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Roland Melanson

Category

Athlete

Sport

Hockey

Hometown

Shediac

Year Inducted

2010

Sport Ambassador

athlete

Roland Melanson

HONOURED MEMBER

Biography

Roland Melanson of Shediac was the first New Brunswick-born goaltender to play in the National Hockey League.He is also the only New Brunswick player to win three Stanley Cup titles - all coming with the New York Islanders in the 1980-81 to 1982-83 seasons.His other NHL honors included sharing the William Jennings Award for the fewest goals against and being a second-team all-star, both in 1982-83.He also played for the Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens in a 291-game NHL career where he had a 3.63 lifetime goals-against average.Melanson was also awarded all-star, outstanding rookie and playoff MVP honors in other leagues as well as playing for Canada’s national junior team in 1979.Later, he was an assistant coach and goaltending coach for the Montreal Canadiens for 11 seasons. Enrolled in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, June 5, 2010.

Quick Facts

  • Member of Canada’s National Junior Team (1979)

  • Drafted, 59th overall by the New York Islanders, into the National Hockey League (1979) 

  • First New Brunswick-born goaltender to play in the NHL 

  • First New Brunswick-born player to win three Stanley Cup titles - all coming with the New York Islanders in the 1980-81 to 1982-83 seasons 

  • NHL honours include sharing the William Jennings Award for the fewest goals against and being a second-team all-star, both in 1982-83 

  • 291-game National Hockey League career while playing for five franchises (Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and New York Islanders) 

  • Assistant coach and goaltending coach for the Montreal Canadiens for 11 seasons

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