Brian rafalski biography

American ice hockey player (born 1973)

Ice hockey player

Brian Christopher Rafalski (born September 28, 1973) is an American former professional ice hockeydefenseman.

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.

Rafa