Brian Rafalski Brian Christopher Rafalski ( born September 28 , 1973 ) is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 15 professional ice hockey seasons for five teams : 11 in the National Hockey League for two teams ( New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings ) , three in SM - liiga for two teams ( Hämeenlinnan Pallokerho and Helsingin IFK ) prior to entering the NHL , and one in Elitserien for Brynäs IF . After struggling to enter the NHL , spending four seasons in European leagues , Rafalski won the Stanley Cup three times , playing in five Stanley Cup finals in his NHL career ( 2000 , 2001 , 2003 , 2008 , 2009 . ) Rafalski also played for the United States men ' s ice hockey team in three Olympic ice hockey tournaments ( 2002 , 2006 , and 2010 ) . Playing career . High School . Rafalski played for the Madison Capitals of the USHL and 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 . He won several awards that season ; he was named to the WCHA First All - Star Team , the NCAA West All - Star Team , and the WCHA Defenseman of the Year . With no immediate NHL prospects , Rafalski travelled overseas . He spent the 1995 - 1996 season with Brynäs IF of the Swedish elite league . After scoring only 9 points in 22 games in Sweden , he then moved to Finland . He played a season for HPK of the SM - liiga , and scored 35 points . He travelled to HIFK in 1997 , where he spent two successful years . In his final year in Finland , he scored 19 goals and 53 points in 53 games , and won the Kultainen kypärä , which is the SM - liiga trophy for best player as voted by his fellow players . Notably , he also became the first non - Finnish player to win the award . NHL career . Rafalski was named by the Sporting News in 1999 as the best hockey player in the world not playing in the NHL . On May 7 , 1999 , Rafalski was signed by the New Jersey Devils as a free agent . He was 26 years of age at the start of the 1999 – 2000 NHL season , much older than most rookies , but with four seasons in strong European leagues already under his belt . As soon as he arrived in New Jersey , Rafalski was teamed with Devils captain Scott Stevens . The two would remain together for five years , until Stevens ' retirement in 2004 . He finished the season with 32 points . He led all rookie defensemen in plus - minus with a + 21 rating , second among Devils defensemen and tied for first for all rookies . Rafalski helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup that year . Along with Calder Trophy winning teammate Scott Gomez , he was named to the NHL All - Rookie Team . Rafalski improved his production in his sophomore season , as he scored 52 points . His 18 points during the playoffs set a team record for defensemen , although the Devils lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Finals . In the 2001 – 02 NHL season , Rafalski continued his scoring ways with 47 points . He was selected to participate in the NHL All - Star Game , but was forced to sit out due to injury . The next season , he once again led all Devils defensemen in scoring with 40 points . He was a vital part of a Devils defense that helped the team win the Stanley Cup again with a seven - game win over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in June 2003 . On July 1 , 2007 , the Detroit Red Wings signed Rafalski to a $ 30 million , five - year contract . Rafalski had grown up in nearby Dearborn and had been a Red Wings fan for most of his life . He has been teamed with another legendary defenseman , Nicklas Lidstrom . Rafalski set a career high in goals ( 11 ) after scoring against the St . Louis Blues on March 5 , 2008 . He would go on to score 13 goals for the season , amassing that amount in 73 games . On June 4 , 2008 , Rafalski helped lead the Wings to the Stanley Cup , the third in his career . He helped out the cause by scoring the first Red Wings ' goal on the powerplay in the first period to help them defeat the Penguins 3 - 2 in game 6 . On January 1 , 2009 , Rafalski scored the game winning goal for the Red Wings in the 2009 Winter Classic , the first NHL game played outdoors in Red Wings history . The Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 6 - 4 . On May 5 , 2009 , Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock announced Rafalski would miss Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi - Finals . It was the first time Rafalski missed the first three games of a series . Rafalski finished the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs with three goals and nine assists as the Red Wings came within a game of repeating as Stanley Cup champions . On May 25 , 2011 , Rafalski announced his retirement from the NHL , walking away from the final year of his contract , citing knee and back injuries . Because Rafalski retired on an under - 35 contract without being bought out , the move removed his cap hit for the season . International career . Rafalski represented Team USA at the 2002 Winter Olympics , winning a silver medal as the US lost to Canada in the finals . He has continued to represent America in international play , playing in both the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and the 2006 Winter Olympics . Rafalski played in the 2010 Winter Olympics while filling in as the United States ' alternate captain . He scored two goals and assisted on another in the USA ' s 5 - 3 win over Canada in group - stage play , which ensured the United States would win their group and earn a bye to the quarterfinals . He finished third in the tournament in scoring ( first among defencemen ) with four goals and four assists . He was named as the best defenceman of the tournament as well as being named to the tournament all - star team . Personal life . Rafalski and his wife Felicity have three sons ; Danny , born in June 1997 , Evan , born in October 2000 , and Matthew , born in June 2004 . Rafalski is from Dearborn , MI . He has a degree from University of Wisconsin - Madison in Economics . On a similar note , Rafalski has said during an interview that he is a political buff and frequently listens to Glenn Beck and other talk show hosts , with notable stances taken on issues such as taxation . " This was probably the most challenging season of my career , both physically , mentally and spiritually , but it was also the most rewarding and most blessed , " Rafalski said . " The decision was made between myself and my wife approximately two months ago . We went through a long process of weighing different factors in our lives . At the end of the day it came down to priorities , with the top three priorities being serving God , serving my family and serving others . " ( http : / / www . usatoday . com / sports / hockey / nhl / 2011 - 05 - 25 - brian - rafalski - retires _ N . htm ) Career statistics . International . " This was probably the most challenging season of my career , both physically , mentally and spiritually , but it was also the most rewarding and most blessed , " Rafalski said . " The decision was made between myself and my wife approximately two months ago . We went through a long process of weighing different factors in our lives . At the end of the day it came down to priorities , with the top three priorities being serving God , serving my family and serving others . " ( http : / / www . usatoday . com / sports / hockey / nhl / 2011 - 05 - 25 - brian - rafalski - retires _ N . htm )