Sports
Brian Rafalski
born 1973 · ice hockey defenseman
Dearborn-born defenseman, an undrafted free agent who signed with his hometown Red Wings in 2007 and won the Stanley Cup with them in 2008.
- Born
Dearborn, Michigan
age 52- Birth name
- Brian Christopher Rafalski
- Detroit years
- 2007–2011
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Rafalski grew up in Dearborn as a Red Wings fan, went undrafted out of college, and built his game in Finland and Sweden before breaking into the NHL with New Jersey in 1999, winning two Stanley Cups there. In July 2007 he signed a five-year, $30 million deal to come home and play for the team he had cheered for as a boy. The next June he helped the Red Wings beat Pittsburgh for the 2008 Stanley Cup, scoring the opening power-play goal of the series-clinching Game 6, his third championship overall and first with his hometown team. He returned to the Finals with Detroit again in 2009, this time losing to Pittsburgh in seven games. Rafalski played his entire Red Wings career at Joe Louis Arena before retiring in 2011 because of chronic back and hip injuries.
Highlights
- Born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan; grew up a Red Wings fan
- Signed with Detroit as a free agent in 2007 after two Stanley Cups with New Jersey
- Won the 2008 Stanley Cup with his hometown Red Wings
- Scored the game-winning goal in the Red Wings' first outdoor game, the 2009 Winter Classic
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 2007–2011
Joe Louis Arena
Demolished · 1979–2017
His entire Red Wings home ice, including the 2008 championship season; demolished in 2019.
Lived here · 1970s–1990s
Dearborn (childhood home)
Status being checked
The Detroit suburb where Rafalski was born and raised as a Red Wings fan.