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USHL Waterloo Black Hawks

Rolston Signs with Chicago

March 13, 2023 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Waterloo Black Hawks News Release


Waterloo, Iowa - The COVID-19 pandemic shortened Ryder Rolston's lone season as a Waterloo Black Hawk but didn't stop him from becoming a 2020 NHL Draft pick, and on Monday, Rolston signed his first professional contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Michigan resident came to the Cedar Valley in the fall of 2019. He had spent two prior seasons playing a partial league schedule with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. As a Black Hawk, Rolston took the ice 42 times before the 2019/20 campaign was halted by the coronavirus. His 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists) ranked fifth on the team as Waterloo won the USHL Western Conference during the abbreviated schedule. Rolston's first Hawks goal was quickly followed by two others for a hat trick against the Des Moines Buccaneers on October 19, 2019. Other highlights that season included three game-winning goals; two of those were in overtime (versus Omaha November 16th and against Fargo on February 7, 2020).

The 2020 NHL Draft was not held until October of that year. By then a freshman at Notre Dame, Rolston was selected in the fifth round (139th overall) by the Colorado Avalanche. His signing rights were traded to Chicago six months later.

At the NCAA level, Rolston played 93 games for the Fighting Irish. He accounted for 18 goals and 35 assists with a career +8 plus/minus differential.

Rolston's new contract has a three-year term. He will join Chicago's American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, for the remainder of this season.

During the 2022/23 campaign, a record 17 different Black Hawks alumni have appeared in the National Hockey League.

Since 2006, the Black Hawks and Blackhawks have had several connections, beginning with Jan-Mikael Juutilainen, who was drafted by Chicago, then played for two years in Waterloo. The most recent link is current Waterloo defenseman Sam Rinzel, who was selected in the first round by Chicago last summer. Vinnie Hinostroza and Blake Hillman were each chosen during the NHL Draft after they had played in home colors at Young Arena; Hinostroza and Hillman went to eventually have a stall in the United Center locker room.

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