{{Short description|Canadian curler (born 1985)}} {{Infobox curler | name = Roland Robinson | image = | image_size = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|06|11}} | birth_place = [[Grimshaw, Alberta]]<ref name="MG">{{Cite web|url=https://www.curling.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Montanas-Brier-media-guide-WEB2.pdf|title=2026 Montana's Brier Media Guide|website=Curling Canada|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> | Curling club = [[Yellowknife Curling Club|Yellowknife CC]], [[Yellowknife]] | Skip = [[Jamie Koe]] | Third = [[Glen Kennedy]] | Second = '''Roland Robinson''' | Lead = [[Shadrach Mcleod]] | Alternate = [[Cole Parsons]] | Mixed doubles partner = | Member Association = {{AB}} (1997–2024) <br> {{NT}} (2025–present) | Brier appearances = 1 ({{Brier|2026}}) | Top CCA ranking = | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport | Men's [[curling]] }} {{MedalCountry | {{CAN}} }} {{MedalCompetition | [[World Junior Curling Championships|World Junior Championships]] }} {{MedalGold | [[2006 World Junior Curling Championships|2006 Jeonju]] | }} }}
'''Roland Robinson''' (born June 11, 1985) is a Canadian [[Curling|curler]] from [[Yellowknife]], [[Northwest Territories]].<ref name="MG"/> He currently plays [[second (curling)|second]] for the [[Jamie Koe]] rink. He is a former World Junior curling champion.
==Career== ===Youth=== Early in his junior career, Robinson played third on the [[Peace River, Alberta|Peace River]]-based Greg Webb rink. The team won the Alberta Boys Intermediate championship in 2001<ref>{{cite news|title=Peace rock provincials|date=March 12, 2001|page=9|newspaper=Red Deer Advocate|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/red-deer-advocate/193142100/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> (now called the Alberta U18 Boy's Championship).<ref name="U18">{{Cite web|url=https://curlingalberta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/U18-Boys.pdf|title=U18 Boy's Champions|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> The next season, the team were one of the two [[Peace River Country|Peace]] entries at the 2002 Alberta Junior Men's Curling Championship.<ref>{{cite news|title=Junior Field At a Glance|date=December 26, 2001|page=49|newspaper=Calgary Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald/193142340/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
Later on in his junior career, he joined the [[Geoff Walker (curler)|Geoff Walker]] rink as their third. The team won the 2003 Optimist International Alberta Juvenile Curling Championships<ref>{{cite news|title=Beaverlodge foursome tops at juvy provincials|date=March 10, 2003|page=13|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193143028/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> (U18 provincials).<ref name="U18"/> The team went on to win the bronze medal at the 2003 Optimist International Juvenile Curling Championships.<ref>{{cite news|title=Teen killed in crash 'had so much to give to the world'|date=October 7, 2003|page=5|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193143616/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> At the time, Robinson was employed as an icemaker in Grimshaw.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ready and rarin'|date=March 26, 2003|page=13|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193143440/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
[[Tom Sallows]] took over the rink for the 2003–04 season, with Walker moving to third, and Robinson moving to second. The team made it to the final of the Alberta juniors in 2004, losing to [[Chris Schille]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Need for precision makes curling great|date=January 21, 2004|page=13|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193144274/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> The following season, Robinson was replaced on the team by [[Charley Thomas]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Practise as they play|date=December 17, 2004|page=13|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193144595/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> with Robinson forming his own rink.<ref>{{cite news|title=That's the first step|date=December 21, 2004|page=13|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193144517/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> Representing [[Dawson Creek, British Columbia]], Robinson led his team to a win-less 0–7 record at the 2005 Alberta juniors.<ref>{{cite news|title=Curling|date=January 17, 2005|page=12|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193144926/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
