Roger Lemelin (ice hockey)

Roger Lemelin
Born	(1954-02-06) 6 February 1954 Iroquois Falls, Ontario, Canada
Died	17 September 2023(2023-09-17) (aged 69)
Occupation	Ice hockey defenceman
Years active	1974–1984
Known for	Played in the NHL with Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies

Roger Marcel Lemelin (born February 6, 1954 – died September 17, 2023) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who competed professionally, appearing in 36 National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies between 1974 and 1978. He spent the bulk of his playing years in minor leagues, predominantly within the American Hockey League (AHL).

Early life

Originating from Iroquois Falls, Ontario, Lemelin participated in junior hockey for two seasons with the London Knights, a team in the Ontario Hockey Association.

Career

In the 1974 drafts, Lemelin was selected 56th overall by the Kansas City Scouts in the NHL amateur draft and was also picked 27th overall by the Toronto Toros in the WHA Amateur Draft. Opting to join the Scouts, he commenced his professional career that same year but primarily competed in the AHL. Throughout a span of four seasons, Lemelin had brief stints with the Scouts and subsequently with the Colorado Rockies after the franchise's relocation in 1976; however, most of his playing time remained in the minor leagues. After 1978, he extended his career by three additional seasons at the minor league level, took a two-year hiatus, and then returned for a final campaign during the 1983–84 season.