Tatiana Rafter

Tatiana Rafter (born February 27, 1992) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and retired forward. During her playing career, she played in the European Women's Hockey League (EWHL), the Zhenskaya Hockey League (ZhHL), and the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL).

Tatiana Rafter
Born (1992-02-27) February 27, 1992
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 163 lb (74 kg; 11 st 9 lb)
Position Forward
Shot Right
Played for Hvidovre IK
SK Gorny Ukhta
Metropolitan Riveters
Buffalo Beauts
UBC Thunderbirds
Playing career 2010–2020
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Women's ice hockey
Universiade
Gold medal – first place2013 Trentino

Career

From 2010 to 2015, she attended the University of British Columbia (UBC) and played with the UBC Thunderbirds of Canada West, notching 116 points in 129 U Sports games. In 2014, she became the first UBC player in history to be named Canada West Player of the Year.[1]

After graduating, she initially held conversations with the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women's Hockey League about playing with the team, however, when the NWHL was formed that summer, she took the chance to join the new league and signed with the Buffalo Beauts.[2] She scored 3 points in 18 games in her rookie professional season.[3][4] Although she didn't attend the game as a player, she served as Master of Ceremonies for the Skills Competition of the 1st NWHL All-Star Game.[5]

After one year in Buffalo, she signed with the New York Riveters.[6][7] She would more than double her point production in the 2016–17 season, up to 7 points in 18 games. She stayed with the Riveters for the 2017–18 season, winning the Isobel Cup with the team.[8][9]

Ahead of the 2018–19 season, she left the NWHL with the intention of joining the CWHL, hoping to make a push to make the Canadian national team roster for the 2022 Winter Olympics. However, she would end up moving to Russia, signing with SK Gorny of the ZhHL.[10] She scored 21 points in 31 games in her debut ZhHL season, third on the team in scoring and was named to the 2019 ZhHL All-Star Game.

In 2019, she was named head coach of the Hvidovre IK women's team in Denmark. While serving as the club's head coach, she would make a handful of appearances, notably scoring four goals in six EWHL games during the 2019–20 season.

After the end of the season, she retired from professional play and returned to Canada, back to her native city of Winnipeg. She currently serves as head coach of the Interlake Lightning girls' U18 AAA team.[11][12]

International career

Rafter represented Canada at the 2013 Winter Universiade, scoring 15 points in 7 games as the country won gold, good for sixth in tournament in scoring.[13]

Awards and honors
  • 2012-13 Canada West Second-Team All-Star[14]

Personal life

In December 2015, she hosted a charity shinny game along with her brother, Maverick, in order to raise funds for Manitoban junior player Braden Pettinger, who had been paralysed after suffering an injury in an MJHL match in November.[15][16]

She has a tattoo on her ankle of an arch of seven stars and a crown, matching the Beauts' logo, to commemorate her role as one of the original NWHL players.[17]

References
  1. "2014-15 Women's Hockey Roster: #13 Tatiana Rafter". University of British Columbia Athletics. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  2. Rafter, Tatiana (April 20, 2016). "From the Rafter: How I Became a Pro Hockey Player". Stanley Cup of Chowder. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  3. Staffieri, Mark (November 9, 2015). "Tatiana Rafter proud to make impact with Buffalo Beauts". Women's Hockey Life. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  4. Rice, Dan (February 11, 2016). "Tatiana Rafter: My Life as a Pro, Behind the Scenes". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  5. Staffieri, Mark (February 3, 2016). "Tatiana Rafter Defines Essence of Teamwork at Memorable NWHL All-Star Game". Women's Hockey Life. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  6. Murphy, Mike (September 10, 2016). "Tatiana Rafter Must Find Scoring Touch With Riveters". Today's SlapShot. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  7. Rafter, Tatiana (August 12, 2016). "Rafter Speaks on NWHL Promoting Female Role Models". Stanley Cup of Chowder. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  8. McIntyre, Mike (June 11, 2018). "Rafter enjoying life after championship win". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  9. Rice, Dan (February 5, 2018). "Metropolitan Riveters: Tatiana Rafter's Riveting Season". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  10. Murphy, Mike (August 23, 2018). "Tatiana Rafter signs in Russia". The Ice Garden. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  11. Brooks, Carter (October 23, 2020). "Ready to Give Birth, Winnipeg's Tatiana Rafter Carries On With Coaching". Game On Hockey. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  12. Leslie, Nate (February 18, 2016). "Tatiana Rafter: 1st Professional Women's League Star joins LGS!". Leslie Global Sports. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  13. Tait, Ed (December 21, 2013). "Winnipeggers help Canada to gold medal". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  14. "2012-13 Canada West women's hockey major awards and all-stars announced". universitysport.prestosports.com. February 27, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  15. "Siblings host game of shinny to raise money for injured hockey player". CBC News. December 22, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  16. Staffieri, Mark (December 7, 2015). "Tatiana Rafter Gives Back to the Community with Charitable Hockey Match". Women's Hockey Life. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  17. Huang, Jenn (July 21, 2017). "Rink Ink: Q&A with Tatiana Rafter". The Ice Garden. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
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