About Brian Rafalski
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 as a free agent with the Devils, Rafalski played in five Stanley Cup Finals during the 2000s, his first three with the Devils and his last two with the Red Wings. Of the five Finals he played in, he won three Stanley Cups, his first two with the Devils in 2000 and 2003, and his last with the Red Wings in 2008. Rafalski also played for the United States national team in three Olympic ice hockey tournaments (2002, 2006, and 2010), winning silver in 2002 and 2010 after losing to Canada in the gold medal games in both years. == 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. 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. === 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.
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