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Brian Rafalski
Rafalski with the New Jersey Devils during the 2005–06 season
Born (1973-09-28) September 28, 1973 (age 50)
Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Right
Played for Brynäs IF
HPK
HIFK
New Jersey Devils
Detroit Red Wings
Florida Everblades
National team   United States
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 1995–2014

Brian Christopher Rafalski (born September 28, 1973) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings, in the SM-liiga for HPK and HIFK, in the Elitserien for Brynäs IF, and in the ECHL for the Florida Everblades.

After going undrafted, Rafalski spent four seasons in Europe - winning the Pekka Rautakallio trophy as best Liiga Defenseman in 1997, and 1999, the Finnish SM-liiga championship with HIFK in 1998, and the Kultainen kypärä ("the Golden Helmet") in 1999. After Entering the NHL in 1999 with the New Jersey Devils, Rafalski was part of 3 Stanley Cup Championship teams with the New Jersey Devils in 2000 and 2003; and with the Detroit Redwings in 2008. In total he played in five Stanley Cup finals in his NHL career ( 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009). Rafalski also played for the United States national team in three Olympic ice hockey tournaments ( 2002, 2006, and 2010).

Playing career

Amateur

As a youth, Rafalski played in the 1987 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Detroit. [1]

Rafalski played for the Madison Capitols of the United States Hockey League (USHL). In 47 games during the 1990–91 season he scored 23 points with 12 goals and 11 assists. [2]

College and European play

Rafalski played for four years at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and was a proficient player, scoring 45 points in 43 games in his senior year with the Badgers. He won several awards that season — he was named to the WCHA First All-Star Team, the NCAA West All-Star Team and the WCHA Defenseman of the Year. With no immediate NHL prospects, however, Rafalski travelled overseas, spending the 1995–96 season with Brynäs IF of the Swedish Elitserien.

After scoring only nine points in 22 games in Sweden, he then moved to Finland to play a season for HPK of the SM-liiga, scoring 35 points. He then moved to HIFK in 1997, where he spent two successful years. In his final year in Finland, he scored 19 goals and 53 points in 53 games, and won the Kultainen kypärä, awarded to the top SM-liiga player of the season, as voted by fellow players. Notably, he also became the first non-Finnish player to win the award.

NHL career

New Jersey Devils

Rafalski was named by Sporting News in 1999 as the best hockey player in the world not playing in the NHL. On May 7, 1999, Rafalski was signed by the New Jersey Devils as a free agent at the age of 25 to start the 1999–2000 season.

Immediately after arriving in New Jersey, Rafalski was partnered on defense with Devils captain Scott Stevens. The two remained as mainstay defensive partners for five years, until Stevens' retirement in 2004. Rafalski finished his rookie season with 32 points and led all rookie defensemen in plus-minus with a +21 rating, second among Devils defensemen and tied for first amongst all rookie players. Rafalski helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup that year and along with Calder Memorial Trophy-winning teammate Scott Gomez, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

Rafalski improved his production in his sophomore season, scoring 52 points. His 18 points during the 2001 playoffs set a team record for defensemen, although the Devils lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Finals.

In the 2001–02 season, Rafalski continued his scoring pace, registering 47 points. He was selected to participate in the National Hockey League All-Star Game, but was forced to sit out due to injury. The next season, he once again led all Devils defensemen in scoring, with 40 points. He was a vital part of a Devils defense that helped the team win the Stanley Cup again in a seven-game series win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in June 2003.

Detroit Red Wings

Rafalski with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008

On July 1, 2007, the Detroit Red Wings signed Rafalski to a $30 million, five-year contract as an unrestricted free agent. Rafalski had grown up in nearby Dearborn, Michigan, and had been a Red Wings fan growing up. He was teamed with another legendary defenseman, Nicklas Lidström.

Rafalski set a career high in goals (11) after scoring against the St. Louis Blues on March 5, 2008. He went on to score 13 goals for the season, amassing that amount in 73 games. On June 4, 2008, Rafalski helped lead the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup over the Pittsburgh Penguins, Rafalski's third Cup victory. He helped the cause by scoring the first Red Wings goal on the power play in the first period of Game 6 to help Detroit edge Pittsburgh 3–2.

On January 1, 2009, Rafalski scored the game-winning goal for the Red Wings in the 2009 Winter Classic, the first NHL game played outdoors in Red Wings history. The Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 6–4.

On May 5, 2009, Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock announced that Rafalski would miss Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. It was the first time Rafalski missed the first three games of a series. [3] Rafalski finished the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs with three goals and nine assists as the Red Wings came within a game of repeating as Stanley Cup champions, falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On May 25, 2011, Rafalski announced his retirement from the NHL, walking away from the final year of his contract, citing knee and back injuries. [4] Because Rafalski retired on an under-35 contract without being bought out, the move removed his cap hit for the 2011–12 season.

In the 11 NHL seasons that Rafalski played, his team qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs every year. Consequently, Rafalski led all NHL players in playoff games played during the 2000s decade, with 142. [5]

On January 3, 2014, the Florida Everblades of the ECHL signed Rafalski to a contract, his first return to professional hockey since his initial retirement. He expressed a desire to return to the NHL, but was released 18 days after he signed, once again citing back issues. [6]

International play

Medal record
Representing   United States
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Silver medal – second place 2002 Salt Lake City
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Germany

Rafalski represented Team USA at the 2002 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal as the U.S. lost to Canada in the finals.

