Roloson hasn't exactly been flawless in the series against the Bruins, but if it weren't for his midseason acquisition, it's hard to imagine that the Lightning would have reached this point in the playoffs.
On the surface, Roloson's resurgence has been of the improbable variety, but those who know him have seen him work hard throughout his career to set himself up for this.
"Those of us that know him well and know his habits know he's a great athlete," said University of Maine coach Tim Whitehead, who coached Roloson at UMass Lowell in the 1990s. "He keeps himself in tremendous condition. He's lean, muscular, eats the right things and all that. He trains hard in the offseason. He was a great soccer player in high school up in Ontario. The kid's a great athlete, even though he's not a kid anymore. He's 41, but I think he has a much longer shelf life as a pro because of his athleticism and conditioning level. He's also a great competitor."
Whitehead recalled the 1994 Hockey East tournament, when the River Hawks lost in the championship game but Roloson was named the tourney MVP. And then there was the ensuing NCAA tournament run, when Lowell won at Michigan State in the first round before dropping a 2-1 double-overtime clash with Minnesota.
"Dwayne was our best player," Whitehead said. "Obviously, we had fond memories of what a great competitor he is."
Whitehead has remained close with Roloson, who has always honored his roots in the Mill City.
"He's just a great guy," Whitehead said. "He was one of those genuine people. I've stayed in touch with him as well, and it's been 20 years or something. Yet, he comes out of his way. I remember seeing him after a game in Minnesota a couple years ago, and he came right over. We ended up going to the pregame meal together. He's one of the great guys in the game who knows where he came from. He genuinely appreciates all of the things that he has earned."
