Brian Rolston announces his retirement after 17 NHL seasons
By Michael Caples –
One of Michigan’s best is hanging up his skates.
Brian Rolston, a native of Flint, Mich., formally announced his retirement from professional hockey today after 17 NHL seasons.
Rolston, who played two seasons at Lake Superior State before moving onto the professional ranks, skated in 1,256 career NHL games, and recorded 342 goals and 419 assists along the way.
“Getting the chance to play the game I love for 17 years has truly been a dream come true,” said Rolston in a release on NHLPA.com. “My career has taken me to many great places where I had the privilege to play with some exceptional teammates and in the best league in the world. The memories of all my experiences will certainly stick with me for the rest of my life. I am grateful for the overwhelming support of my friends, family and fans throughout my career.”
The release also stated that Rolston and his family will continue to reside in Traverse City. Rolston and his wife, Jennifer, have four sons – Ryder, Brody, Stone and Zane.
A first-round pick of the Devils in 1991, Rolston played six seasons with New Jersey, winning a Stanley Cup title in 1995. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in November 1999, before another move to Boston in 2000.
Rolston would later sign with the Minnesota Wild, and play four seasons in the ‘State of Hockey’ before returning to the Devils in 2008. With the NHL club that drafted him, he played his 1,000th NHL game on Jan. 10, 2009.
“I was lucky enough to play with Brian in New Jersey,” said former New Jersey captain and current Wild star Zach Parise in the release. “Everyone knows how great of a player he is, but I also got to experience how great of a person he is. He is the ideal professional and has the unique ability to always keep everything positive and light in the dressing room, which isn’t easy in a sport that has so many ups and downs. “Rolly” had a great career, and his presence on the ice and in the locker room will be missed.”
The Flint native spent the 2011-12 season between the Islanders and Bruins, finishing with 24 points over 70 games.
Rolston competed in three Olympic Winter Games for Team USA (1994, 2002, 2006) – winning silver in 2002. He also captured gold with Team USA in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Rolston also represented his country in three different World Junior Championships, winning bronze in 1992.
