Ruben Rafkin
Ruben Rafkin | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Turku, Finland | 8 January 2002||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
Position | Defense | ||
Shoots | Right | ||
Liiga team Former teams |
HC TPS Tappara Örebro HK | ||
NHL draft | Undrafted | ||
Playing career | 2020–present |
Ruben Rafkin (born 8 January 2002) is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenceman for HC TPS of the Liiga.
Playing career
Rafkin was drafted 14th overall by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2019 CHL Import Draft.[1] He recorded four goals and 27 assists in 59 games for the Spitfires.[2] On April 3, 2020, Rafkin signed a two-year contract with HC TPS of the Finnish Liiga.[3] He made his professional debut for TPS during the 2020–21 season.[4]
During the 2024–25 season, Rafkin transferred from the Liiga following 33 appearances with Tappara to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) in joining Örebro HK on 6 February 2025.[5] He played out the season, notching 2 assists through 12 games.
On 21 May 2025, Rafkin returned to his original club, HC TPS of the Liiga, agreeing to a one-year contract for the 2025–26 season.[6]
International play
Medal record | ||
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Ice hockey | ||
Representing ![]() | ||
World Junior Championships | ||
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2022 Canada | |
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2021 Canada |
Rafkin represented Finland at the 2021 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships where he appeared in one game and won a bronze medal. [7] He will again represent Finland at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[8]
Personal life
Rafkin is of Finnish and Russian-Jewish descent. His paternal great-grandfather had moved from Russia to Vyborg. He is the grandson of Dennis Rafkin, a Finnish businessman and the founder and the owner of Pizzeria Dennis restaurant chain.[9]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
2018–19 | Tri-City Storm | USHL | 38 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2019–20 | Windsor Spitfires | OHL | 59 | 4 | 27 | 31 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2020–21 | TPS | Liiga | 48 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 36 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
2021–22 | TPS | Liiga | 52 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 100 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | ||
2022–23 | TPS | Liiga | 39 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2023–24 | TPS | Liiga | 57 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 79 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
2024–25 | Tappara | Liiga | 33 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2024–25 | Örebro HK | SHL | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
Liiga totals | 229 | 14 | 56 | 70 | 265 | 40 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 18 |
International
Year | T1eam | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Finland | U17 | ![]() |
6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | |
2019 | Finland | HG18 | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
2021 | Finland | WJC | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2022 | Finland | WJC | ![]() |
7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | |
Junior totals | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 20 |
References
- ^ Parker, Jim (27 June 2019). "Spitfires land a defenceman with a little moxie in physical Finn Rafkin". Windsor Star. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Parker, Jim (29 June 2020). "Spitfires retain rights to Rafkin ahead of selection in CHL Import Draft". Windsor Star. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Parker, Jim (3 April 2020). "Rafkin joins Piiroinen in leaving Spitfires to play at home in Finland". Windsor Star. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Fischer, John (25 May 2020). "Ruben Rafkin: 2020 NHL Draft Prospect Profile; Well-Traveled Defender". allaboutthejersey.com. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Finnish defender joins OHK" (in Swedish). Örebro HK. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- ^ "Ruben Rafkin returns to TPS" (in Finnish). HC TPS. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
- ^ Merk, Martin (9 December 2020). "Players battle for World Juniors ticket". IIHF.com. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Kimelman, Adam (8 December 2021). "Sweden announces roster for 2022 World Junior Championship". NHL.com. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Ikäluokkansa kovimpiin kuuluva suomalaislupaus Ruben Rafkin matkalla Yhdysvaltain juniorisarjaan, jatkoaika.com, 12 July 2016
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database