# Al Rollins

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Al_Rollins
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Al_Rollins.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Rollins
> Source revision: 1349199028
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| image = AlRollinsTOR.png
| image_size = 
| position = [Goaltender](/source/Goaltender)
| played_for = [Toronto Maple Leafs](/source/Toronto_Maple_Leafs)<br />[Chicago Black Hawks](/source/Chicago_Blackhawks)<br />[New York Rangers](/source/New_York_Rangers)
| catches = Left
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 180
| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|10|9|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [Vanguard, Saskatchewan](/source/Vanguard%2C_Saskatchewan), Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|7|27|1926|10|09}}
| death_place = [Calgary](/source/Calgary), Alberta, Canada
| career_start = 1949
| career_end = 1962
| halloffame = 
}}
'''Elwin Ira Rollins''' (October 9, 1926 – July 27, 1996) was a professional [Canadian](/source/Canadians) [ice hockey](/source/ice_hockey) [goaltender](/source/goaltender) who played for the [Chicago Black Hawks](/source/Chicago_Blackhawks), [New York Rangers](/source/New_York_Rangers) and the [Toronto Maple Leafs](/source/Toronto_Maple_Leafs). Rollins was born in [Vanguard, Saskatchewan](/source/Vanguard%2C_Saskatchewan), but grew up in [Moose Jaw](/source/Moose_Jaw), [Saskatchewan](/source/Saskatchewan).

==Playing career==
thumb|1954 Topps card of Rollins for Chicago Black Hawks
Before joining the [NHL](/source/National_Hockey_League), Rollins played with the [Vancouver Canucks](/source/Vancouver_Canucks_(WHL)) in the [PCHL](/source/Pacific_Coast_Hockey_League). Next year, Rollins at age 21, moved to [Edmonton](/source/Edmonton) to play for the [Edmonton Flyers](/source/Edmonton_Flyers). Rollins believed the Flyers were a team capable of capturing the [Allan Cup](/source/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.](/source/1948_Allan_Cup) He played 24 games that season, winning 20 and posting a 1.93 [GAA](/source/Goals_Against_Average).

Rollins played in the minor leagues for a couple of years before he was signed by the [Toronto Maple Leafs](/source/Toronto_Maple_Leafs) in [1950–51](/source/1950%E2%80%9351_NHL_season). Rumors had it that he was there to simply put pressure on [Turk Broda](/source/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](/source/Stanley_Cup).

Rollins could not convince the Leafs management that he could be their full-time [goaltender](/source/goaltender). In [1951–52](/source/1951%E2%80%9352_NHL_season), he was traded to the [Chicago Black Hawks](/source/Chicago_Blackhawks) for veteran [Harry Lumley](/source/Harry_Lumley_(ice_hockey)). 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.

In [1953–54](/source/1953%E2%80%9354_NHL_season), he played in the [NHL All-Star Game](/source/NHL_All-Star_Game) and was awarded the [Hart Trophy](/source/Hart_Memorial_Trophy) after he played in 66 games during Chicago's franchise-worst 51-loss season. He posted a 3.23 GAA with seven shutouts and 47 losses, but finished first in voting for the award ahead of Detroit's [Red Kelly](/source/Red_Kelly) and Montréal's [Maurice Richard](/source/Maurice_Richard).<ref>"Rollins wins Hart" ''Toronto Daily Star'', May 4, 1954, p. 11.</ref>

Rollins is, as of 2025, one of four eligible players, along with [Tommy Anderson](/source/Tommy_Anderson_(ice_hockey)), [Jose Theodore](/source/Jose_Theodore), and [Carey Price](/source/Carey_Price), to win the Hart Memorial Trophy and not be elected to the [Hockey Hall of Fame](/source/Hockey_Hall_of_Fame).

In [1957–58](/source/1957%E2%80%9358_NHL_season), the Chicago Black Hawks acquired [Glenn Hall](/source/Glenn_Hall) from the [Detroit Red Wings](/source/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](/source/1959%E2%80%9360_NHL_season), when he was signed on by the [New York Rangers](/source/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](/source/Drumheller_Miners) to an Allan Cup victory in 1965–66.

