I have been a Brian Rolston fan since he played for Bob Clouston's Michigan Travelers as Squirt Major. I first saw him as a six year old with the unbelievable Compuware team, but they split ways and Rolly went with the Travelers. My oler son, Brian, played for Compuware for several years and saw Rolly regularly, and then I was
with Andy Weidenbach's Compuware Tier II Junior "A" team when Rolly played there.
We had three 16 year old centers, Rolly, Pat Peake, and Eric Lindros. Unfortunately, Eric was with us only
until just before Christmas when he left for the World Juniors to play for Canada, and returned to play for
the Oshawa Generals when the OHL made a rules change allowing the trade of a 16 year old.
One game of the Compuware teams stands out as it relates to Brian Rolston, and that was (get this) we
were the invited guest of the Wexford Rangers. It was a 4:00 PM pre-game to a Friday night CHHA league
game at Yost between the Wolveries and the Spartans. Yost was packed, the air was electric, and both
teams were all over Rolly in between the two games as it was rumored that he'd make his ollege choice that
Sunday. I would have bet the ranch that he'd pick Michigan. I mean, how could you not gien that environments impact on a sixteen year old. We were only mildly surprised when he selected Lake State as his older brother, Ron, was an assistant there.
In his Sophomore season, after being drafted by the NJ Devils, he not only scored the winning goal in the NCAA Championship game, but later that season played for the Stanly Cup Champion. (What does he do next, retire???).
What mystifies me is why, given the skill set that makes him a good faceoff man, has a heavy shot from the point on the PP, and is a constant threat for a short handed goal on the PK, that he has been traded as many times as he has. The last couple of seasons he has passes through waivers only to return and be productive on special teams. Yes, he has a $5 million contract, but you'd think that he'd be an ideal "rental player" for a team like the Red Wings making a late season stretch run at the Cup. Anybody who can provide thier theories on this, please post.
with Andy Weidenbach's Compuware Tier II Junior "A" team when Rolly played there.
We had three 16 year old centers, Rolly, Pat Peake, and Eric Lindros. Unfortunately, Eric was with us only
until just before Christmas when he left for the World Juniors to play for Canada, and returned to play for
the Oshawa Generals when the OHL made a rules change allowing the trade of a 16 year old.
One game of the Compuware teams stands out as it relates to Brian Rolston, and that was (get this) we
were the invited guest of the Wexford Rangers. It was a 4:00 PM pre-game to a Friday night CHHA league
game at Yost between the Wolveries and the Spartans. Yost was packed, the air was electric, and both
teams were all over Rolly in between the two games as it was rumored that he'd make his ollege choice that
Sunday. I would have bet the ranch that he'd pick Michigan. I mean, how could you not gien that environments impact on a sixteen year old. We were only mildly surprised when he selected Lake State as his older brother, Ron, was an assistant there.
In his Sophomore season, after being drafted by the NJ Devils, he not only scored the winning goal in the NCAA Championship game, but later that season played for the Stanly Cup Champion. (What does he do next, retire???).
What mystifies me is why, given the skill set that makes him a good faceoff man, has a heavy shot from the point on the PP, and is a constant threat for a short handed goal on the PK, that he has been traded as many times as he has. The last couple of seasons he has passes through waivers only to return and be productive on special teams. Yes, he has a $5 million contract, but you'd think that he'd be an ideal "rental player" for a team like the Red Wings making a late season stretch run at the Cup. Anybody who can provide thier theories on this, please post.
