Al Rollins

Elwin Ira Rollins (October 9, 1926 – July 27, 1996) was a professional Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played for the Chicago Black Hawks, New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Al Rollins
Born (1926-10-09)October 9, 1926
Vanguard, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died July 27, 1996(1996-07-27) (aged 69)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left
Played for Toronto Maple Leafs
Chicago Black Hawks
New York Rangers
Playing career 1949–1962

Playing career

Before joining the NHL, Rollins played with the Vancouver Canucks in the PCHL. Next year, Rollins at age 21, moved to Edmonton to play for the Edmonton Flyers. Rollins believed the Flyers were a team capable of capturing the Allan Cup and he also believed if he played well enough he might get signed into the NHL. Rollins' gamble paid off and the Edmonton Flyers won the Allan Cup in 1947–48. He played 24 games that season, winning 20 and posting a 1.93 GAA.

Rollins played in the minor leagues for a couple of years before he was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1950–51. Rumors had it that he was there to simply put pressure on Turk Broda to lose weight. This was not exactly true as the Leafs also needed to shore up their rapidly thinning goaltender depth chart. That season the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup.

Rollins could not convince the Leafs management that he could be their full-time goaltender. In 1951–52, he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks for veteran Harry Lumley. For five years he played for the Black Hawks, a team that usually finished last in the NHL which majorly contributed to his 141-205-83 record. But despite that, hockey pundits saw Rollins as one of the league's best goaltenders and in 1953–54 he played in the NHL All-Star Game and was awarded the Hart Trophy, even though he only won 12 games and lost 47 that season.

Rollins is, as of 2020, one of three eligible players, along with Tommy Anderson and Jose Theodore, to win the Hart Memorial Trophy and not be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

In 1957–58, the Chicago Black Hawks acquired Glenn Hall from the Detroit Red Wings. Rollins was sent to the minor leagues as the Black Hawks preferred Hall. He would stay in the minor leagues until 1959–60, when he was signed on by the New York Rangers. He played 10 games with the club before he was sent back to the minor leagues again. This would mark the end of his NHL career. In 1966, although he was 37 years old, Rollins helped the Drumheller Miners to an Allan Cup victory in 1965–66.

Coaching career

After retiring, Rollins became a coach. He coached the University of Calgary hockey team as well as clubs in Spokane, Salt Lake City, Houston, Tulsa and Phoenix. As a coach, he achieved a good measure of success, including an Allan Cup victory with the Spokane Jets in 1970. Rollins was named coach of the World Hockey Association's (WHA) Phoenix Roadrunners in 1976, replacing local favourite Sandy Hucul. Rollins was generally hated in Phoenix after his years as coach of the WHL rival Salt Lake Golden Eagles, and his tenure in Phoenix resulted in the demise of the Roadrunner franchise after only one season at the helm.[1]

Rollins' son Jerry played in the now-defunct WHA.

Awards and achievements

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPWLTMINGASOGAASV% GPWLTMINGASOGAASV%
1942–43 Moose Jaw Canucks S-SJHL 156729005103.40— 202—120703.50—
1943–44 New York Rovers EAHL 22———129012005.58— —————————
1944–45 Seattle Stars PCHL 27206116208413.11— 642———03.67—
1944–45 New Westminster Cubs PCJHL 1611509603322.06— 422—2501904.56—
1945–46 Seattle Ironmen PCHL 5527280330021023.65— 3———1801204.00—
1946–47 Vancouver Canucks PCHL 5427261324025304.59— 413—2401704.25—
1947–48 Edmonton Flyers WCSHL 4624202280016713.20— 108116003203.20—
1947–48 Edmonton Flyers Al-Cup ————————— 14122—8402741.93—
1948–49 Kansas City Pla-Mors USHL 60292110360018913.16— 202—120603.00—
1949–50 Cleveland Barons AHL 64023601702.83— —————————
1949–50 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2110100412.40— —————————
1949–50 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 2097412004332.15— —————————
1950–51 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 40275823737051.77— 431—210601.71—
1951–52 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 70292416417015452.22— 202—120603.00—
1952–53 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70272815420017562.50— 734—4251802.54.927
1953–54 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 6612477396021353.23— —————————
1954–55 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 449278264015003.41— —————————
1955–56 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 58173011348017132.95.917 —————————
1955–56 Buffalo Bisons AHL 62313602514.17— —————————
1956–57 Chicago Black Hawks NHL 70163915420022433.20.900 —————————
1957–58 Calgary Stampeders WHL 6830335413021433.11.893 1468—8804703.20—
1958–59 Winnipeg Warriors WHL 311714018609933.19.892 734—4202203.14—
1959–60 Winnipeg Warriors WHL 5522312330019323.51— —————————
1959–60 New York Rangers NHL 103436003103.10.918 —————————
1961–62 Portland Buckaroos WHL 85304801812.25— 734—4321802.49—
1964–65 Drumheller Miners ASHL ————————— —————————
1965–66 Drumheller Miners ASHL ————————— 220—120301.50—
1965–66 Drumheller Miners Al-Cup ————————— 15123—9113222.11—
1968–69 Spokane Jets WIHL 110060404.00— —————————
NHL totals 4301412058325,7231192282.78— 1367—7553002.38—

Coaching record
TeamYearRegular seasonPost season
GWLTPtsFinishResult
Phoenix Roadrunners1976–77 8028484606th in WHA WestMissed playoffs

References
  1. "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Al Rollins". HHOF.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
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