Rhett Rakhshani

Okposo & Rakhshani Invited to U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp
islesinfo.com

Kyle Okposo, who yesterday decided to return to the University of Minnesota for his sophomore season, was today invited to the 2007 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., Aug. 3-11. Okposo is a returning player from last years Team USA squad at the 2007 World Junior Championships in Sweden.

Also invited to the camp is Islanders 2006 4th round pick Rhett Rakhshani, from the University of Denver. Rakhshani attended the camp last summer as well, but was not named to the squad that played in Sweden. Rakhshani helped Team USA to the gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Under-18 Championships in Sweden.

Participating players are candidates for the 2008 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2007-Jan. 5, 2008, in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic.

The camp will feature practices and eight international scrimmages with a split squad of the best American players under the age of 20 facing off against Sweden and Finland.

2006-07 Update: April 1, 2007: Rhett Rahkshani went 1-3-4 in 4 games played with the Denver Pioneers during the month of March. He was a +4 in March and a +4 on the season. Rakhshani finished the season third on the Pioneers in scoring and led the team in assists with 26, which ranked third among freshman in the nation. He was also third on the team in shots with 120. Rakhshani finished sixth in scoring among freshman in the WCHA and 16th overall. Playoffs: Denver faced Wisconsin in a first round WCHA best of three playoff series. Wisconsin went on to sweep the series 2 games to 0. Rakhshani recorded a goal in game 2, a 2-1 loss at Magness Arena, the Pioneers home ice. Denver lost game 1 by a 3-2 score in Denver, CO.

March 1, 2007: Rhett Rahkshani went 4-2-6 in 6 games played with the Denver Pioneers during the month of February. He recorded 2 goals, one on the power play and another shorthanded, vs. Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 3rd. It was Rakhshani's second career 2 goal game (Oct. 28th) and first career shorthanded goal. He also scored a goal in Denver's 5-2 win vs. Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 2nd. Rakhshani recorded a goal, on the power play, and an assist in a 4-4 tie at Michigan Tech Feb. 10th. In February, Denver posted a record of 2-3-1. Overall they are 21-12-3 and are ranked 7th in the nation.

February 1, 2007: Rhett Rakhshani went 1-4-5 in 8 games played with the Denver Pioneers during the month of January. His goal came on the power play in a 2-1 overtime win vs. Niagra on Jan. 12th. It was the first goal of the game. Rakhshani recorded a game winning assist the next night, Jan. 13th, in a 5-2 win vs. Niagra. All of Rakhshani's points in January came on the power play. He had a 5 game point scoring streak from Dec. 9th to Jan. 5th in which he went 1-8-9. In January, Denver posted a record of 5-3-0. Overall they are 19-9-2 and are ranked 5th in the nation. The team ended #1 ranked Minnesota's 21 game home unbeaten streak with a 1-0 win Jan. 19th. Rakhshani has recorded 10 multiple point games this season for Denver and he is one of three rookies on the team that have recorded 20+ points.

January 1, 2007: Rhett Rakhshani went 1-7-8 in 8 games played with the Denver Pioneers in the month of December. His goal came on the power play in a 4-2 win at Alaska Anchorage on Dec. 15th. Rakhshani's 8 points came in a current 5 game point scoring streak from Dec. 9th to Dec. 30th. Four of his points came on the power play (1-3). He was a -4 on the month. Rakhshani is becoming quite a setup man as he recorded 4 game-winning assists: 12/9 in a 5-1 win vs. Minnesota State Mankato, 12/15 in a 4-2 win at Alaska Anchorage, 12/16 in a 2-0 win at Alaska Anchorage and 12/30 in a 2-1 win vs. UMass-Lowell. Rakhshani recorded 3 assists in a two game set that made up the Wells Fargo Denver Cup. The Pioneers won the Denver Cup with wins over Mercyhurst and UMass-Lowell on Dec. 29th and Dec. 30th. Rakhshani earned MVP honors and was named to the All-Tournament team. Denver had a 7 game undefeated streak (6-0-1) snapped when they lost at Colorado College on Dec. 1st. In December, the team posted a record of 5-2-1. Overall they are 14-6-2 and ranked 8th in the nation. Rakhshani plays on a line with Ryan Dingle and Brock Trotter. He's third overall on Denver in scoring behind his linemates.  In the opinion of islesinfo.com, he was missed by the U.S. Team at the 2007 World Junior Championship's in Sweden.

December 1, 2006: Rhett Rakhshani went 1-6-7 in 6 games played with the Denver Pioneers during the month of November. His goal was an overtime game winner with 15 seconds left on the clock in a 4-3 win at Wisconsin on November 11, 2006. He also has 2 assists in that game for a 3 point night. Rakhshani is one of Denver's top penalty killer's and he recorded 2 shorthanded assists in November. He recorded multiple assist games on Nov. 24th & 25th for 4 assists in back to back nights. Denver went 5-0-1 during the month of November and are now 9-4-1 overall. They are currently on a 7 game un beaten streak. Rakhshani leads all Denver freshman in scoring with 13 points. Despite a good showing at USA Hockey's summer evaluations, Rakhshani was not named to the U.S. National Junior Team on December 6th for the upcoming WJC's which will be taking place in Mora and Leksand, Sweden.

November 1, 2006: Rhett Rakhshani made his collegiate debut with Denver University on October 6, 2006 in a 5-2 loss at Miami of Ohio.  He recorded his first career collegiate point with an assist in a 3-2 win vs. Colgate on October 7, 2006 in Oxford, Ohio. On October 13th Rakhshani recorded his first multiple point game with 2 assists in a 4-3 overtime win at St. Cloud State. He broke through with his first 2 career goals on October 28, 2006 in a 4-2 win at Minnesota Duluth. One of the goals came on the power play and the other was an empty netter. In October Rakhshani recorded 6 points in 8 games played. He's second on Denver in scoring among freshman behind Tyler Ruegsegger. Rakhshani wears #9 for the Denver Pioneers.

2006-07 Highlights

* Named third star with 2 assists in 3-0 win vs. Mercyhurst College December 29, 2006.
* Named third star with 2 goals (PP & SH) & an assist in 6-4 loss vs. Minnesota Duluth February 3, 2007.
* Named second star with 3 assists in 5-5 tie with Colorado College March 3, 2007.

DU Eliminated from WCHA Playoffs with 2-1 Loss to UW
Rakhshani tallies DU's lone goal in loss
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Mar. 10, 2007

DENVER - Andy Brandt's second-period goal proved to be the difference as the Wisconsin Badgers (17-17-4) topped the No. 10/11 Denver Pioneers (21-15-4) by a 2-1 score to eliminate DU from the WCHA Playoffs before a crowd of 5,398 tonight at Magness Arena. UW's win secured a 2-0 series victory. Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) tallied DU's lone goal, while senior netminder Glenn Fisher (Edmonton, Alberta) totaled 35 saves.

UMD Skates Past DU, 6-4
Rakhshani tallies two goals and an assist
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Feb. 3, 2007

DENVER - The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (10-17-3, 6-14-2) recorded five special teams goals - including three power-play tallies and two shorthanded efforts - to earn a 6-4 victory over the No. 5 Denver Pioneers in WCHA action before a sellout crowd of 6,094 at Magness Arena. The Pioneers (20-10-2, 12-8-2) received two goals and an assist from freshman Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.), while Adrian Veideman (Sicamous, British Columbia) and Geoff Paukovich (Englewood, Colo.) recorded a goal apiece.

Later on the power play, Rakhshani evened the score on a blast from the low slot. Stationed behind the net, Ryan Dingle (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) made a backhand feed to Rakhshani, who beat UMD netminder Josh Johnson (22 saves) at 18:58.

The Pioneers closed the gap to one goal on a Veideman wrist shot from just inside the blueline at 8:54 of the second period before Rakhshani tied the game, 3-3, on a shorthanded effort at 13:41. Rakhshani intercepted a breakout pass by Johnson at the blueline and walked in alone before shelving a backhand.

DU drops UMD, 5-2, in WCHA action
Ruegsegger, Trotter tally a goal and two assists apiece
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Feb. 2, 2007

DENVER - Redshirt freshman Brock Trotter (Brandon, Manitoba), and freshman Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo.) recorded a goal and two assists apiece to lead the No. 5 Denver Pioneers to a 5-2 victory over Minnesota Duluth in WCHA action tonight before a sellout crowd of 6,089 at Magness Arena. Ryan Dingle (Steamboat Springs, Colo.), Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Brian Gifford (Moorhead, Minn.) also recorded goals for the Pioneers and junior goaltender Peter Mannino (Farmington Hills, Mich.) recorded 19 saves as the DU improved to 20-9-2 and 12-7-2 in the WCHA.

