Brian Rafalski

Brian Rafalski
Born	(1973-09-28) September 28, 1973 Dearborn, MI, USA
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight	191 lb (87 kg; 13 st 9 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Right
Played for	NHL: New Jersey Devils Detroit Red Wings SEL: Brynäs IF SM-l: Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho Helsingin IFK
National team	United States
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1995–2011

Brian Christopher Rafalski (born September 28, 1973) is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 15 professional ice hockey seasons for five teams: 11 in the National Hockey League for two teams (New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings), three in SM-liiga for two teams (Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho and Helsingin IFK) prior to entering the NHL, and one in Elitserien for Brynäs IF. After struggling to enter the NHL, spending four seasons in European leagues, Rafalski won the Stanley Cup three times, playing in five Stanley Cup finals in his NHL career (2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009.) Rafalski also played for the United States men's ice hockey team in three Olympic ice hockey tournaments (2002, 2006, and 2010).

Playing career

High School

Rafalski played for the Madison Capitals of the USHL and scored 23 points with 12 goals and 11 assists

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. 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, Rafalski travelled overseas. He spent the 1995-1996 season with Brynäs IF of the Swedish elite league. After scoring only 9 points in 22 games in Sweden, he then moved to Finland. He played a season for HPK of the SM-liiga, and scored 35 points. He travelled 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, which is the SM-liiga trophy for best player as voted by his fellow players. Notably, he also became the first non-Finnish player to win the award.

NHL career

Rafalski on the New Jersey Devils

Rafalski was named by the 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. He was 26 years of age at the start of the 1999–2000 NHL season, somewhat older than most rookies, but with four seasons in strong European leagues already under his belt.

As soon as he arrived in New Jersey, Rafalski was teamed with Devils captain Scott Stevens. The two would remain as mainstay defensive partners for five years, until Stevens' retirement in 2004. He finished the season with 32 points. He led all rookie defensemen in plus-minus with a +21 rating, second among Devils defensemen and tied for first for all rookies. Rafalski helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup that year. Along with Calder Trophy winning teammate Scott Gomez, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

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

In the 2001–02 NHL season, Rafalski continued his scoring ways with 47 points. He was selected to participate in the NHL 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 with a seven-game win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in June 2003.

On July 1, 2007, the Detroit Red Wings signed Rafalski to a $30 million, five-year contract. Rafalski had grown up in nearby Dearborn and had been a Red Wings fan for most of his life. He has been teamed with another legendary defenseman, Nicklas Lidstrom.

Rafalski set a career high in goals (11) after scoring against the St. Louis Blues on March 5, 2008. He would go on to score 13 goals for the season, amassing that amount in 73 games. On June 4, 2008, Rafalski helped lead the Wings to the Stanley Cup, the third in his career. He helped out the cause by scoring the first Red Wings' goal on the powerplay in the first period to help them defeat the Penguins 3-2 in game 6.

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 by a score of 6-4.

On May 5, 2009, Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock announced 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. 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.

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. 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 post season every year.

International career

Medal record
Representing United States
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
	2002 Salt Lake City
	2010 Vancouver

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

He has continued to represent America in international play, playing in both the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Rafalski played in the 2010 Winter Olympics while filling in as the United States' alternate captain. He scored two goals and assisted on another in the 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 quarterfinals. He finished third in the tournament in scoring (first among defencemen) with four goals and four assists. He was named as the best defenceman of the tournament as well as being named to the tournament all-star team.

Awards and achievements

• 1995 – Western Collegiate Hockey Association Defenseman of the Year
• 1995 – Western Collegiate Hockey Association First All-Star Team
• 1995 – NCAA West First All-Star Team
• 1997 – Pekka Rautakallio trophy for best defenseman in the SM-liiga
• 1999 – Matti Keinonen trophy for best +/- in the SM-liiga
• 1999 – Pekka Rautakallio trophy for best defenseman in the SM-liiga
• 1999 – Kultainen kypärä award for best player in the SM-liiga
• 1999–2000 – NHL All-Rookie Team
• 1999–2000 – NHL Rookie of the Month for February
• 1999–2000 – Won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils
• 2002–03 – Won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils
• 2003–04 – Played in NHL All-Star Game (starter for Eastern Conference)
• 2006–07 – Played in the 55th National Hockey League All Star Game
• 2007–08 – Won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings
• Best Defenceman of the 2010 Olympic hockey tournament
• All-star selection of the 2010 Olympic hockey tournament

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.

Danny has followed in his father's athletic footsteps, playing goalkeeper for his high school soccer team and midfield in lacrosse, and hopes to make a career out his athletic prowess with support from his father, family, friends, and Boyfriend, Klide.

Rafalski is from Dearborn, MI. He has a degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison in Economics. On a similar note, Rafalski has said during an interview that he is a political buff and frequently listens to Glenn Beck and other talk show hosts, with notable stances taken on issues such as taxation.

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."

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season							Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
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	Swe.1		18	3	6	9	—	12		9	0	1	1	—	2
1995–96	Brynäs IF	SEL		22	1	8	9	—	14		—	—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	HPK	SM-l		49	11	24	35	24	26		10	6	5	11	—	4
1997–98	HIFK	SM-l		40	13	10	23	0	24		9	5	6	11	—	0
1998–99	HIFK	SM-l		53	19	34	53	38	18		11	5	9	14	—	4
1999–00	New Jersey Devils	NHL		75	5	27	32	21	28		23	2	6	8	5	8
2000–01	New Jersey Devils	NHL		78	9	43	52	36	26		25	7	11	18	10	7
2001–02	New Jersey Devils	NHL		76	7	40	47	15	18		6	3	2	5	−2	4
2002–03	New Jersey Devils	NHL		79	3	37	40	18	14		23	2	9	11	7	18
2003–04	New Jersey Devils	NHL		69	6	30	36	6	24		5	0	1	1	0	0
2005–06	New Jersey Devils	NHL		82	6	43	49	0	36		9	1	8	9	3	2
2006–07	New Jersey Devils	NHL		82	8	47	55	4	34		11	2	6	8	−1	8
2007–08	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		73	13	42	55	27	34		22	4	10	14	6	12
2008–09	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		78	10	49	59	17	20		18	3	9	12	11	11
2009–10	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		78	8	34	42	23	26		12	3	8	11	4	2
2010–11	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		63	4	44	48	11	22		11	2	1	3	−1	4
SM-liiga totals				142	43	68	111	—	68		30	16	20	36	—	8
NHL totals				833	79	436	515	178	282		165	29	71	100	42	66

International

Year	Team	Comp	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	OG	6	1	2	3	2
2004	United States	WCH	4	0	3	3	6
2006	United States	OG	5	0	2	2	0
2010	United States	OG	6	4	4	8	2
Junior int'l totals			14	0	3	3	4
Senior int'l totals			26	5	11	16	12

External links

• Brian Rafalski career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Rafalski's U.S. Olympic Team bio