Brian Rolston

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
Nickname(s) Rolly
Height
Weight
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
214 lb (97 kg/15 st 4 lb)
NHL Team
F. teams
Minnesota Wild
Boston Bruins
Colorado Avalanche
New Jersey Devils
Nationality Flag of the United States United States
Born February 21, 1973 (1973-02-21) (age 35),
Flint, MI, U.S.
NHL Draft 11th Overall, 1991
New Jersey Devils
Pro career 1993 – present

Brian Rolston (Born February 21, 1973 in Flint, Michigan) is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League.

Contents

[edit] Playing career

Brian Rolston signed with the Minnesota Wild as an unrestricted free agent on July 8, 2004, though his debut with the Wild didn't take place until the 2005–2006 season due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. The 6'2', 210 pound lefty is best known for his highly regarded two-way ability.

Rolston was drafted in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils as their first overall pick. He has played for the New Jersey Devils, the Colorado Avalanche and then was traded to the Boston Bruins. He scored a then career high 62 points, including an impressive 9 shorthanded goals in 2001–2002 with the Bruins. Within his career he has scored a total of 32 shorthanded goals. In 2004, Rolston signed with the Minnesota Wild as an unrestricted free agent with a contract option available for the 2006–2007 season. Rolston is considered a utility forward, as he can play as a centre, left wing and right wing competently. Rolston often quarterbacks the Minnesota Wild's powerplay (a task normally given to a defenceman) due to his booming shot from the point and strong two-way ability. During the 2005–2006 season, he has been an on-ice leader and is one of the Minnesota Wild's top scorers. During the 2005–2006 season (his first season playing for the Wild) Rolston scored a new career high of 79 pts. He was named as team captain for the Minnesota Wild for February, October, November 2006 and January 2007.

During 2006–07, Rolston scored three goals (one on a penalty shot and two in overtime shootouts), using a slapshot from the point.

He won a Stanley Cup Championship with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 playing for Team USA. In the Salt Lake City Olympics of 2002, he won the Silver Medal playing for the United States men's hockey team.

Prior to his NHL career, Rolston played for Lake Superior State University (where as a freshman he scored the game winning goal and earned Most Outstanding Player honors in the National Championship game, which his team won), then the Albany River Rats of the AHL.

Rolston has represented the United States of America three times in Olympic competition for Ice Hockey.

Rolston was selected for the 2006–07 NHL Western Conference All-Star Team. During the game Rolston scored 2 goals and added 2 assists.

Currently holds single season point scoring record for the Minnesota Wild of the NHL with 34 goals and 45 assists for 79 points in 80 games played (as of April 13th 2006).

Brian has three sons, Ryder Scott (b. 31 Oct 2001), Brody and Stone.

[edit] Awards & Achievements

[edit] Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1991–92 Lake Superior State Lakers CCHA 41 18 28 46 16 - - - - -
1992–93 Lake Superior State Lakers CCHA 39 33 31 64 20 - - - - -
1993–94 Albany River Rats AHL 17 5 5 10 8 5 1 2 3 0
1994–95 Albany River Rats AHL 18 9 11 20 10 - - - - -
1994–95 New Jersey Devils NHL 40 7 11 18 17 6 2 1 3 4
1995–96 New Jersey Devils NHL 58 13 11 24 8 - - - - -
1996–97 New Jersey Devils NHL 81 18 27 45 20 10 4 1 5 6
1997–98 New Jersey Devils NHL 76 16 14 30 16 6 1 0 1 2
1998–99 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 24 33 57 14 7 1 0 1 2
1999–00 New Jersey Devils NHL 11 3 1 4 0 - - - - -
1999–00 Colorado Avalanche NHL 50 8 10 18 12 - - - - -
1999–00 Boston Bruins NHL 16 5 4 9 6 - - - - -
2000–01 Boston Bruins NHL 77 19 39 58 28 - - - - -
2001–02 Boston Bruins NHL 82 31 31 62 30 6 4 1 5 0
2002–03 Boston Bruins NHL 81 27 32 59 32 5 0 2 2 0
2003–04 Boston Bruins NHL 82 19 29 48 40 7 1 0 1 8
2005–06 Minnesota Wild NHL 81 34 45 79 48 - - - - -
2006–07 Minnesota Wild NHL 78 31 33 64 46 5 1 1 2 4
2007–08 Minnesota Wild NHL 81 31 28 59 53 6 2 4 6 8
NHL totals 977 286 348 634 372 58 16 10 26 34

Stats as of May 1, 2008.

[edit] International Play

Olympic medal record
Men's Ice hockey
Silver 2002 Salt Lake City Ice hockey
Season Team League GP G A P PIM
1994 USA Oly 8 7 0 7 8
1996 USA WCH 1 0 0 0 0
2002 USA Oly 6 0 3 3 0
2004 USA WCH 2 0 0 0 0
2006 USA Oly 6 3 1 4 4

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Willie Mitchell
Minnesota Wild captains
February 2006
Succeeded by
Wes Walz
Preceded by
Wes Walz
Minnesota Wild captains
Oct/Nov 2006
Succeeded by
Keith Carney
Preceded by
Keith Carney
Minnesota Wild captains
January 2007
Succeeded by
Mark Parrish
Preceded by
Pavol Demitra
Minnesota Wild captains
November 2007
Succeeded by
Mark Parrish
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