DU took a 2-0 lead at 5:15 of the second period on Dingle's power-play tally. Only seconds after Rakhshani rung the crossbar from the left faceoff circle, Dingle picked up the rebound of a Ruegsegger wrist shot and used a second effort to bury the puck past UMD goaltender Alex Stalock (15 saves).

Ruegsegger gave the Pioneers a 4-2 advantage at 15:18 of the third period when he joined Trotter on a 2-on-1 and received a nifty pass before slipping the puck past Stalock's outstretched pad. Rakhshani added an insurance goal at 18:13 when he picked up a loose puck at the blueline, took two strides and blasted a rocket through Stalock's five-hole.

Hockey freshman leave lasting mark
Seven freshman have combined for 113 points this year
by Brooks Kirchheimer, duclarion.com, Jan. 30, 2007

It is another DU hockey season and another successful and potent freshman class is making themselves known not just to the Denver community, but to the hockey world. Peter Mannino, Paul Stastny, Chris Butler and now Rhett Rakhshani, Tyler Ruegesser, Brock Trotter and others are the next class of freshman to take the stage.

"This year they have really stepped up to the plate and taken a big role as freshman, so they have done well," said senior Steven Cook, who has seen year after year of freshman.

Red shirt freshman Brock Trotter is second in the WCHA in points amongst freshman with 32 and fifth overall. Ruegsegger is fifth with 27 points and Rakhshani seventh with 26 points. Along with junior Ryan Dingle the three freshman help make up the top four point getters for DU this season. A season that has Denver currently ranked No. 5 in division one hockey, third place in the WCHA and a 19-9-2 record overall.

"I think the biggest part has been the opportunity that the coach has given us. He has put us in some tight, tough situations and helped us build our confidence. Also the support from the upperclassmen has been really key," said California native Rakhshani.

Brian Gifford and Keith Seabrook with 11 points each, Brandon Vossberg with three points, Cody Brookwell with a point and Matt Glasser who has yet to be tallied in the scorer's book round out the 2006-2007 freshman class.

"Definitely offensively they have put up a lot of big points and they have played really hard," said Cook.

The seven freshmen have combined for 113 points this season on 37 goals and 76 assists out of the Pioneers 223 points on 81 goals and 142 assists. All this success occured while the seven players are making a transition from playing junior to college hockey.

"It's a completely different game when you actually go to college. Competition is way higher. Every weekend, the pressure is on you to win a game or two," said Rakhshani about his college experience. "It has been awesome; I have been having a great time; its pretty much everything I expected."

One of the challenges of being a freshman is not only being successful on the ice, but also in the classroom.

"Some nights you have to be up late doing homework, figuring out time management during the week and getting my rest and getting ready to play every single weekend," said Rakhshani about the challenges of being a student and athlete.

Seabrook has also gained confidence at the college level. "Everyone is a lot faster. Guys are a lot bigger and stronger, the more and more you play, the more you gain confidence; I feel I have adjusted and am playing successful," he said.

The success hasn't been without the help of the coaching staff and fellow older players.

"They [the coaching staff] are helping a lot. I go out with coach Laatsch every day before practice and work on my skating. It has been really good here, they wanted me to come in right away and play and play well, and I feel I struggled a little bit at the beginning of the season, but I am starting to come on now," said Seabrook.

Denver has had year after year of contributing and exciting freshman classes and none of this would be possible without the work and recruiting of the coaching staff. DU assistant coach Steve Miller is the head recruiting coordinator and spends hours on the phone and road recruiting some of the best young hockey players in the country, getting those young players to come to Denver and continue the success of the program and the freshman class.

"From their program and past success, I watched both times when they won NCAA's on television, and it has been the place I have wanted to go to every since I talked to them back at age 16," said Seabrook as to why he choose to attend DU.

Being a freshman can have its challenges, but year-in and year-out the DU freshman class has made it a routine of being an integral part of the squad.

"You are going to have ups and downs, you are going to have good games and bad games," said Seabrook."

Coach (George Gwozdecky) has given us a good opportunity to play and the older guys have supported us," Rakhshani said. "On top of that, we're just having a good time. We've all been dreaming of playing college hockey for years and years, and when we're out there it's just a blast. And when you're having fun like that, you're going to catch some bounces at some crucial times."

Rakhshani Named Red Baron WCHA co-Rookie of the Week
Freshman earns honor after MVP performance in Wells Fargo Denver Cup
wcha.cstv.com, Jan. 2, 2007

MADISON, Wis. - A pair of first-year forwards who helped their respective teams to successful showings last weekend - Paul Crowder of the University of Alaska Anchorage and Rhett Rakhshani of the University of Denver - have been named Red Baron WCHA co-Rookies of the Week for Jan. 2-8, 2007.

Rakhshani, a 5-10, 170-pound right wing from Huntington Beach, Calif., earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors after producing three assists to help the Pioneers to their own Wells Fargo Denver Cup championship on Dec. 29-30. A draft choice of the NHL's New York Islanders, Rakhshani had an assist on teammate Geoff Paukovich's game-winner in a 3-0 win over Mercyhurst last Friday and then added two more in the 2-1 championship game win over UMass-Lowell last Saturday.

Rakhshani also earned the WCHA's weekly rookie honor back on Nov. 14. Rakhshani has 4-17-21 in 22 games played this season to rank third among DU players in scoring.

Also nominated: Brian McMillan, F, CC; Jim O'Brien, F, UM; and Andreas Nodl, F, SCSU.

Pioneers Capture 12th Wells Fargo Denver Cup Championship
Fisher and Rakhshani lead the way in 2-1 win over UMass Lowell
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Dec. 30, 2006

DENVER - The No. 10 Denver Pioneers rode the stellar goaltending of senior Glenn Fisher (Edmonton, Alberta) and used a big play from freshman Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) to defeat UMass Lowell 2-1 and capture the 15th annual Wells Fargo Denver Cup. Fisher stopped 36 shots and Rakhshani set up the game-winning goal as the Pioneers remain unbeaten in their last six games (5-0-1) and improve to 14-6-2 overall. UMass Lowell falls to 3-11-5.

"It wasn't pretty, but we got the job done," DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. "Glenn has been terrific all season and he turned in another strong performance tonight. Rhett has a knack for making big plays and he delivered tonight. We're looking forward to a big series against Wisconsin next weekend."

Junior Tom May (Eagan, Minn.) staked DU to a 1-0 lead at 6:18 of the second period. May ripped a blast from the high slot past UMass Lowell goaltender Carter Hutton for his first goal of the season. The Pioneers held the 1-0 lead until Rakhshani's heroics in the third period. Rakhshani gloved an UMass Lowell clearing attempt at the River Hawks' blueline and ripped a twirling shot that produced a rebound for Geoff Paukovich (Englewood, Colo.) to push past Hutton for a 2-0 lead at 12:43.

UMass Lowell pulled Hutton and deflated Fisher's hopes of a shutout when Frank Stegnar scored at 19:55. UMass Lowell outshot DU 37-23 and went 0-4 on the power play. The Pioneers went 0-for-2 with the man-advantage.

The Pioneers earned their 12th Wells Fargo Denver Cup championship and placed four members on the All-Tournament team. Rakhshani earned MVP honors and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Brock Trotter (Brandon, Manitoba), Chris Butler (St. Louis, Mo.) and Paukovich. Mercyhurst goaltender Jordan Wakefield and UMass Lowell's Jeremy Dehner were also named to the six-member All-Tournament team.

Trotter and Mannino Power DU Past Mercyhurst
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Dec. 29, 2006

DENVER - Brock Trotter (Brandon, Manitoba) tallied two goals and Peter Mannino (Farmington Hills, Mich.) recorded his second consecutive shutout with 25 saves as the No. 10 Denver Pioneers blanked Mercyhurst 3-0 in Wells Fargo Denver Cup action tonight at Magness Arena. Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Chris Butler (St. Louis, Mo.) added two assists each and Geoff Paukovich (Englewood, Colo.) tallied his second goal as the Pioneers extend their unbeaten streak to five games at 4-0-1 and improve to 13-6-2 overall. Mercyhurst falls to 4-9-2. The Pioneers advance to the championship game of the Wells Fargo Denver Cup tomorrow night against UMass Lowell.

