Friday Feature: Tatiana Rafter Signs at Deadline

Rafter and young Beauts fans after Game 2 of the Isobel Cup Final Credit (Jessica Ayala/MyWSports)

In case you missed it, the first free agency period for the National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) came right down to the wire! Chad Wiseman, returning Head Coach and newly named General Manager of the New York Riveters, started free agency by acquiring two players from the Connecticut Whale (Kaleigh Fratkin and Jaimie Leonoff). He continued by signing Amanda Kessel and ended with a bang by grabbing Tatiana Rafter, formerly of the Buffalo Beauts.

Rafter was the last player signing announced just as the free agency window closed on July 31st. In addition to the late night announcement, Twitter was buzzing hours earlier with the news that Rafter was heading to Sweden. Tatiana wrote an excellent piece for Stanley Cup of Chowder about her free agency experience. In the piece, Rafter penned that, as of July 19th, she hadn’t heard from her former team, nor any other team in the NWHL. She opened up about being anxious and doubting her ability. However, Rafter knew better than to stay stuck in those feelings:

“The last couple weeks especially, I have been battling with the fact I haven’t signed with an organization for the upcoming season and have dedicated so much time and effort to reach that point … Through all the reflection I have done I have landed on the belief that the most important thing to push through a re-signing period is patience. I've come to realize that even though I haven't been picked up in a quick, clean ‘seal the deal’ fashion, that doesn't take away from the talent, work ethic and personality that I bring to the rink. It doesn't change who I am or what I offer as a player.”

Welcome to New York/New Jersey

As fate would have it, Rafter was burdened with the choice to move to Sweden or New York for her second professional hockey season. In an interview with MyWSports, Rafter discussed her decision to sign with the Riveters.

“It was a bit out of the blue,” stated Rafter in reference to her offer from Wiseman. Although she had discussed, in general terms, her willingness to stay with the NWHL, she was in steady conversations with a club in Sweden the weeks leading up to July 31st. However, on the last day of free agency, Rafter found herself with two offers, and the clock winding down, “I had to make a decision that day. Chad gave me an offer and I had to weigh out, should I go to Sweden … or change my plan a bit and go to New York? At this point in my life, New York was a better fit, so I signed with the Riveters.”

With her decision made and her contract signed, Tatiana is now ready to return for her second season. This year, Rafter feels she has a better understanding of what to expect, “Now that I have (one year) under my belt, I’m really motivated and I have a different kind of outlook on this season. I’ve felt it out already and I have more confidence going into this season, and a bit of a different mindset.”

Rafter helped Buffalo reach the Isobel Cup Final (Luis Sanchez/MyWSports)

Rafter took the offseason to set new goals and take a different approach to training. “I’m looking forward to seeing how these new changes impact my game, both mentally and physically.” Rafter has been able to get on the ice this summer and work on her quickness and decision-making during the offseason. Tatiana noted that good foot speed and power have been a focus, so she can maintain an explosive first stride. Additionally, Rafter has focused on shooting, particularly being able to get off a shot quickly. This has led her to experiment with a different flex on her stick

Having been apart of the first New York team, the Buffalo Beauts, to make it to the Isobel Cup final, Rafter also has her sights set on returning to the championship series. However, she noted that in order to reach the Isobel Cup final, the Riveters will have to be successful, everyday, at three main things; unity, trust and consistency. “Whatever happens in the season, if we as a unit trust, believe in each other and buy into the system,“ shared Rafter, “we’ll see some really good results.” For now, that preparation includes securing housing in New Jersey with a few of her new teammates.

The Riveters in Review

With only six returning Riveters to the roster, Wiseman will have the opportunity to recreate the identity of his team. Captains Ashley Johnston, Morgan Fritz-Ward and Madison Packer return, along with Janine Weber, Kiira Dosdall and Bray Ketchum. Rafter joins Leonoff & Fratkin as NWHL veterans joining the Riveters this season.

The remainder of the roster is [1] new to the league. From the college draft, defenders Courtney Burke (Wisconsin) and Milica McMillen (Minnesota), as well as forwards Miye D’Oench (Harvard) and Alexa Gruschow (RPI) join the team. Rebecca Russo (Boston University) was signed after the first 2016 Free Agent Camp. Kessel and Michelle Picard are both former Olympians signed as free agents.

Korean goaltender Sojung Shin is currently on the roster for New York, but there are reports that she will not join the team right away, if at all. It will be Katie Fitzgerald of St. Cloud State University that will report this week as the additional netminder for New York. Mick Hatten of the St. Cloud Times reported that the acquisition of a new goalie coach sealed the deal for Fitzgerald, “We chatted week-to-week for a while. Then I found out that (The Riveters) had hired Becca Baker, who was our goalie coach the last two years … I just thought it would be incredible to move on to professional from college …”

All in all, it seems like the players are anticipating the upcoming season for the Riveters, who will play at the Barnabas Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey. The new location for the Riveters was host to the 2016 Isobel Cup Final and the Free Agent Camp attended by Rebecca Russo prior to her signing in late June.

“We have a really good group of girls and I’m looking forward to seeing what we do, and ultimately, we want to win the Isobel Cup.” shared Tatiana. The journey to the playoffs will begin as the players arrive to the Tri-State area in the coming days. Next month, the Riveters will suit up for two preseason matches against team Russia. Lyumila Beylakova will represent her country against a few of her old teammates.

As for Rafter, she is excited to join the team and meet a new groups of fans, “I’m very excited to meet them. I’ve already gotten some messages and some excitement there. So, I’m really looking forward to interacting with a new fan base.”

However, Tatiana was also very grateful for all the appreciation she and her team received in Buffalo, “The Beauts fans are absolutely fantastic. I had so much fun in Buffalo, and a big part of that was the atmosphere and the support … I would like to say thank you to them for all the support I received.”

Although Rafter herself joked about the notion of having beauts supports be Rafter fans, I have a feeling Tatiana will be welcomed wherever she plays this season and beyond. Catch Tatiana and the Riveters in action as they take on Team Russia September 25th at Barnabas Health Hockey House and September 26th at Mennen Arena.

The Riveters will open the season in Rafter’s old stomping ground as they take on defending Isobel Cup Champions, the Boston Pride on October 8th at the HarborCenter. New York will host the Connecticut Whale for the home opener on October 16th.