For the 2005–06 season, Robinson joined up with his old rink at second, now with Thomas skipping the team. The team won the 2006 Alberta juniors, defeating [[J. D. Lind]] in the final.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rink reunion|date=January 2, 2006|page=11|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193145601/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> The team then went on to represent Alberta at the [[2006 Canadian Junior Curling Championships]], where they defeated British Columbia's [[Ty Griffith]] in the final, 7–2. Robinson curled 91 per cent in game.<ref>{{cite news|title=Alberta juniors pull together through tragedy to win title|date=January 30, 2006|page=41|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/193146073/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> Following the event, he was named as the event's first team all-star second.<ref>{{cite news|title=Curling|date=January 30, 2006|page=41|newspaper=The Globe & Mail|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-globe-and-mail/193146419/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> As national champions, the team then went on to represent Canada at the [[2006 World Junior Curling Championships]]. There, the team won the gold medal, defeating Sweden (skipped by [[Nils Carlsén]]) in the final, 7–3.<ref>{{cite news|title=Junior men win gold; women silver|date=March 20, 2006|page=40|newspaper=Calgary Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald/193147301/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> It was Robinson's last year of junior eligibility.<ref>{{cite news|title=Champions|date=March 21, 2006|page=16|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193147542/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
===Men's=== After juniors, Robinson moved to [[Sherwood Park, Alberta]] to work at a refinery. As he moved to the community too late in the 2006–07 season, he only spared in the local men's league.<ref>{{cite news|title=Drawing inspiration|date=December 29, 2006|page=13|newspaper=Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-herald-tribune/193156254/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> Eventually, he found himself playing lead for [[James Pahl]]. He played for Pahl at the [[2008 Boston Pizza Cup]], Alberta's men's provincial championship,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210152848/http://www.2008bostonpizzacup.ca/team_pahl.php|title=Teams|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> making it to the 3 vs. 4 game, where they lost to [[Kevin Koe]]. The next season, Robinson threw second stones for the team. The team's new lead Warren Letendre had to miss playdowns due to his wife expecting to give berth. Robinson persuaded the team to add two-time World Champion and Olympic silver medallist [[Don Bartlett]] to the rink to replace Letendre.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pahl makes good on last chance|date=January 23, 2009|page=37|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/193158910/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> The rink played in the [[2009 Boston Pizza Cup]], where they lost in the semifinal to [[Randy Ferbey]]. The team qualified again for the [[2010 Boston Pizza Cup]] with Robinson and Bartlett switching positions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pahl sets sights on return to Brier in Halifax|date=February 3, 2010|page=29|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/193159437/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> The team were knocked out of the event before making the playoffs.
Robinson skipped his own team, and played for Rick McKague and [[Steve Petryk]] for the next couple of seasons, including winning the [[2012 Original 16 WCT Bonspiel]] with Petryk. Robinson joined back with Pahl in 2013, initially throwing second rocks, but moving to lead when [[Ted Appelman]] was added to the team in 2014. The Pahl rink qualified for the [[2015 Boston Pizza Cup]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Deep field set to contend for Alberta men's crown|date=February 4, 2015|page=22|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/193161016/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> but once again missed the playoffs.