Pioneers Earn 4-2 Win at Alaska Anchorage
DU improves to 7-4-2 in WCHA with road victory
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Dec. 16, 2006

ANCHORAGE - Junior All-America candidate Ryan Dingle (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) netted the game-winning goal and freshmen Brock Trotter (Brandon, Manitoba) and Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) tallied one goal and one assist each as the No. 12 Denver Pioneers earned a hard-fought 4-2 victory over Alaska Anchorage before 3,372 fans tonight at Sullivan Ice Arena. Freshman Tyler Ruegsegger iced the win with a late third period goal and senior goaltender Glenn Fisher (Edmonton, Alberta) added 26 saves as DU improves to 11-6-2 overall and 7-4-2 in the WCHA. UAA falls to 8-7-2, 6-7-0.

"Our guys really earned this win with a total-team effort," DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. "We battled back in the second and third periods to earn a nice road win. Steven Cook changed the momentum with his effort on our first goal and the Trotter, Dingle and Rakhshani line was really clutch tonight."

Dingle banged in his fourth game-winner of the season after his shot went off the chest of UAA goaltender Jon Olthuis (28 saves) at 14:35 of the third period. Chris Butler (St. Louis, Mo.) started the play and found Rakhshani who slid a pass to a wide open Dingle for the game-winner from the high slot. The deciding goal came 8 minutes and 10 seconds after UAA tied the game on a goal from Mat Robinson at 6:25.

The second period featured three goals after a scoreless opening stanza. UAA struck first at 4:38 of the second period on a power-play goal by Luke Beaverson. Justin Bourne intercepted a DU clearing pass and slid the puck to Beaverson who beat Fisher high to the short side from the left faceoff circle.

Trotter tied it at 1-1 when he tucked in a goal past Olthuis at 17:49. Trotter followed his own rebound and Cook was credited with the single assist after a strong second effort to track down the puck deep in the UAA zone.

Rakhshani scored 37 seconds later on the power play when he beat Olthuis in the slot. Trotter and Butler were credited with assists as DU stormed back to take a 2-1 advantage after two periods.

DU Skates Past MSU, 5-1
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Dec. 9, 2006

DENVER - Junior forward Ryan Dingle (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) recorded his second-career hat trick and junior goaltender Peter Mannino (Farmington Hills, Mich.) made 21 saves as the No. 13 Denver Pioneers defeated the Minnesota State University Mavericks 5-1 in WCHA action before a sellout crowd of 6,029 at Magness Arena. Junior forward Geoff Paukovich (Englewood, Colo.) and sophomore forward Patrick Mullen (Pittsburgh, Pa.) each added a goal for DU, while freshman Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and redshirt freshman Brock Trotter (Brandon, Manitoba) recorded two assists apiece. With the win, DU moves to 10-6-2, 6-4-2, while MSU falls to 3-11-3, 2-8-2.

Dingle gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead with 52 seconds remaining in the opening frame on his team-leading 13th goal of the season. Rakhshani started the play in DU's defensive zone by flipping the puck high into the air off the sideboards. Trotter gained control in the neutral zone and led a rush up-ice before handing the puck off to Dingle, who buried a shot from the top of the right circle high to MSU netminder Mike Zacharias' (24 saves) glove side.

Dingle struck for the second time just 1:40 into the middle frame, this time from the left faceoff circle. Rakhshani picked up a loose puck in front of Mannino and carried it the length of the ice before making a pretty feed to Dingle, who fired a shot past Zacharias for his 14th tally of the year.

Denverpost.com notes

Honors - 12/1

Colorado Springs-based USA Hockey will honor freshmen Rhett Rakhshani of DU and Billy Sweatt of CC with rings before tonight's game. In April the two were teammates on the Team USA squad that captured the International Ice Hockey Federation World Under-18 Championship in Sweden, becoming the first Americans at any level to win back-to-back gold medals at an IIHF tournament.

Spelling it often - 11/6

DU freshmen Tyler Ruegsegger and Rhett Rakhshani are considered among the country's premier rookie forwards. But they are also being talked about because of their unfamiliar hockey hometowns - Ruegsegger is from Lakewood and Rakhshani from Huntington Beach, Calif. - and the difficult spellings of their last names.

Inside College Hockey.com says of the duo: "Typist's nightmare as easy names like Carle and Stastny give way to head-scratchers like Ruegsegger and Rakhshani. And defenders are finding them even harder to stop than they are to spell."

Ruegsegger is tied with junior Ryan Dingle and redshirt freshman Brock Trotter with a team-leading eight points (three goals). Rakhshani has six points (two goals).

Freshmen Ready For Home Cooking
by Pat Rooney, Rocky Mountain News, Nov. 17, 2006

Fans of the University of Denver hockey team have not enjoyed many opportunities to witness the skills of the Pioneers' talented and productive freshman class.
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Beginning tonight, Rhett Rakhshani and the rest of DU's rookies hope to start showing the home crowd what all the hype is about.
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DU (6-4, 4-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) brings a three-game winning streak into tonight's series opener against Michigan Tech. Tonight's game also begins a stretch in which the Pioneers play eight games in Colorado, seven at Magness Arena.

"I love playing here. This is the place, ever since we committed, we have been looking forward to playing at," said Rakhshani, a native of Huntington Beach, Calif. "Getting some more opportunities to play here is going to be awesome. My uncle lives here, so he's going to be able to come to the games."

Rakhshani, fellow true freshman Tyler Ruegsegger and redshirt freshman Brock Trotter have helped offset the loss of three of DU's top four scorers from last season and an unexpectedly slow start by some of the Pioneers' veterans.

Each of those freshmen has recorded three goals and six assists, producing a three-way tie for second place on DU's scoring list.

Rakhshani led the Pioneers' sweep-clinching victory at Wisconsin on Saturday by recording the first three-point game of his career with one goal and two assists, scoring the winning goal with less than 15 seconds remaining in overtime.

"Our success is a result of everybody beginning to feel comfortable with everyone else," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "Not only the freshmen feeling comfortable but the older players, the experienced players, being comfortable that the freshmen can do their job, that the freshmen are responsible for what they can handle and that they're able to do it. The cohesiveness is coming around."

Dingle and Rakhshani Honored by WCHA
Pair honored as Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Nov. 14, 2006

MADISON, Wis. - University of Denver center iceman Ryan Dingle (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and freshman right winger Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) have been honored as the Red Baron WCHA Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively, for Nov. 14-20. Dingle and Rakhshani's individual efforts helped the No. 11 Denver Pioneers to a two-game sweep at Wisconsin Nov. 10-11.

Rakhshani produced a three-point scoring night, including his first collegiate game-winning goal, in the 4-3 overtime victory Saturday. Rakhshani's game-winner came with just 15 seconds remaining in the extra session, as Denver completed its second consecutive sweep at the Kohl Center. In addition, Rakhshani had a team-leading 11 shots on goal in the series, earned a +2 plus/minus rating, added four hits and blocked two shots. Rakhshani is one of the top scoring rookies in the WCHA with three goals, six assists and nine points.

Pioneers sweep champ Badgers
Freshman tallies winning goal
by Mike Chambers, Denverpost.com, Nov. 12, 2006

Madison, Wis. - The immediate celebration after Saturday night's game-winning goal in overtime was reminiscent of the wild, glove-throwing excitement that the past three national championship teams exhibited to close out the NCAA hockey season.

University of Denver freshman Rhett Rakhshani ignited a raucous celebration behind the Wisconsin net by scoring with 14.1 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the 2004 and 2005 national champions to a 4-3 victory over the Badgers, the defending champions.

Rakhshani, who assisted on the Pioneers' first two goals, crashed the net on a 3-on-3 rush and redirected a pass from Ryan Dingle past All-America goalie Brian Elliott. The play gave the Pioneers a two-game sweep of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series and made them a remarkable 11-1-2 at the Kohl Center, one of college hockey's most intimidating venues.

"We went over video the last couple days, emphasizing driving hard to the net, and that's basically why I went hard to the net, because video reminded me of it," Rakhshani said after sending most of the 15,083 fans in attendance home disappointed. "I just went in hard, put my stick down and Dingle threw it across. I didn't even have time to see it. It just hit my stick and went in."

The sweep was DU's first of the season. The Pioneers (6-4, 4-2 WCHA), who have already played eight games on the road, play 13 of their next 16 at home.

Denver beat Wisconsin 2-0 on Friday behind the sensational goaltending of Glenn Fisher.

But the Pioneers looked like a road-weary bunch in the third period Saturday night in front of junior netminder Peter Mannino (39 saves). After Dingle scored his second goal of the game to give DU a 3-1 lead 4:15 into the third period, Wisconsin peppered Mannino and beat down his seemingly tired defenders.

