Brian Rafalski

Brian Rafalski (born the September 28th 1973 with Dearborn in the Michigan with the the United States) is a professional player of Hockey in North America. It evolves/moves since the season 2007-2008 as a defender for the Red Wings de Détroit of the National league of hockey.

Career in club

Before the LNH

Rafalski starts to play hockey in 1990 then plays during four years in the university championship for the Université of Wisconsin (Wisconsin Badgers) and finally leads its team to the victory championship with 45 points in 43 meetings. It receives many honors then (it is amongst other things named defender of the year) and is named on the team of the best players of the championship.

In 1995-96, it joined the club of Brynäs IF in the championship of Sweden but will not play which 22 matches before joining the championship of Finland (Sm-liiga) and the club of HPK Hämeenlinna. The year according to, it joined the HIFK Helsinki where it will spend two seasons. The first year, it gains with its club the championship of Finland. At the time of the second year, it gains the Kultainen kypärä, better player of the season according to his pars, becoming the first foreigner to receive this reward.

Career in the LNH

May 7th, 1999, Rafalski signs an agreement with the Devils of the New Jersey as a free agent whereas it is 26 years old at the beginning of the season. It finishes the season with 32 points and is best the defensive recruit on the level of + (+21). This year, Devils and Rafalski gain the Coupe Stanley with a goal of the defender in the fourth match of the final series against the Stars. In company of Scott Gum, it is named in the team of the recruits of the season.

The following season, with 52 points, it is the best pointer of the team and with 18 points during the eliminatory Séries it becomes the best pointer among the defenders of the history of the league, this in spite of the defeat of its team finally of the cut against the Avalanche of Colorado.

In 2003, it gains once again the Stanley Cut with Devils.

With the departure of Scott Stevens with the retirement and that of Scott Niedermayer with the Mighty Ducks d' Anaheim, he is then the owner of the defense of the players of Lou Lamoriello until July 1st, 2007. Free agent, it joined the Red Wings de Détroit to replace Mathieu Schneider within defense.

Trophy and honors

1995 - Defender of year (WCHA) - First team of stars (WCHA) - First team of the West (NCAA)
1997 - Trophy Pekka Rautakallio of the best defender (Sm-liiga)
1999 - Trophy Matti Keinonen (better ratio +), trophy Pekka Rautakallio and Kultainen kypärä of the best player of the league (Sm-liiga)
1999-00 - Recruit of February, selected in the team of best the recruits of the League and victorious of the Cut Stanley (LNH)
2003-04 - Selected for the match of stars of the league (Conference Is). He will not play because of a wound.
2003-04 - Victorious of the Cut Stanley (LNH)

Statistical

International career

For the Olympic Games of 2002 with Salt Lake City (), it has fact left the team of the United States which gains the medal of argent.
It is also selected for the World cup of hockey 2004 and OJ of 2006 with Turin (Italy).

See too

References

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