Roland Melanson
Rollie Melanson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Roland Joseph Melanson June 28, 1960 Shediac, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Ice hockey goaltender, coach |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Known for | Former NHL goaltender; NHL coach specializing in goaltender development |
Roland "Rollie the Goalie" Joseph Melanson (born June 28, 1960) is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender and current coach in the National Hockey League (NHL). Following an extensive playing tenure with teams such as the New York Islanders, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, and Montreal Canadiens, Melanson shifted his focus to coaching, specializing in goaltender development.
In 1981, while playing for the Indianapolis Checkers in the Central Hockey League, Melanson was honored with the Ken McKenzie Trophy as the league’s top rookie. During the 1982–83 campaign, he shared the prestigious William M. Jennings Trophy alongside Billy Smith and earned a spot on the NHL All-Star Second Team. Additionally, Melanson played a key role in securing three back-to-back Stanley Cup championships from 1981 through 1983.
Early life
Born on June 28, 1960, in Shediac, New Brunswick, Melanson is the son of Alphe and Albertine (née Maillet) Melanson. Although his initial skating began in Moncton, his organized goaltending journey commenced only after relocating with his family to Waltham, Massachusetts. After spending four years in the U.S., the family returned to New Brunswick, where his achievements in Waltham enabled him to join a more competitive hockey squad.
Junior
During the 1976-77 season, Melanson guarded the net for the Moncton Century Flyers AAA minor ice hockey team, achieving 11 shutouts and contributing to an impressive 33–1 team record. He recorded a shutout in the final match of the 1976 Moncton Invitational Midget Hockey Tournament, leading the Flyers to a 3–0 win over Fredericton. That same season, he participated in the 1977 Wrigley Cup midget hockey championship. Although his team placed fourth overall, Melanson earned the Wrigley Cup MVP title with a remarkable 2.33 goals against average (GAA). His preliminary round record of 4–1–1 remains unmatched by any New Brunswick team at the National Midget Championship as of 2025. This standout performance attracted Windsor Spitfires coach Wayne Maxner’s attention, resulting in Melanson signing with the Spitfires of the Ontario Junior Hockey League.
Professional
Following his attendance at the Islanders' training camp, Melanson was assigned to their minor league affiliate, the Indianapolis Checkers, for the 1980–81 season. Over nine games, he led the league with a 2.40 GAA and helped propel the Checkers to a strong 7–1–1 start. On November 4, 1980, he was called up to make his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings, where he stopped 29 of 33 shots contributing to a 6–4 victory. He remained undefeated over his next five appearances, becoming that season’s first rookie NHL goaltender to achieve such a streak. Widely praised by both teammates and coaches and frequently recognized as First Star of the Game, Melanson was sent back to the CHL on November 16 after veteran goalie Chico Resch returned from injury. Due to league rules restricting reassignment of veteran goalies, Melanson was returned once both experienced netminders were fit.
Personal life
In July 1981, Melanson wed Janice LeBlanc. The couple had two children before eventually divorcing.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Season | Team | League | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | T | MIN | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | ||
| 1976–77 | Moncton Flyers | NBAHA | 70 | — | — | — | 4198 | 147 | 14 | 2.09 | — | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 360 | 14 | 0 | 2.33 | — | ||
| 1977–78 | Windsor Spitfires | OMJHL | 44 | — | — | — | 2592 | 195 | 1 | 4.51 | — | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 258 | 13 | 1 | 3.02 | — | ||
| 1978–79 | Windsor Spitfires | OMJHL | 62 | — | — | — | 3461 | 254 | 1 | 4.40 | — | 7 | — | — | — | 392 | 31 | 0 | 4.74 | — | ||
| 1979–80 | Windsor Spitfires / Oshawa Generals | OMJHL | 60 | 37 | 20 | 0 | 3339 | 226 | 3 | ~4.10 | — | 7 | 3 | 4 | — | 420 | 32 | 0 | ~4.57 | |||
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External links
- Pages with script errors
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- 1960 births
- Living people
- Brantford Smoke players
- Canadian ice hockey coaches
- Canadian ice hockey goaltenders
- New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame inductees
- Indianapolis Checkers (CHL) players
- Los Angeles Kings players
- Minnesota North Stars players
- 20th-century Canadian sportsmen
- Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
- Moncton Wildcats coaches
- Montreal Canadiens coaches
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- New Jersey Devils players
- New York Islanders draft picks
- New York Islanders players
- Oshawa Generals players
- Saint John Flames players
- Ice hockey people from Moncton
- Stanley Cup champions
- Utica Devils players
- Vancouver Canucks coaches
- William M. Jennings Trophy winners
- Windsor Spitfires players
- Acadian sportspeople