Jake Dowell got the Badgers (4-6-2, 3-3-1) within a goal by scoring at 7:15 and John Mitchell tied it at 11:31.

Wisconsin produced three of the first four shots in overtime before Rakhshani ended the game with his third goal and ninth point of the season.

"I like the way we're developing as a team," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "Tonight wasn't a great performance by us, but we weathered the storm. Peter gave us some quality goaltending, and we got some timely goals, obviously the big one at the end."

DU Sweeps Wisconsin Behind Dingle and Rakhshani
Kohl Center magic continues as Pioneers complete first sweep with 4-3 OT win
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Nov. 11, 2006

MADISON, Wis. - The Kohl Center magic continues for the Denver Pioneers. Freshman Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) scored the game-winning goal with 15 seconds left in overtime as the No. 14 Pioneers completed a two-game sweep of the No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers with a 4-3 win in WCHA action tonight before 15,083 fans at Kohl Center. DU improved to 11-1-2 all-time against the Badgers at Kohl Center since the building opened in 1998 and gained their first two-game series sweep to improve to 6-4-0 overall and 4-2-0 in league play. Wisconsin falls to 4-6-2 and 3-4-1 with its third consecutive loss.

Junior All-American candidate Ryan Dingle (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) turned in an outstanding game for DU with two-goals and the game-winning assist. Rakhshani added two assists for his first career three-point effort, while Brian Gifford (Moorhead, Minn.) netted his first career goal and added an assist in DU's third consecutive win.

Freshman breaks traditional routes
by Mike Chambers, Denverpost.com, Nov. 9, 2006

University of Denver wing Rhett Rakhshani is among the growing number of collegiate players to come from a family with nontraditional hockey backgrounds. His grandfather is an immigrant from Iran, and Rakhshani grew up in Huntington Beach, Calif.

There is little hockey being played in the Middle East, but the sport was one of the primary activities for Rakhshani and his family in Southern California.

"I just started roller blading with my family - cousins, uncles, everyone, really - and that developed into street hockey," said Rakhshani, one of three freshmen forwards playing on DU's top two lines.

"We'd play for hours and hours, sometimes all day long. That's when I developed a love for the game, and before long I was into ice and I joined the California Wave."

Rakhshani (pronounced Rock-shaw-knee) became good enough in the youth traveling program to follow the rare paths of a handful of former California stars - including former collegiate All-Americans Brett Sterling of Colorado College and Robbie Earl of Wisconsin - to the U.S. National Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. Rakhshani, 18, joined DU from the prestigious U.S. under-18 team, where he had 24 goals and 49 points in 59 games last season.

He was selected in the fourth round of the NHL draft in June by the New York Islanders, and before the season Inside College Hockey.com dubbed him as the second-best incoming freshman forward, behind Minnesota's Kyle Okposo.

So far, the Pioneers rookie has been as good as advertised. He scored the first two goals of his career in DU's game Oct. 28 at Minnesota-Duluth, and he enters this weekend's two-game series at Wisconsin with six points in eight games.

"Rhett has done real well in the short time that he has been with us," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "He's got terrific talent and an even better attitude."

The confident, right-handed shooter is the only DU freshman to have played at Wisconsin's intimidating Kohl Center. The U.S. team played the defending NCAA champion Badgers at the 15,000-seat, Olympic-size venue last season.

Because of that kind of experience, "I don't feel nervous before games," Rakhshani said. "I know I belong. And the coaches are giving us freshmen the freedom to play, to make our mistakes and keep working to get better.

"It's been fun so far, and as a team we're getting better as the games go on."

Gwozdecky could be without another key freshman forward this weekend. Brock Trotter, who leads the team with six assists, sustained an "upper body" injury in a scrimmage during DU's bye week. Trotter made the trip to Madison but is questionable for tonight.

American Star: Rakhshani Lifts His Game From ‘Junkyard’ To Highest Levels Of Hockey
by Craig Stancher, usahockeymagazine.com, Nov. 6, 2006

What started as a leisurely family activity could eventually translate into a professional hockey career for Rhett Rakhshani.

As a 5-year-old in Huntington Beach, Calif., Rakhshani and his parents would inline skate along the boardwalks of Southern California beaches. This winter the 18-year-old freshman is following his dreams to the Mile High City where he’s enrolled at the University of Denver.

Not bad for a kid who began playing inline street hockey in the California cul-de-sacs with family and friends. This “junkyard hockey,” as Rakhshani describes it, would take place for hours on end on an almost daily basis.

Rakhshani made the jump from “junkyard hockey” to inline hockey when he joined the Orange County Blades club team as an 8-year-old. It proved to be a good fit as he stayed with the Blades for eight seasons, winning five North American Roller Hockey Championships.

When Rakhshani first donned a pair of ice skates, he quickly found that his inline skills translated very well to the ice game.

“When I first transferred to ice hockey, I was ahead of most of the kids skill-wise,” said Rakhshani, who found that he could keep up with kids who had been on the ice all their lives.

“I could do moves that they couldn’t do, which was mostly due to the style of the inline game. You get more opportunities and you have the puck on your stick more.”

Rakhshani, who was selected by the New York Islanders in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, is just the latest in an impressive line of NHL-caliber players from California who grew up playing inline hockey — a list that includes Robbie Earl (Toronto Maple Leafs), Gabe Gauthier (Los Angeles Kings) and Brett Sterling (Atlanta Thrashers).

While inline hockey has many obvious similarities to ice hockey, the differences at times can be striking. One of the biggest variations between the two is that the inline game is often slower.

“It’s a lot more open, there’s a lot more puck control and slowing down of the game,” Rakhshani said.

“Some teams will control the puck for a minute or more. They’ll wait with the puck behind the net and attack when they get the opportunity.”

While some hockey purists may look at a player like Rakhshani and see his lack of an ice hockey background as a drawback, he looks at his inline past as a different method for developing his hockey skills, and feels that much of what he’s learned has given him an advantage on the ice.

“A lot of players who grew up playing ice hockey are strictly North/South players and don’t learn how to control the puck that well,” Rakhshani said. “What I learned from roller hockey, and was able to translate to ice hockey, was how to play a lot more East/West, which can be an important part of ice hockey.”

While inline hockey remained his passion, Rakhshani brought his ice game to another level for the 2003-04 season when he headed to Ann Arbor, Mich., to join the National Team Development Program.

Even after a pair of demanding and rigorous seasons with Team USA, he still found himself back home in California during the past two summers, strapping on the inline wheels.
While his main focus is on improving his on-ice skills,

Rakhshani is occasionally questioned if he would try out for the USA Hockey InLine National Team if given the opportunity.

“It would be awesome to try out for the team because I love inline hockey,” Rakhshani said. “It’s so much fun for me to go back to it and get back to where I started.”

Pioneers Dominate in 4-2 Win over Minnesota Duluth
Rakhshani nets two goals and Ruegsegger nets game-winner for series split
denverpioneers.cstv.com, Oct. 28, 2006

DULUTH, Minn. - Freshman Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) tallied two goals and fellow freshman Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo.) tallied his first career game-winning goal as the Denver Pioneers dominated the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in a 4-2 win tonight before 3,651 at the DECC. Junior goaltender Peter Mannino (Farmington Hills, Mich.) stopped 23 shots for his first win as the No. 13/14 Pioneers earned the series split and improved to 4-4-0 overall and 2-2-0 in the WCHA. Minnesota Duluth falls to 2-2-2, 1-2-1.

Ruegsegger netted the game-winner on a blast from the high slot on the power play at 11:49 of the third period. He received a pass from Adrian Veideman (Sicamous, British Columbia) and ripped a shot past a partially screened Alex Stalock (36 saves) on the glove side. Rakhshani iced the game with an empty net goal from the high slot off one knee at 19:23.

Like last night, the Pioneers struck first when Ryan Dingle (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) won a faceoff from the right faceoff circle, crashed the net and buried a rebound off a shot by Chris Butler (St. Louis, Mo.) at 6:08 of the second period. Rakhshani made it 2-0 with his first career goal on the power play at 12:28. Patrick Mullen (Pittsburgh, Pa.) fired a shot on net that Geoff Paukovich (Englewood, Colo.) corralled and slid to Rakhshani, who buried a wrist shot high to the glove side of Stalock. Duluth quickly tied it with two power-play goals less than three minutes later. Joel Meyers scored from the low slot on a great feed from Matt Niskanen at 13:35. Niskanen tied with a one-timer from the top of the right circle at 15:14 off a pass from Mason Raymond.

