Moving to Port Arthur from Wisconsin with his family at an early age, Roger learned the game of hockey in school and church leagues of the city during the 1920s. A member of the 1926-27 Port Arthur West End Juniors, his team competed for the Memorial Cup against Owen Sound in the national finals held in Toronto.

Following that season Roger played some senior hockey in Edmonton with the Imperials and Superiors before making his way into the National Hockey League with the Chicago Black Hawks for the 1930-31 season.

Roger's NHL career lasted 8 seasons and included time spent with the Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Americans, Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens and Maroons. It was while in Chicago that Roger entered the NHL history books as a member of two Stanley Cup winning teams in 1933-34 and 1937-38, along with another northwestern Ontario hockey star, Tommy Cook. His NHL record includes 328 games played, 15 goals and 39 assists.

A versatile player, Roger spent time on defence, as well as, left wing. In March of 1939 he also had an occasion to prove his talents at another position. Early NHL teams did not always carry spare goalies and when New York Americans goalie Earl Robertson was injured it was Roger who minded the nets for the remaining two periods.

Following the 1939 NHL season, Roger spent some time in the AHL with the Hershey Bears being named to the AHL All-Star Team for the 1942-43 season.

Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, September 26th, 1992