as the Anaheim Ducks' goaltending consultant. On November 2, 2014, he suited-up in an emergency role after Ducks goaltender John Gibson suffered a pre-game injury and could not play the game against the Colorado Avalanche.

Personal life Roloson and his wife Melissa, who were married in 1999, have two sons. He is close friends with Rob Blake, with whom he played minor hockey in Simcoe, Ontario. He is also friends with Andrew Brunette.

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.

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".

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs 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

International 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

Awards and honors Award Year College All-Hockey East First Team 1994 AHCA East First-Team All-American 1994 Hockey East All-Tournament Team 1994 AHL All-Star Game 1995, 1996, 2001 Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award 2001 First All-Star Team 2001 NHL All-Star Game 2004 Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award 2004