Rhett Rakhshani's Denver Profile

Before Denver: Played the last two seasons for the United States National Developmental Team Program (USNDTP) in Ann Arbor, Mich. • scored 49 points on 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 games for the Under-18 Team during the 2005-06 season • tallied the game-tying score in Team USA's 3-1 win over Finland in the gold medal game of the 2006 IIHL World Under-18 Championships • scored 43 points on 19 goals and 24 assists in 63 games as an assistant captain for the Under-17 Team in 2004-05 • helped Team USA to the Four Nations Cup title with one goal and three assists • selected by the New York Islanders in fourth round (100th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Personal: Son of Steve and Joan Rakhshani • brother of Shaun (23) • uncle Vic Rakhshani played tight end for the USC football team • graduated with the class of 2006 from the American School of Correspondence (Lansing, Ill.) • chose the University of Denver because of the hockey team, the school, the amazing people and the campus • undeclared major • goals are to play professional hockey, to be a successful person, and to raise a great family • enjoys surfing, golfing, camping, going to the beach and watching movies • born March 6, 1988.

community portfolio: I am a freshman from Huntington Beach, California. I came to The University of Denver because the people are so nice, the campus is beautiful, the school is top notch, and to play hockey on the varsity team.

I have been playing hockey since I was 5 years old and I enjoy playing any other sports. I also like to go surfing, to the beach, to the movies, and just hang out with friends and have a good time.

Major: Real Esate

Rakhshani shares top scoring at USA WJC camp
hockeysfuture article excerpt - full, Aug. 19, 2006

Rhett Rakhshani was one of the best players of the tournament held from August 8-12, in which teams from Finland and from Sweden also took part. He tallied seven assists and was the tournament leading scorer along with American Phil Kessel (BOS).

"The skill level was about the same than at the Under-18 level, but the speed, the decision making and the strength were a lot higher here," said the 5’10, 170-pound right winger. I could hang with the pace, but definitively needed a little adjustment. You’ve got to make sure that you always move on the ice and always avoid getting hit. It was fun though.”

"I’m not the biggest guy, I can move. If you always move on your feet and are fast on the ice, they can’t catch you."

Future Watch: Rhett Rakhshani
nyi.com, Summer 2006

Rhett Rakhshani's hometown of Orange, California is more known for its role in the hit TV show, "The OC" than for breeding hockey players, but that hasn't stopped Rhett from turning a passion into a dream.

Due to his love of surfing, Rhett picked up hockey, not by going to his local rink, but by rollerblading to the countless beaches that line the California shore. It was after those excursions Rhett developed an interest in roller hockey - the street kind, playing pick-up until he joined a league. But that wasn't enough. Rhett liked hockey so much that he asked his parents to try another form, and so he did - ice. He then signed up for clinics before joining his first organized ice hockey league at the age of six.

Rhett then played hockey for the next ten years in California compiling over 200 points in his last two seasons playing at the Bantam and Midget levels. Rhett was then recruited to play for the United States National Development Team Program (USDP) in 2004 and had a successful two-year run there, putting up 84 points in two seasons. His productivity with the USDP earned him a spot on the United States National Team for the Under-18 World Junior Championship. There he helped lead the US to gold by contributing six points (5-1) in six games. Rhett has since participated in the 2006 US National Junior Evaluation Camp in hopes of joining the National Team for the 2007 World Junior Championship to be held in Sweden.

Though small in stature, 5'10," 170 lbs, Rhett has the grit and determination that Ted Nolan and the Islanders organization are looking for in their players. The Islanders scouting staff likes the excitement Rhett brings to the rink with his speed and skill. In addition, his likeable personality off the ice makes him a positive influence in the locker room.

Rhett is currently playing hockey in his first year at the University of Denver and has already made his presence felt He's currently tied for second on the team in scoring and notched the game-winner in overtime against Wisconsin on November 11.

On his Draft Day experience:
"I didn't go to the 2006 NHL Draft; I was back at home watching the first round on TV. Then I went to my aunt's house for her graduation party, so I had all of my family there for the rest of the draft. I got a phone call about being drafted to the Islanders. The whole family was there to celebrate, so that was nice."

On the Islanders Development Camp:
"It was fun. Being on the ice and working out with a bunch of top-notch players was a great experience. We also got to hang out a lot away from the rink. Just being around guys like that is always fun regardless of what you're doing."

On what he would like to improve:
"I'm trying to get bigger overall, which is going to come with time and working hard. I'm working on my skating as well. I don't think I'm bad at skating, but it's something I still want to get better at. I'm working on the mental game as well."

On going the college hockey route:
"It's great hockey. I have more time to develop, and I get to go to school at the same time. It's the whole package."

On playing for the US National Development Team:
"It was an amazing experience. The staff pushes you so hard every day. You can't help but further yourself as a player and as a person. The practices are top notch, the season is awesome, the weight training is great, but the best thing about it is representing your country at international tournaments. Also, playing a college schedule in your under-18 year is so much fun."

On his Denver hockey experience:
"It has been an amazing experience so far. I've been here for about five weeks and it's just flown by. All the older guys have taken us freshmen under their wing. The first regular season game was a blast. We played at Miami of Ohio and it was a packed house with the great college fans. Unfortunately, we lost but it was still an awesome experience. It is different than playing on the national team. Off the ice, the coaches give you more responsibility, and treat you as men. So you have to make sure you are disciplined and have good time management. On the ice, there's a lot of leadership involved because everyone isn't the same age. The older guys will always step up and keep you accountable if you aren't doing things right."

On balancing hockey and academics:
"It's definitely been an adjustment. College is a lot harder and more time consuming than high school. On top of that, you have your full hockey schedule, which a lot of the time includes traveling for three days over the weekend. After all that, there are social activities. I've learned quickly to take care of the important things first before I go have fun."

On playing against fellow Islanders draft pick Kyle Okposo (on Minnesota):
"No doubt it will be a big game. But yeah, knowing Kyle and some other really good buddies, I'm sure it will be an intense game. Bragging rights are always nice to have with your good friends."

 

	Isles Select RW Rhett Rakhshani 100th Overall
	RW Rhett Rakhshani Born: March 6, 1988, Orange, Ca. 2005-06: US NTDP (U18) Shoots: Right CSB: 56th overall

CSB: A very good skater with agility and quickness - very shifty, elusive and crafty player who consistently works his way to the net by darting in and out of traffic....very good hands....strong on his stick, has good puck protection....passes the puck with confidence in setting up linemates with scoring chances....takes a pass well in full stride and gets to the open ice....has a very quick release to his shot and can score....good hockey sense and sees the ice very well....very good offensive instincts....works hard and can set the tone for teammates with his gritty and determined play....uses his body well in establishing position and gaining puck possession....protects puck well with his body....anticipates the play, and is quick to bounce on loose pucks....will take a hit to make a play to linemates....will attend Denver University in the Fall of 2006....a member of the U.S. Under-17 team in 2004-05.

Islanders Scout: "Rhett is a skilled player with a great first couple of steps," said Islanders scout Brian Hunter. "He is real quick with the puck in tight areas, and sees the ice well. He'll be a joy to watch for Islanders fans."

According to the Islanders, he is a shifty and agile skater with strong nose for the net. He is also known for setting the tone for his teammates with gritty play and a strong worth ethic.

Facts: was a teammate of Kyle Okposo at the 2005 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Five Incoming Hockey Recruits Drafted into NHL
Pioneers enjoy big day at 2006 NHL Entry Draft
June 25, 2006

Incoming DU hockey recruits Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo.), Marc Cheverie (Harbour Lake, Nova Scotia) and Jesse Martin (Edmonton, Alberta) were selected in the final two rounds of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, held last night at GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Ruegsegger was drafted in the sixth round (166th overall) by Toronto and Cheverie (193rd overall, Florida) and Martin (195th overall, Atlanta) were selected in the seventh round. Ruegsegger, Cheverie and Martin join Keith Seabrook (Delta, British Columbia) and Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) as 2006 NHL drafted Pioneers. Rakhshani, a talented forward from the United States National Developmental Team Program, was selected in the fourth round (100th overall) by the New York Islanders. 

Rakhshani tallied the game-tying score in Team USA's 3-1 win over Finland in the gold-medal game. In the 2005-06 regular season, Rakhshani tallied 49 points on 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 games for the USNTDP Under-18 Team.

Rakhshani, a talented forward from the United States National Developmental Team Program, was selected in the fourth round (100th overall) by the New York Islanders. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound forward tallied the game-tying score in Team USA's 3-1 win over Finland in the gold-medal game of the 2006 IIHL World Under-18 Championships. Rakhshani tallied 49 points on 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 games for the USNTDP Under-18 Team.