==Coaching career==
After retiring, Rollins became a coach. He coached the [University of Calgary](/source/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](/source/World_Hockey_Association)'s (WHA) [Phoenix Roadrunners](/source/Phoenix_Roadrunners_(WHA)) in 1976, replacing local favourite [Sandy Hucul](/source/Sandy_Hucul). Rollins was generally hated in Phoenix after his years as coach of the WHL rival [Salt Lake Golden Eagles](/source/Salt_Lake_Golden_Eagles), and his tenure in Phoenix resulted in the demise of the Roadrunner franchise after only one season at the helm.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Al Rollins |url=http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=18681 |website=HHOF.com |access-date=June 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807141842/http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=18681 |archive-date=August 7, 2016}}</ref>

Rollins' son [Jerry](/source/Jerry_Rollins) played in the now-defunct WHA.

==Awards and achievements==
*[Vezina Trophy](/source/Vezina_Trophy) Winner ([1951](/source/1950-51_NHL_season))
*[Stanley Cup](/source/Stanley_Cup) Championship ([1951](/source/1951_Stanley_Cup_Finals))
*[Hart Memorial Trophy](/source/Hart_Memorial_Trophy) Winner ([1954](/source/1953-54_NHL_season))
*Played in [NHL](/source/National_Hockey_League) All-Star Game (1954)
*[Allan Cup](/source/Allan_Cup) Championships as a player (1948, [1966](/source/1966_Allan_Cup))
*Allan Cup Championship as a coach ([1970](/source/1970_Allan_Cup))

