Brian Rolston

Brian Lee Rolston (born February 21, 1973) is a professional ice hockey player and an alternate captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He has won a Stanley Cup Championship with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 playing for Team USA. Rolston has represented the United States of America three times in Olympic competition for ice hockey. In the Salt Lake City Olympics of 2002, he won the Silver Medal.
Brian has three sons, Ryder Scott, Brody and Stone. His older brother is Ron Rolston, who is currently coaching the Rochester Americans. Rolston has been a resident of Short Hills, New Jersey.Russo, Michael. "Rolston sees Minnesota in a positive light: The current New Jersey veteran remains "eternally grateful" and isn't bashful about talking up the Wild.", Star Tribune, March 20, 2009. Accessed March 15, 2011.
== Playing career ==
Rolston is considered a utility forward, as he can play as a centre, left wing and right wing competently. The 6'2', 214 pound forward 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 second pick in the first round. 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. He has played for the New Jersey Devils, the Minnesota Wild, the Colorado Avalanche and the Boston Bruins. He scored a then career high 62 points, including nine shorthanded goals in 2001–02 with the Bruins. During his career, he has scored a total of 33 shorthanded goals. 
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 2005–06 season due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout. Rolston often quarterbacked the Minnesota Wild's powerplay (a task normally given to a defenseman) due to his booming shot from the point and strong two-way ability. During the season, he was an on-ice leader and was one of the Wild's top scorers, scoring a new career high of 79 points. 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 slot. He was selected for the 2006–07 NHL Western Conference All-Star Team. During the game, Rolston scored two goals and added two assists. Rolston's shot is also known for making Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jean-Sébastien Giguère duck for cover during a game in the 2007-2008 NHL season when Rolston fired a slapshot from the right wing aiming for the top left corner of the net. Giguere visibly ducked to avoid being hit in the mask, resulting in a goal for Rolston. In a similar event during the 2006-2007 NHL season, Rolston fired a slapshot on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo. The shot hit Luongo in the mask, and though unhurt, Luongo was visiby dazed for minutes, lying on the ice until the team's trainer confirmed he was okay to continue the game. Rolston would later score on a penalty shot using his slapshot in the same game against Luongo.
On June 29, 2008, Rolston's negotiating rights were traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in return for a conditional draft pick in 2009 or 2010. After failing to agree to a contract with the Lightning, Rolston became a free agent the next day on July 1, 2008, and signed a four-year deal worth $20 million to return to the New Jersey Devils.
Rolston was traded to the New York Islanders for Trent Hunter. In reaction to the trade, Rolston was quoted by The Star Ledger as saying "It's been a bit of a rough ride in Jersey, I'm actually happy to go to a place that wants me. I just want to start new. I'm actually really happy about the change. [...] I saw it coming. There was no blindside here. It was something we discussed from the end of the season and into the summer." Rolston had been waived by the Devils during the 2010-11 NHL season, and is entering the final year of the four year deal he signed in 2008.
== Awards and achievements ==
* 1991–92: National Championship All-Tournament (NCAA)
* 1992–93: First All-Star Team (CCHA)
* 1994–95: Winner of NHL Stanley Cup with New Jersey Devils
* 1995–96: Winner of International World Cup of Hockey
* 1992–93: West Second All-American Team (NCAA)
* 1992–93: Winner of Tampere Cup
* 2001–02: Silver Medal in 2002 Olympics
* 2006–07: Played in NHL All-Star Game
== Career statistics ==
===Regular season and playoffs===
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	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
2008–09 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	64 	15 	17 	32 	30 	 	7 	1 	1 	2 	4
2009–10 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	80 	20 	17 	37 	22 	 	5 	2 	1 	3 	0
2010–11 	New Jersey Devils 	NHL 	 	65 	14 	20 	34 	34 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	1186 	335 	402 	737 	458 	 	70 	19 	12 	31 	38
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
 
Year 	Team 	Comp 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
1991 	United States 	WJC 	8 	1 	5 	6 	0
1992 	United States 	WJC 	7 	3 	3 	6 	2
1993 	United States 	WJC 	7 	6 	2 	8 	2
1994 	United States 	OG 	8 	7 	0 	7 	8
1996 	United States 	WC 	8 	3 	4 	7 	4
1996 	United States 	WCH 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
2002 	United States 	OG 	6 	0 	3 	3 	0
2004 	United States 	WCH 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
2006 	United States 	OG 	6 	3 	1 	4 	4
Junior int'l totals	Junior int'l totals	Junior int'l totals	22	10	10	20 	4
Senior int'l totals	Senior int'l totals	Senior int'l totals	31	13	8 	21 	16
== References ==
== External links ==
* 
Category:Born in 1973
Category:Albany River Rats players
Category:American ice hockey players
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Colorado Avalanche players
Category:Florida Panthers players
Category:1994 Olympian
Category:2002 Olympian
Category:2006 Olympian
Category:Lake Superior State Lakers players
Category:Minnesota Wild players
Category:National Hockey League All-Stars
Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks
Category:New Jersey Devils draft picks
Category:New Jersey Devils players
Category:Olympic ice hockey players of the United States
Category:Stanley Cup champions