Brian Rafalski

Brian Christopher Rafalski (born September 28, 1973) is an American former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played parts of 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings. He also played for HPK and HIFK of the SM-liiga and Brynäs IF of the Elitserien.

Rafalski had a very successful career. He is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, winning with the Devils in 2000 and 2003 and with the Red Wings in 2008. He is also an three-time All-Star, one-time Kanada-malja champion with HIFK, and was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.^[1]

Internationally, he played for the United States and is a two-time silver medal winner with them, winning silver at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics.

Before playing in the NHL, Rafalski played four years with the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference (B1G), two seasons with Brynäs IF of the Elitserien, one season with HPK and two seasons with HIFK of the SM-liiga. He had a successful time in college and Europe. He won the Kanada-malja championship with HIFK in 1998, the Pekka Rautakallio trophy in 1997 and 1999 for best defenseman in the SM-liiga, and both the Kultainen kypärä award for best player in the SM-liiga and Matti Keinonen trophy for best +/- in 1999.

He was not drafted by an NHL team. On May 7, 1999, Rafalski signed a contract to join the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL).^[2] On October 2, 1999, he made his NHL debut in a 4–1 win against the Atlanta Thrashers.^[3] On October 7, he recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a Brian Rolston goal in a 7–5 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins.^[4] On October 29, Rafalski scored his first NHL goal against Artūrs Irbe in a 4–2 win against the Carolina Hurricanes.^[5] He helped the Devils during that playoffs, defeating the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Philadelphia Flyers. They defeated the Dallas Stars four games to two in the Finals to win the Stanley Cup.^[6] He also helped the Devils during the playoffs the next year, defeating the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Pittsburgh Penguins. They were defeated by the Colorado Avalanche four games to three in the Finals.^[7] During the 2001–02 season, he was selected to play in the All-Star Game but had to sit out because of injury.^[8] He helped the Devils during that playoffs, defeating the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Ottawa Senators. They defeated the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim four games to three in the Finals to win the Stanley Cup.^[9]

On July 1, 2007, Rafalski signed a five-year, $30 million contract to join the Detroit Red Wings.^[10] He helped the Red Wings during that playoffs, defeating the Nashville Predators, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars. They defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins four games to two in the Finals to win the Stanley Cup.^[11]

On On May 25, 2011, Rafalski announced that he was retiring from playing professional ice hockey because of injuries.^[12]

On January 3, 2014, Rafalski came out of retirement and signed a contract with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.^[13] He only played 3 games with them, recording 1 assist.

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database