Seabrook, Rakhshani and Ruegsegger will be freshman at DU this fall, while Cheverie and Martin join the seven-time NCAA National Champions in the fall of 2007.

COUNTY PLAYERS PICKED
Three Orange County players were selected.
By Dan Wood - The Orange County Register(ocregister.com)
June 25, 2006

Rhett Rakhshani of Huntington Beach, a right wing with the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based U.S. national under-18 team last season, was attending his aunt's graduation from UC Irvine when he received word he had been selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round.

"It feels awesome," Rakhshani said. "It's nice to get it out of the way, to know what jersey you could potentially be wearing. The New York Islanders have a great organization. It's a really exciting day."

"The 100th (overall) pick - that's exciting. I was expecting to go about there."

Rakhshani, 18, is a former minor-hockey player with the Lakewood-based California Wave. He is bound for the University of Denver next season.

Breaking the ice
Orange County is starting to produce some top hockey talent.
By Dan Wood - The Orange County Register(ocregister.com)
June 24, 2006

Growing up in Orange County, they could have been surfers, scuba divers or fishermen, or certainly spent their time pursuing baseball, basketball or football.

Instead they are hockey players, and good ones.

Rhett Rakhshani and Cameron Cepek of Huntington Beach, T.J. Miller of Placentia and San Juan Capistrano's Joey Perricone are on the radar screens of the 30 NHL teams as general managers and scouts gather in Vancouver for today's entry draft.

The local boys are part of a new wave of Southern California kids who have bypassed more traditional youthful endeavors in favor of sticks, pucks, crack-of-dawn ice times and freezing rinks.

"I attribute this entirely to Wayne Gretzky," Ducks general manager Brian Burke said. "These kids are all guys who would have started playing within a few years after Wayne Gretzky came to the Kings" in a 1988 trade with the Edmonton Oilers.

During the 2004-05 season, the latest for which numbers are available, there were 16,758 registered youth ice hockey players in California, according to USA Hockey, the sport's national governing body. That represents huge growth since 1985-86, when there were only 2,225 registered youth players in the state.

Where once Southern California teams were fodder for opponents from hockey-rich areas of the U.S., such as Detroit and Boston, the Lakewood-based California Wave and Westminster-based LA Hockey Club have become competitive nationally.

The Wave's Midget AAA 16-and-under team and LA Hockey Club's Bantam AA 14-and-under squad captured USA Hockey national championships in April, as did the LA Selects Bantam AAA team, a mix of 14-and-under players from the Wave, LA Hockey Club and Anaheim Junior Ducks.

"Youth hockey is played at an extremely high level in Southern California," Burke said. "You're going to see a steady progression of California kids going into the National Hockey League.

"What's happened is the elite athletes are putting on skates. That's what happens in Finland, Sweden and Canada, and it's happened for 50 years in pockets in the United States - in Michigan, Massachusetts and Minnesota. Twenty years ago in California, elite athletes were picking up a baseball bat, a basketball or a football."

None of the above appealed to Rakhshani, Cepek, Miller and Perricone, at least not as much as indoor frozen ponds.

Rakhshani, 18, played for the Wave until spending the past two seasons in Ann Arbor, Mich., with the U.S. National Development Program. A right wing coming off an 18-goal, 41-point season in 50 games with the U.S. under-18 team, he is the top NHL draft prospect from California this year, the only one to be invited to the league's annual scouting combine that concluded earlier this month in Toronto.

Ranked 56th among North American skaters by the league's Central Scouting Service, Rakhshani is projected to go as high as the third round in today's draft. The only real question mark appears to be size. Rakhshani is listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds.

"I don't have my mind set on anything," he said. "It's going to be an exciting day no matter where I get drafted."

A member of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in this spring's World Under-18 Championship tournament in Sweden, Rakhshani is among 45 players invited to Team USA's August evaluation camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., for next season's World Junior Championships. The premier event for teen hockey players will take place in December and January in Sweden.

Like virtually all of the 200-plus players who will be selected in today's draft, Rakhshani won't step right into the NHL. His immediate plans are to attend the University of Denver on a hockey scholarship.

"It's going to be a great place to continue to develop," Rakhshani said. "I was always thinking it would be awesome (to play in the NHL someday), but when it really hit me that I was really at a high level was when I got offered to the national team. I realized I was in a select few, at least in USA Hockey, at least in my age group.

"I realized that if I got in the top of that group, I would have a chance to play after that, because statistically there are guys who make it from there."

Like Rakhshani and many other California kids, Cepek's first exposure to hockey was on inline skates. Shortly after Rakhshani switched over to ice, he convinced Cepek to join him with the Wave.

"I loved playing hockey more than anything," Cepek said. "I played every single day, whether it was without skates on or whatever. I loved playing and I started getting pretty good at it. It was more fun when I got better."

Rakhshani Invited to 2006 National Junior Evaluation Camp
Talented forward among 45 players vying for spot on 2006 U.S. National Junior Team
June 9, 2006

COLORADO SPRINGS - Incoming 2006-07 DU hockey recruit Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) is among 45 players invited to the 2006 U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., August 5-14. Participating players are candidates for the 2006 U.S. National Junior Team that will compete in the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26, 2006-Jan. 5, 2007, in Mora and Leksand, Sweden.

Rakhshani is one of 14 players invited from the gold-medal winning 2006 U.S. National Under-18 Team. Rakhshani tallied the game-tying score in Team USA's 3-1 win over Finland in the gold-medal game. In the 2005-06 regular season, Rakhshani tallied 49 points on 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 games for the USNTDP Under-18 Team.

California Producing Hockey Players
By Mark Whicker - The Orange County Register(ocregister.com)
June 24, 2006

There were 10 Southern California players in the Western Hockey League this year. Tim Kraus of Garden Grove made the Memorial Cup, with the Vancouver Giants. Jason Beeman of Diamond Bar scored 28 goals for Tri-City.

Rhett Rakhshani of Huntington Beach scored the tying goal in the world championship game for the victorious U.S. Under-18 team.

More are coming, more will be drafted, some will be in the NHL.

A generation of this, and maybe hockey will be part of our lives, too, and more of our American Idols will be on skates.

Shining the spotlight on the U.S. U-18 world champions
May 10, 2006 - by Kyle Woodlief - usatoday.com

Also, a pair of smurfs led the way for the U.S. up front. Pat Kane— at 5-9, 165 pounds — and Rhett Rakhshani (5-10, 165) have long been known as talented scorers, but they never have enough credit for their willingness to go into traffic and take a pounding for their chances.

IIHF WORLD UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIP
April 22, 2006 - usahockey.com

Each year, USA Hockey sends a team to compete at the prestigious IIHF World Under-18 Championship, where many of Team USA's future stars have played in the past. This year, the 2006 U.S. National Under-18 Team defended the 2005 U.S. National Under-18 Team's gold medal with a 3-1 win over Finland April 22.

In the final, after Finland opened the scoring in the first period, Team USA's Rhett Rakhshani and Chris Summers scored second-period goals before an empty-netter from Mike Carman closed the scoring. Joe Palmer earned his fourth win of the tournament with 30 saves.

More: The lead stood until just over five minutes into the second period when USA's Rhett Rakhshani fired in a rebound from the side of the crease to even the game at one. Chris Summers gave the U.S. the 2-1 lead in the last second of the second period when the puck trickled into between the post and Finnish goaltender Riku Helenius.

NTDP Notebook - Jan. 27, 2006
Under-18 squad wins four at NAHL Showcase

In Saturday’s victory, Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Bill Sweatt (Elburn, Ill.) had two goals apiece. Palmer stopped 26 of 30 shots for the victory.

U.S. Team capitalizes on Phantoms' mistakes, 9-4
January 22, 2006 - By GREG GULAS - vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN — After Friday's win over Alpena, Mahoning Valley Phantoms coach Bob Mainhardt said his squad was looking forward to playing their North Division counterparts, the USA National Under-18 Team, in the final two games of the North American Hockey League Showcase.

Saturday afternoon at the Chevrolet Centre, the Phantoms played with plenty of intensity, forging a 3-2 lead at the onset of the second period. But five unanswered goals by the U.S. squad proved to be too much to overcome as Mahoning Valley fell, 9-4.

Strong play

Rhett Rakhshani followed his hat trick against Traverse City with two goals and two assists while Bill Sweatt added two unassisted goals and an assist to pace the National Team to their third straight win in the Showcase.