==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:75%; text-align:center;"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |  
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |  
! colspan="9" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | [Regular season](/source/Regular_season)
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |  
! colspan="9" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | [Playoffs](/source/Playoffs)
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! [Season](/source/Season_(sports))
! Team
! League
! GP !! W !! L !! T !! MIN !! GA !! [SO](/source/Shutout) !! [GAA](/source/Goals_against_average) !! [SV%](/source/save_percentage)
! GP !! W !! L !! T !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV%
|-
| 1942–43
| [Moose Jaw Canucks](/source/Moose_Jaw_Canucks)
| S-SJHL
| 15 || 6 || 7 || 2 || 900 || 51 || 0 || 3.40 || —
| 2 || 0 || 2 || — || 120 || 7 || 0 || 3.50 || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1943–44
| [New York Rovers](/source/New_York_Rovers)
| [EAHL](/source/Eastern_Hockey_League)
| 22 || — || — || — || 1290 || 120 || 0 || 5.58 || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [1944–45](/source/1944%E2%80%9345_PCHL_season)
| Seattle Stars
| [PCHL](/source/Pacific_Coast_Hockey_League)
| 27 || 20 || 6 || 1 || 1620 || 84 || 1 || 3.11 || —
| 6 || 4 || 2 || — || — || — || 0 || 3.67 || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1944–45
| New Westminster Cubs
| PCJHL
| 16 || 11 || 5 || 0 || 960 || 33 || 2 || 2.06 || —
| 4 || 2 || 2 || — || 250 || 19 || 0 || 4.56 || —
|- 
| [1945–46](/source/1945%E2%80%9346_PCHL_season)
| [Seattle Ironmen](/source/Seattle_Ironmen)
| PCHL
| 55 || 27 || 28 || 0 || 3300 || 210 || 2 || 3.65 || —
| 3 || — || — || — || 180 || 12 || 0 || 4.00 || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1946–47](/source/1946%E2%80%9347_PCHL_season)
| [Vancouver Canucks](/source/Vancouver_Canucks_(WHL))
| PCHL
| 54 || 27 || 26 || 1 || 3240 || 253 || 0 || 4.59 || —
| 4 || 1 || 3 || — || 240 || 17 || 0 || 4.25 || —
|-
| 1947–48
| [Edmonton Flyers](/source/Edmonton_Flyers)
| [WCSHL](/source/Western_Canada_Senior_Hockey_League)
| 46 || 24 || 20 || 2 || 2800 || 167 || 1 || 3.20 || —
| 10 || 8 || 1 || 1 || 600 || 32 || 0 || 3.20 || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1947–48](/source/1948_Allan_Cup)
| Edmonton Flyers
| [Al-Cup](/source/Allan_Cup)
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| 14 || 12 || 2 || — || 840 || 27 || 4 || 1.93 || —
|-
| [1948–49](/source/1948%E2%80%9349_USHL_season)
| Kansas City Pla-Mors
| [USHL](/source/United_States_Hockey_League_(1945-1951))
| 60 || 29 || 21 || 10 || 3600 || 189 || 1 || 3.16 || —
| 2 || 0 || 2 || — || 120 || 6 || 0 || 3.00 || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1949–50](/source/1949%E2%80%9350_AHL_season)
| [Cleveland Barons](/source/Cleveland_Barons_(1937-1973))
| [AHL](/source/American_Hockey_League)
| 6 || 4 || 0 || 2 || 360 || 17 || 0 || 2.83 || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [1949–50](/source/1949%E2%80%9350_NHL_season)
| [Toronto Maple Leafs](/source/Toronto_Maple_Leafs)
| [NHL](/source/National_Hockey_League)
| 2 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 100 || 4 || 1 || 2.40 || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1949–50
| [Pittsburgh Hornets](/source/Pittsburgh_Hornets)
| AHL
| 20 || 9 || 7 || 4 || 1200 || 43 || 3 || 2.15 || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [1950–51](/source/1950%E2%80%9351_NHL_season)
| Toronto Maple Leafs
| NHL
| 40 || 27 || 5 || 8 || 2373 || 70 || 5 || 1.77 || —
| 4 || 3 || 1 || — || 210 || 6 || 0 || 1.71 || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1951–52](/source/1951%E2%80%9352_NHL_season)
| Toronto Maple Leafs
| NHL
| 70 || 29 || 24 || 16 || 4170 || 154 || 5 || 2.22 || —
| 2 || 0 || 2 || — || 120 || 6 || 0 || 3.00 || —
|-
| [1952–53](/source/1952%E2%80%9353_NHL_season)
| [Chicago Black Hawks](/source/Chicago_Black_Hawks)
| NHL
| 70 || 27 || 28 || 15 || 4200 || 175 || 6 || 2.50 || —
| 7 || 3 || 4 || — || 425 || 18 || 0 || 2.54 || .927
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1953–54](/source/1953%E2%80%9354_NHL_season)
| Chicago Black Hawks
| NHL
| 66 || 12 || 47 || 7 || 3960 || 213 || 5 || 3.23 || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [1954–55](/source/1954%E2%80%9355_NHL_season)
| Chicago Black Hawks
| NHL
| 44 || 9 || 27 || 8 || 2640 || 150 || 0 || 3.41 || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1955–56](/source/1955%E2%80%9356_NHL_season)
| Chicago Black Hawks
| NHL
| 58 || 17 || 30 || 11 || 3480 || 171 || 3 || 2.95 || .917
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [1955–56](/source/1955%E2%80%9356_AHL_season)
| [Buffalo Bisons](/source/Buffalo_Bisons_(AHL))
| AHL
| 6 || 2 || 3 || 1 || 360 || 25 || 1 || 4.17 || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1956–57](/source/1956%E2%80%9357_NHL_season)
| Chicago Black Hawks
| NHL
| 70 || 16 || 39 || 15 || 4200 || 224 || 3 || 3.20 || .900
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [1957–58](/source/1957%E2%80%9358_WHL_season)
| [Calgary Stampeders](/source/Calgary_Stampeders_(ice_hockey))
| [WHL](/source/Western_Hockey_League_(1952%E2%80%931974))
| 68 || 30 || 33 || 5 || 4130 || 214 || 3 || 3.11 || .893
| 14 || 6 || 8 || — || 880 || 47 || 0 || 3.20 || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1958–59](/source/1958%E2%80%9359_NHL_season)
| [Winnipeg Warriors](/source/Winnipeg_Warriors_(minor_pro))
| WHL
| 31 || 17 || 14 || 0 || 1860 || 99 || 3 || 3.19 || .892
| 7 || 3 || 4 || — || 420 || 22 || 0 || 3.14 || —
|-
| [1959–60](/source/1959%E2%80%9360_NHL_season)
| Winnipeg Warriors
| WHL
| 55 || 22 || 31 || 2 || 3300 || 193 || 2 || 3.51 || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1959–60](/source/1959%E2%80%9360_NHL_season)
| [New York Rangers](/source/New_York_Rangers)
| NHL
| 10 || 3 || 4 || 3 || 600 || 31 || 0 || 3.10 || .918
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| [1961–62](/source/1961%E2%80%9362_WHL_season)
| [Portland Buckaroos](/source/Portland_Buckaroos)
| WHL
| 8 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 480 || 18 || 1 || 2.25 || —
| 7 || 3 || 4 || — || 432 || 18 || 0 || 2.49 || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1964–65
| [Drumheller Miners](/source/Drumheller_Miners)
| [ASHL](/source/Alberta_Senior_Hockey_League_(1965%E2%80%9378))
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|-
| 1965–66
| Drumheller Miners
| ASHL
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| 2 || 2 || 0 || — || 120 || 3 || 0 || 1.50 || —
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| [1965–66](/source/1966_Allan_Cup)
| Drumheller Miners
| Al-Cup
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
| 15 || 12 || 3 || — || 911 || 32 || 2 || 2.11 || —
|-
| 1968–69
| [Spokane Jets](/source/Spokane_Jets)
| [WIHL](/source/Western_International_Hockey_League)
| 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 60 || 4 || 0 || 4.00 || —
| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan=3 | NHL totals
! 430 !! 141 !! 205 !! 83 !! 25,723 !! 1192 !! 28 !! 2.78 !! —
! 13 !! 6 !! 7 !! — !! 755 !! 30 !! 0 !! 2.38 !! —
|}

