Tatiana Rafter Signs with the Riveters

Late last night with the free agency signing deadline closing in the Riveters agreed to terms with former Buffalo Beaut Tatiana Rafter.

Rafter signed a one-year, $16,500 contract to take the final roster spot on New York. The Riveters now have their complete 17 woman roster and now only need to figure out their six-player practice squad. The announcement of that squad likely won’t be coming until September.

• Tatiana Rafter’s SB Nation blog “From the Rafter” on Stanley Cup of Chowder

From the NWHL’s press release:

“Tatiana is a big power forward with great speed,” said Wiseman. “Put with the right players, we believe Tatiana can have a breakout year offensively this season.”

Rafter played in 17 regular season games with the Buffalo Beauts last season, scoring 3 points (2g, 1a). She also played in four Isobel Cup Playoff games with Buffalo.

Rafter was headed to Sweden but the opportunity to stay stateside and continue her career in the NWHL appears to have changed her plans at the last minute.

At 5’9” Rafter is a big forward with great skating ability. She may have only scored three points in Buffalo last season, but her college numbers at the University of British Columbia suggest that she has a lot more to give.

A bigger role with the Riveters should give her the opportunity to improve her counting stats. There’s a lot to like about her game and what she brings to the Riveters.

When Hannah Brandt signed with the Minnesota Whitecaps on July 30th the Riveters had to find their last forward in a hurry. Signing Rafter at the last minute was a solid move for Wiseman in an offseason that can only be called a success for the general manager and head coach.