Backcheck: Brian Rolston

Brian Rolston’s booming shot is legendary in the NHL and on the international stage, but it initially made its mark for the Lake Superior State Lakers.

He scored 51 goals in two years with the Lakers, the biggest coming in the 1992 NCAA championship game. Rolston’s goal in Albany, N.Y., lifted the Lakers past Wisconsin for head coach Jeff Jackson’s second national title.

Rolston was back in Albany in 1993-94, but didn’t spend long in the minors (just 35 games over two seasons). Since then he has played more NHL games than any other active former college player (1,216 through Jan. 4) and is closing in on Doug Weight’s record (1,238) for former Lakers.

Earlier this season College Hockey, Inc. caught up with him to talk about his college days.