==Coaching record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="6"|[Regular season](/source/Regular_season) !! colspan="1"|[Postseason](/source/Postseason)
|-
! G !! W !! L !! T !! Pts !!Finish !! Result
|-
![Phoenix Roadrunners](/source/Phoenix_Roadrunners_(WHA))||[1976–77](/source/1976%E2%80%9377_WHA_season)
|80||28||48||4||60||6th in WHA West||Missed playoffs
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Ice hockey stats|legends=18681}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box | before = [Gordie Howe](/source/Gordie_Howe) | title = Winner of the [Hart Trophy](/source/Hart_Memorial_Trophy) | years = [1954](/source/1953%E2%80%9354_NHL_season)| after = [Ted Kennedy](/source/Ted_Kennedy_(ice_hockey))}}
{{succession box | before = [Bill Durnan](/source/Bill_Durnan) | title = Winner of the [Vezina Trophy](/source/Vezina_Trophy) | years = [1951](/source/1950%E2%80%9351_NHL_season)| after = [Terry Sawchuk](/source/Terry_Sawchuk)}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rollins, Al}}
Category:1926 births
Category:1996 deaths
Category:Buffalo Bisons (AHL) players
Category:Calgary Stampeders (WHL) players
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States
Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders
Category:Chicago Blackhawks players
Category:Cleveland Barons (1937–1973) players
Category:Hart Memorial Trophy winners
Category:Ice hockey people from Saskatchewan
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:New York Rovers players
Category:Ice hockey people from Moose Jaw
Category:Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)
Category:Pittsburgh Hornets players
Category:Portland Buckaroos players
Category:Seattle Ironmen players
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Vezina Trophy winners
Category:Winnipeg Warriors (minor pro) players
Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Al Rollins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Rollins) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Rollins?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.