"This team has a lot of talented kids; players willing to play simple, team hockey. That in turn allows their games to be fully utilized," USA coach John Hynes said. "This is a close-knit team. They get along well and really like each other."

Rakhshani got USA on the board first with a power play goal at 10:17 of the opening period.

Drew Satterley's second goal at 1:19 of the second stanza gave the Phantoms a brief 3-2 margin, but unanswered goals by Brian Strait, Tony Mosey, Rakhshani, Sweatt and Luke Popko over the next 20:46 gave the National squad a 7-3 lead.

"My goals tonight were team goals. I'm trying to be more patient with the puck, tying to attack more and be a little more assertive," Rakhshani noted.

"I've really had some good line combinations. They pick for me while the give-and-go was working tonight as well."

Notes: Rakhshani also scored against Mahoning Valley on September 10, 2005 in a 6-0 USA Select U-18 win.

NTDP Notebook - Jan. 13, 2006

Wisconsin-Superior scored four goals in the first period. Team USA came back in the second with scores from Bill Sweatt (Elburn, Ill.), Ryan Flynn (Lino Lakes, Minn.) and Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.), and got two more in the second from Mike Ratchuk (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Nigel Williams (Aurora, Ill.) Team USA had a 49-24 shots advantage and was 3-of-6 on the power play. Team USA tied NCAA Division III power Wisconsin-Superior 5-5.

NTDP Feature - Rhett Rakhshani
Family hobby pays dividends for California NTDP forward
By John Raffel - Dec. 9, 2005 - usahockey.com
 
Steve and Joan Rakhshani decided one day to pick up a hobby, and rollerblading fit the bill. As an unexpected consequence of that decision, their son has emerged as one of the most valuable members of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.
 
Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) presently plays for the NTDP’s Under-18 Team, and has played inline hockey for 11 years, which his dad says helped the younger Rakhshani prepare himself a future in ice hockey.
 
Football, however, is the main sport in the Rakhshani family background. Steve Rakhshani played football at the University of Hawaii and his brother, Dick, played on two national champion teams at the University of Southern California.
 
As their hobby, inline skating for Steve Rakhshani and his wife eventually led to inline hockey as a family activity.
 
“We’d get a bunch of people to play with us,” Steve said. “We eventually got Rhett involved with it. Around here in California, [inline hockey] is huge. The sport is going like crazy, and a lot of kids go into ice hockey.
 
“Rhett enjoyed playing [inline hockey]. He and the others would play as much hockey as they could get. It was fun.”
 
Last season, Rakhshani played in 63 games as an alternate captain for the U.S. Under-17 Team and recorded 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points, the second-highest total on the team. He also scored one goal and added three assists for Team USA in a championship effort at the Four Nations Cup in Rochester, N.Y.
 
“I’ve made a lot of improvement [this season],” said Rakhshani, who said he has benefited from the team's NCAA schedule, which includes Division I and III opponents. “The college game is so much faster. You have to learn how to make better decisions.”
 
During the 2003-04 season, Rakhshani saw action in 56 games for the California Wave, a Midget AAA team, and recorded 54 goals and 67 assists for 112 points. The previous year, with the Wave Bantam AAA team, he scored 105 points. He has also competed in USA Hockey's Select 15 and 16 camps.
 
Rakhshani’s mother stays with her son in an apartment near the rink in Ann Arbor, Mich., and is right there providing an accredited home school program for Rhett.
 
“It’s a huge commitment from my wife,” said Steve, who commutes back and forth to Michigan to see as many games as possible. “That way, in home school, Rhett gets a more flexible schedule. He’s been home-schooled since the first grade.”
 
And he continues to provide key contributions to the NTDP.
 
“He’s been a good playmaker for us,” said John Hynes, the NTDP's U18 head coach. “He has a great knack for the game. He’s developing into an elite player.”
 
Rakhshani’s career will take a new turn next year when he joins the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. He has signed to play at the University of Denver, the two-time defending national champions.
 
“They’ve had a successful program there,” Rakhshani said. “When I visited the school, I felt very comfortable there. I like the coaching staff and their style of play.”
 
Whatever happens in the future, Rakhshani will always be grateful that his parents got him involved in inline hockey.
 
“It’s 4-on-4, no checking,” he said. “It gives you a chance to work on your skills. You work very hard. When I played [inline hockey], that’s how I developed my shot for ice hockey.”
 
He’s hoping his shot will be at its best next April when the Under-18 Team plays at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Sweden.
 
“The Four Nations tournaments that we’re in will be good training for us at the world tournament,” he said.

Back-to-Back National Champion Pioneers Sign Seven Student-Athletes
DU adds three for Class of 2010 and four for 2011
November 17, 2005 - denverpioneers.cstv.com

DENVER - National Coach of the Year George Gwozdecky has announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Denver and play hockey.

Forwards Matt Glasser (Calgary, Alberta/Ft. McMurray) and Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif./USNTDP) and defenseman Cody Brookwell (Calgary, Alberta/Williams Lake) have officially announced they will join the Pioneers next fall.

Forwards Jesse Martin (Edmonton, Alberta/Spruce Grove), Kyle Ostrow (Calgary, Alberta/Nanaimo) and Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo./Shattuck-St. Mary's) and goaltender Marc Cheverie (Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia/Nanaimo) will join DU in the fall of 2007.

Rakhshani is a creative forward with a great stick. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound California native has 6-4--10 in 13 games for the U.S. National Under-18 Team in Ann Arbor, Mich. Rakhshani has helped the Under-18 Team to a 9-4 mark. He has netted one power-play goal. Rakhshani was the second leading scorer for the U.S. National Under-17 Team last season. He is the son of Joan and Steve Rakhshani.

NTDP Notebook - Nov. 11, 2005
Four Nations Cups provide early challenges for U18s

GOOD START: Despite Thursday's loss to Sweden, the U18s began with Tuesday's 4-1 exhibition win over the host.

On Tuesday, Hynes’ skaters used two power play goals to key their way to the victory. Team USA had a 23-10 advantage in shots in the first period, but still trailed 1-0. James O’Brien (Maplewood, Minn.) scored his team’s first goal on a power play and Blake Geoffrion (Brentwood, Tenn.) gave his team a 2-1 lead with a shorthanded goal. Greg Squires (White Plains, N.Y.) and Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each scored in the third period.

CLARKSON'S OFFENSE LEADS KNIGHTS to 6-4 WIN Over USA U-18 Selects
October 22, 2005 - clarksonathletics.com

The Knights struck again early in the third as Clitsome recorded his third point of the game with a goal just two seconds after a Clarkson power-play chance came to an end at 4:53 to make it 5-1. USA made things uncomfortable for the Knights with three unanswered goals in a span of 6:55. Luke Popko tallied the visitors’ second goal at 6:11. USA cut the deficit to two goals with Patrick Kane’s wrap-around score at 8:58 and then pulled to within one as Rhett Rakhshani got a shot through a screen at 14:06.

Clarkson Freshman Shea Guthrie recorded three assists in the win and was named second star of the exhibition game. 

October 25, 2005: Rakhshani recorded an assist in a 5-2 USA U-18 Selects exhibition loss to Michigan State.

December 10, 2005: Rakhshani recorded 2 assists vs. Vermont in an 8-4 USA U-18 Selects exhibition loss.

December 16, 2005: Rakhshani recorded a goal and an assist for the USA U-18 Selects in a 6-5 exhibition loss to the University of Wisconsin.

January 31, 2006: Rakhshani recorded a goal and an assist for the USA U-18 Selects in an 8-7 OT loss to Mercyhurst.

It was no sweat for the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 squad on Friday night at Centre ICE arena, but a whole lot of Sweatt for the host Traverse City North Stars.

Bill Sweatt closed the first period and opened the second with shorthanded and powerplay goals, respectively, as the U-18s skated to an 8-1 victory over the Stars. Ten USA players registered at least a point, led by Sweatt’s pair of tallies. Rhett Rakhshani had four points, including a trio of assists, while leading scorer Patrick Kane dumped in a goal and two assists.

North Stars fall at Showcase
January 21, 2006

The only thing more potent than the stingy defense of the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 squad on Friday was its offense.

While yielding a mere 22 shots on net – including a negligible three over the first 20 minutes of action – Team USA poured it on with the puck as well, handing the Traverse City North Stars a franchise-worst 10-0 defeat on the second day of the North American Hockey League’s North Division Showcase in greater Youngstown, Ohio.

