From the United States to Russia
On August 22, 2018, Tatiana Rafter, a Canadian women’s ice hockey player, announced, via her Twitter, that she was moving to Russia in ten days.
According to The Ice Garden, Tatiana Rafter has signed the Arktik-Universitet Ukhta club for the new 2018-19 season, while the club itself intends to relocate from Ukhta to St. Petersburg, rebranding into SK Gorny in November 2018. The same website cites her previous interview with the Winnipeg Free Press where she framed her ultimate goal which was “to play for Team Canada at the Beijing Olympics.”
“Playing pro hockey in Canada was a logical step towards that goal.”
As reported by the Arktik-Universitet Ukhta club in their group on VKontakte, Tatiana Rafter’s playing career consists of 116 points (61 goals) for the UBC Thunderbirds, 7 points for the 2013 Winter Universiade and 12 points for the NWHL (Buffalo Beauts and Metropolitan Riveters).
Meantime, on August 23, the CCHL Ottawa Capitals took on Kunlun Red Star from China and advanced to semifinal round action at the 2018 Junior Club Sirius World Cup in Sochi, Russia.