Rafalski continued to represent the U.S. in international play, playing in both the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Rafalski also played in the 2010 Winter Olympics, serving as alternate captain. He scored two goals and assisted on another in Team USA's 5–3 win over Canada in group-stage play, which ensured the United States would win their group and earn a bye to the quarter-finals. [7] He finished third in the tournament in scoring (first among defensemen) with four goals and four assists. [8] He was also named as the best defenseman of the tournament, as well as being named to the tournament all-star team. [9] Unfortunately, his defensive mistake led to Canada's tournament-winning goal in overtime of the gold medal game. [10]

Awards and honors

Award Year
All- WCHA Rookie Team 1992
All- WCHA First Team 1995
AHCA West First-Team All-American 1995
WCHA Defenseman of the Year 1995
Pekka Rautakallio trophy for best defenseman in the SM-liiga 1997, 1999
Matti Keinonen trophy for best +/- in the SM-liiga 1999
Kultainen kypärä award for best player in the SM-liiga 1999
SM-Liiga Champion 1998
NHL All-Rookie Team 2000
NHL Rookie of the Month February 2000
Stanley Cup champion 2000, 2003, 2008
NHL All-Star 2002, 2004, 2007
USA Hockey Hall of Fame 2014

Personal life

Rafalski and his wife Felicity have three sons — Danny, born in June 1997; Evan, born in October 2000; and Matthew, born in June 2004. [12] [13]

Rafalski has a degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Economics. He has stated that he frequently listens to Glenn Beck.[ citation needed]

Speaking about his retirement, Rafalski said, "This was probably the most challenging season of my career, both physically, mentally and spiritually, but it was also the most rewarding and most blessed...The decision was made between myself and my wife approximately two months ago. We went through a long process of weighing different factors in our lives. At the end of the day it came down to priorities, with the top three priorities being serving God, serving my family and serving others." [14]

Rafalski currently resides in Waupaca, Wisconsin with his family. [15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1989–90 Melvindale Blades NAHL — — — — — — — — — —
1990–91 Madison Capitols USHL 47 12 11 23 28 — — — — —
1991–92 University of Wisconsin–Madison WCHA 34 3 14 17 34 — — — — —
1992–93 University of Wisconsin–Madison WCHA 32 0 13 13 10 — — — — —
1993–94 University of Wisconsin–Madison WCHA 37 6 17 23 26 — — — — —
1994–95 University of Wisconsin–Madison WCHA 43 11 34 45 48 — — — — —
1995–96 Brynäs IF SEL 22 1 8 9 14 — — — — —
1995–96 Brynäs IF Allsv 18 3 6 9 12 9 0 1 1 2
1996–97 HPK SM-l 49 11 24 35 26 10 6 5 11 4
1997–98 HIFK SM-l 40 13 10 23 24 9 5 6 11 0
1998–99 HIFK SM-l 53 19 34 53 18 11 5 9 14 4
1999–00 New Jersey Devils NHL 75 5 27 32 21 23 2 6 8 8
2000–01 New Jersey Devils NHL 78 9 43 52 26 25 7 11 18 7
2001–02 New Jersey Devils NHL 76 7 40 47 18 6 3 2 5 4
2002–03 New Jersey Devils NHL 79 3 37 40 14 23 2 9 11 18
2003–04 New Jersey Devils NHL 69 6 30 36 24 5 0 1 1 0
2005–06 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 6 43 49 36 9 1 8 9 2
2006–07 New Jersey Devils NHL 82 8 47 55 34 11 2 6 8 8
2007–08 Detroit Red Wings NHL 73 13 42 55 34 22 4 10 14 12
2008–09 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 10 49 59 20 18 3 9 12 11
2009–10 Detroit Red Wings NHL 78 8 34 42 26 12 3 8 11 2
2010–11 Detroit Red Wings NHL 63 4 44 48 22 11 2 1 3 4
2013–14 Florida Everblades ECHL 3 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 833 79 436 515 178 165 29 71 100 66

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1992 United States WJC 7 0 1 1 2
1993 United States WJC 7 0 2 2 2
1995 United States WC 5 0 0 0 2
2002 United States OLY 6 1 2 3 2
2004 United States WCH 4 0 3 3 6
2006 United States OLY 5 0 2 2 0
2010 United States OLY 6 4 4 8 2
Junior totals 14 0 3 3 4
Senior totals 26 5 11 16 12

References

  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  2. ^ "Brian Rafalski - Stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  3. ^ "Rafalski out for Red Wings". Detroit Free Press. May 5, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  4. ^ "Red Wings defencemen Rafalski set to retire". The Sports Network. May 23, 2011. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "NHL Players with Most Playoff Games Played in the 2000s".
  6. ^ Brian Rafalski returning to pro hockey with ECHL Florida Everblades
  7. ^ "Canada at United States Game Recap". National Hockey League. February 22, 2010. Archived from the original on December 9, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Scoring Leaders" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. February 28, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  9. ^ a b c "Vancouver Olympics All-Tournament Team". USA Hockey Magazine. February 28, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. ^ "Oral history of 2010 gold-medal game". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
  11. ^ "Brian Rafalski elected to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame". Detroit Free Press. August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  12. ^ "2010-11 Detroit Red Wings Media Guide" (PDF). Detroit Red Wings. October 2, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
  13. ^ "2010 U.S. Olympic Team Fact Sheet". Teamusa.org. February 4, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  14. ^ "Red Wings' Brian Rafalski retires with three Stanley Cups". usatoday.com. May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  15. ^ Staff. "U.S. Team athletes for 2002 Winter Games", Deseret Morning News, January 30, 2002. Accessed October 18, 2015.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by WCHA Defensive Player of the Year
1994–95 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Pekka Rautakallio trophy
1996–97 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Pekka Rautakallio trophy
1998–99 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Kultainen kypärä trophy
1998–99 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Winner of the Matti Keinonen trophy
1998–99 		Succeeded by
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