The Team USA U-18s scored early, often and in a variety of ways on Friday, beginning with Patrick Kane’s unassisted shorthanded tally just 1:34 into the contest, and ending with Rhett Rakhshani’s powerplay effort with 5:16 to play. The North Stars experienced difficulty with the man advantage – they went 0-for-6 on powerplay chances -- as well as the penalty kill, where the U-18s converted five of eight powerplay opportunities. In all, the Stars were outshot by a whopping 50-22 margin.

Rakhshani led the way for Team USA (24-8-4) with a trio of lamplighters, two of which came on the powerplay, while Bill Sweatt dished out four assists. Kane finished with two goals and a pair of helpers, and James O’Brien had one of each.

U.S. Junior Hockey Report - Sept. 15, 2005
Team USA enjoys early NAHL kickoff

Buffalo, N.Y., native Patrick Kane opened with two goals and two assists on the first weekend, while Blake Geoffrion added four assists. Rhett Rakhshani and Michael Ratchuk scored two goals each. All four spent the 2004-05 season playing for the NTDP's U17s in 2004-05. In addition, goaltender Joseph Palmer, also a U18 alum, earned both wins, making 21 saves in an opening-night shutout and 19 saves in the second win.

Rock-Solid Recruiting Class
Denver reloads after back-to-back championships.
by Paul Shaheen - insidecollegehockey.com - May 10, 2005

With two straight Frozen Four titles under its belt, the present state of the University of Denver program is as solid as it has ever been. Now it's the future the Pioneers are working hard to protect. And they're doing so by utilizing their typical “spanning the globe” approach.

'Rak' Star Status

Rock stars usually beat to their own drum, and so does 2006 Pioneers recruit Rhett Rakhshani (rock-SHA-knee), a 1988-born forward from Huntington Beach, Calif., who previously played for the California Wave. The Wave is a burgeoning amateur hockey program in suburban Los Angeles whose fast-growing list of alumni includes WCHA forwards Robbie Earl (Wisconsin) and Brett Sterling (Colorado College).

Rakhshani’s academic road to Denver is entirely atypical. Rakhshani doesn't attend school in the traditional sense. He has been home-schooled by his mother, Joan, who moved with Rhett to Ann Arbor, Mich., last fall after Rakhshani earned an invite to play in the United States National Team Development Program.

"I take courses through the American School,” Rakhshani explained. “They send me the course work and textbooks. I take exams and then I send them in. My mom helps me out as I need it, but most of it I do on my own."

Rakhshani's father, Steve, stays back in southern California where he works in the real estate business. Rhett shares a one-bedroom apartment with his mother in Ann Arbor. "She gets the bedroom, I get the dining room," Rakhshani said. “But I don't sleep on the floor. Even better, I use an air mattress."

Rakhshani said this season in Ann Arbor has been as rewarding as any other. He skated for the Under-17 squad and scored 12 goals and 27 points in 36 games. He'll play with the Under-18s next season before heading to Denver for the 2006-07 season. "The weight training program has been terrific," he said of the NTDP. "I want to keep getting stronger, and on the ice I want to keep working on my timing and always be making the right decision at the right time."

Observers have readily noticed how Rakhshani's hard work has paid off.

"He's extremely skilled," said one midget AAA coach. "He has great vision and great instincts with the puck."

As for choosing Denver, Rakhshani couldn't be happier.

"I'm really excited," Rakhshani said. "I took an unofficial visit there and it just felt very comfortable. The city, the campus, the coaching staff. Sure they've won it twice in a row, but honestly that wasn't the biggest part of it."

Denver first got interested in the right-shooting Rakhshani in the summer of 2004 when he skated at the US Select 16 Festival. From there, the two parties did all they could to keep in close contact. Rakhshani also considered Colorado College, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Michigan State.

Rahk 'N' Roll
NTDP forward further proof that California is a hockey state on the move
By John Raffel - March 18, 2005 - usahockey.com

He’s a long way from home and Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington, Beach, Calif.) admits it’s taken him a while to get used to 15-inch snowstorms and temperatures below zero. The forward for USA Hockey's National Under-17 Team has been right at home with the program based in Ann Arbor, Mich., and he has played an impressive role in the team’s success.

Through 36 games, the 5-foot-9, 158-pound Rakhshani had scored 12 goals and added 15 assists for 27 points, good for second on the team behind Patrick Kane's 29 points. Rakhshani, to date, has also scored five power play goals and two game-winners for Team USA.

Back in late January, he scored in what might have been the NTDP U17s' biggest win of the season, a 5-0 victory in North American Hockey League (Junior A Tier II) play. The opponent was the Cleveland Barons, and Team USA had been struggling through a losing streak when it started to turn the season around.

“We came up with huge scores in that game,” Rakhshani said. “We’d been in a losing streak. We knew it was time to come out with a win.

Team USA now occupies the top spot in the NAHL's North Division, two points ahead of the Soo Kewadin Casino Indians with one game in hand.

 “It’s been great to play with these guys," said Rakhshani. "We have a lot of character on this team.”

Rakhshani and his U17 teammates had their best international success of the season during the U-17 Four Nations Tournament last November in Rochester, N.Y., where Team USA went 4-0-0.

During the U-17 World Challenge over the holidays, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Rakhshani’s team went 3-1-1, while the team recorded a 1-1-1 record at the Four Nations Cup last month vs. U18 teams from Germany Slovakia and Switzerland.

“Obviously, it was more satisfying at Rochester,” Rakhshani said. “It’s always nice to win. Winning at Rochester was probably the most fun. But we learned so much all year.”

Rakhshani was playing for the California Wave when he received the call to play for NTDP.

“I really like it,” he said. “The coaching staff is great and stays on top of things. They push us to get better. To be able to play with the best players in the U.S. is amazing. It’s a dream come true.”

Rakhshani, who turned 17 on March 6, said his California background prepared him appropriately for the NTDP.

“Hockey is getting big in California,” he said. “A lot of kids play inline hockey. A lot of good coaches are moving out there, probably because of the good weather. And they’ve brought the players a lot of skills.”

Rakhshani smiles when comparing the weather from his hometown to the location of his new home rink in Ann Arbor.

“Anytime I talk to my dad, he’ll say it’s in the 80s at home, while here in Ann Arbor it might be 10 degrees and snowing hard,” Rakhshani said. “It’s a big difference. I’ve been able to adjust better than I thought I would. It was warm at Christmas when I was home wearing shorts and sandals. I came back here to Ann Arbor and dressed with two layers of jackets and socks.”

Rakhshani, though, is looking forward to playing for the NTDP's Under-18 Team in 2005-06.

“We’ll have a lot of well-rounded players,” he said. “I see a lot of development taking place. By next year, we’ll be an excellent team.”

Rakhshani has been providing his teammates with a warm feeling throughout the season.

“I’m on the power play and I feel the responsibility to come up with the big offensive play,” he said. “But that’s not my only role. I try to help out in all aspects of the game. We have a lot of guys who can score. Being on the power play gives me a better chance to score for the team.”

GOLDEN RHETT
Rakhshani continues California success (appended to above story)

More than 2,000 miles separate Rhett Rakhshani's hometown and his adopted home in Ann Arbor, Mich., but the 16-year-old Huntington Beach, Calif., native says he's living a dream with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. And while the sun doesn't shine as often near Detriot as he grew accostomed, Rakhshani, who turned 17 on March 3, is the Under-17 National Team's second-leading scorer, and he's looking forward to his year with the Under-18 Natioanal Team in 2005-06.

2005 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge

The United States Under-17 Team finished 3-1-1 after defeating Finland, 9-2, Jan. 2 at the 2005 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Lethbridge, Alberta. Team USA scored three goals in each period, with Rhett Rakhshani's two first-period goals pacing his team. The U17s placed fifth overall in the tournament.

Scoring:

USA: Rakhshani (PPG, GWG, A), Geoffrion (G, 2A), O'Brien (G, 2A), Kane (G, A), Morin (G), Sperry (G), Johnson (G), Atkinson (G), Carman (2A), McBain (2A), Squires (A), Flynn (A), Marcou (A)
Finland:  Reivonen (G), Antonen (PPG), Sthlhammer (A), Kukkonen (A)

California Wave
californiawave.org

Best of luck again this year to former Wave player Rhett Rakhshani who will be suiting up again for the U.S. Development Team. Rhett is coming off a tremendous season where he posted leading marks for the US National Under 17 team and looks to continue to build on that with the Under 18 team. Rhett played with the Wave program for 7 years before leaving to suit up for the red, white, and blue.

The California Wave are part of the Southern California Amateur Hockey Association. We compete within SCAHA and in tournaments throughout the United States and Canada.