In 2015, Robinson began skipping his own team again. He and his rink of [[Jeff Erickson]], Ryan Knowalyk and James Knievel qualified for the [[2017 Boston Pizza Cup]], Robinson's first provincial as a skip.<ref>{{cite news|title='Any one of the 12 teams could realistically win'|date=February 8, 2017|page=21|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald/193163107/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref> The team was eliminated after three straight losses.<ref>{{cite news|title=There's no doubting Thomas in Alberta playdowns|date=February 11, 2017|page=53|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/edmonton-journal/193163280/|accessdate=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
For the 2017–18 season, Robinson joined the Mike Hutchings rink as his third. They played in the [[2018 Boston Pizza Cup]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.stalbertgazette.com/local-sports/hutchings-returns-provincials-1297774|title=Hutchings returns to provincials|publisher=St. Albert Gazette|author=Jeff Hansen|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=March 10, 2026}}</ref> The team were knocked out after losing all three games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=5198&teamid=119571&profileid=|title=Hutchings 0-3 at 2018 Alberta Boston Pizza Cup|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> The next season, he joined up with Pahl again, throwing second on the team. The Pahl rink suffered the same fate at the [[2019 Boston Pizza Cup]] as Robinson's previous two trips, losing all three games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=5467&teamid=132379&profileid=|title=Pahl 0-3 at 2019 Alberta Boston Pizza Cup|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
The [[2019–20 curling season]] was more successful for the Pahl rink. The team won the 2019 [[Red Deer Curling Classic]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://reddeeradvocate.com/2019/11/19/pahl-and-sinclair-win-at-red-deer-curling-classic/|title=Pahl and Sinclair win at Red Deer Curling Classic|publisher=Red Deer Advocate|author=Byron Hackett|date=November 19, 2019|access-date=March 10, 2026}}</ref> and went 3–2 at the [[2020 Boston Pizza Cup]], just missing the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=6375&teamid=145048&profileid=|title=Pahl 3-2 at 2020 Alberta Boston Pizza Cup|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> After the season, Robinson played one year with [[Glen Kennedy]], skipped a team for one season, and then joined the [[Daylan Vavrek]] rink as his third for 2022–23. With Vavrek, the team won the [[2022 Alberta Curling Series: Event 3]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=7525&teamid=164657&profileid=|title=Champion: Vavrek Wins 2022 Curling Stadium Alberta Curling Series #3|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> and played in the [[2023 Boston Pizza Cup]] where they won four games before being eliminated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=7708&teamid=168464&profileid=|title=Vavrek 4-3 at 2023 Alberta Boston Pizza Cup|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> The next season, the Vavrek rink won the 2023 Alberta Curling Series Event 2<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=7888&teamid=175710&profileid=|title=Champion: Vavrek wins 2023 Alberta Curling Series - Event 2|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> At the [[2024 Boston Pizza Cup]], the team again won four games before being knocked out.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=8004&teamid=179345&profileid=|title=Vavrek 4-3 at 2024 Alberta Boston Pizza Cup|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
Robinson moved to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and joined the [[Jamie Koe]] rink for the [[2025–26 curling season]] as Koe's second. The team won the [[2026 Northwest Territories Men's Curling Championship]], and represented the Northwest Territories at the [[2026 Montana's Brier]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://cabinradio.ca/278751/news/sports/jamie-koe-and-team-heading-back-to-brier-representing-nwt/|title=Jamie Koe and team heading back to Brier representing NWT|publisher=Cabin Radio|author=Emily Blake|date=February 10, 2026|access-date=March 10, 2026}}</ref> Robinson's first trip to the Canadian men's championship. There, the team finished with a 2–5 record.
===Mixed doubles=== Robinson has also competed in [[mixed doubles curling]]. He and partner [[Heather Nedohin]] won the 2019 STP Mixed Doubles event,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=6257&teamid=142538&profileid=|title=Champion: Nedohin/Robinson wins 2019 STP Mixed Doubles|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref> and won the WFG Okotoks Mixed Doubles event with [[Bobbie Sauder]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/event.php?view=Team&eventid=7248&teamid=159046&profileid=|title=Champion: Sauder/Robinson wins 2022 WFG Okotoks Mixed Doubles|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== As of 2026, Robinson was retired.<ref name="MG"/> He previously worked as a power engineer / process operator for [[Shell Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.curlingzone.com/player.php?playerid=1874|title=Roland Robinson|access-date=March 11, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Footer World Junior Curling Champions (men)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Rollie}} [[Category:Sportspeople from Sherwood Park]] [[Category:Curlers from Alberta]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Yellowknife]] [[Category:Curlers from the Northwest Territories]] [[Category:1985 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Canadian male curlers]] [[Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen]]