Shoots Right Position Forward | Height 1.78 m | |
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Born February 27, 1992 (age 25)Winnipeg, MB, Canada ( 1992-02-27 ) NWHL teamFormer teams New York Riveters (2016-present)UBC Thunderbirds (2010-15)Buffalo Beauts (2015-16) | ||
Tatiana Rafter' is a Canadian women’s ice hockey player with the New York Riveters of the NWHL. She was a member of the Canadian national women’s team that won a gold medal at the 2013 Winter Universiade.
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CIS
With the UBC Thunderbirds, she became the first player in program history to be named Canada West Player of the Year. Obtaining the honor in 2014, Rafter was not only the leading scorer for the Thunderbirds, she paced all players in the Canada West conference in goals (20), assists (18), points (38), power play goals (9), shorthanded goals (2), and game winning goals (6).
Of note, Rafter was also the Thunderbirds leading scorer in 2013 and 2015. In the aftermath of the 2012–13 campaign, she compiled 13 goals and 10 assists, along with seven goals and five assists in 10 playoff games. During said campaign, she was selected to play for the Canadian women’s ice hockey team that participated at the 2013 Winter Universiade. Along with Thunderbirds teammate Christi Capozzi, the two contributed towards Canada winning the gold medal.
The last goal of her Thunderbirds career came on February 27, 2015 in a postseason match against the Manitoba Bisons. Gaining the assists on said goal were Sarah Casorso and Stephanie Schaupmeyer. The following day, she would register her last career point with the Thunderbirds, an assist against Manitoba. Rafter would finish the 2014–15 season as the third leading scorer in Canada West play with 29 points. Of note, she would lead UBC in goals, assists and points, while placing on the Canada West Second-Team All-Stars. Rafter would graduate from UBC in 2015 with 116 career points, on the strength of 61 goals.
NWHL
During the NWHL’s inaugural season, she was a member of the Buffalo Beauts, signing a player contract on the same day as fellow Canadian and Manitoba resident Shelby Bram. Appearing in 17 regular season games, Rafter registered two goals and one assist. In the postseason, Rafter appeared in the inaugural Isobel Cup Finals with the Beauts, which was won by the Boston Pride.
On July 31, 2016, Rafter signed with the New York Riveters as a free agent.
Awards and honors
Personal
In December 2015, Rafter and her brother Maverick organized a fund raiser for hockey player Braden Pettinger, who was paralyzed in a junior hockey match in the province of Manitoba. Titled the Rafter’s Christmas Classic, the fundraiser included a charity hockey match featuring both men’s and women’s players.