FRASER, Mich. – Brendan Rachfal is a family man, especially when it comes to hockey.
After last year’s senior year playing on the blue line for Allen Park High School, Rachfal was in search of a team for the 2020-21 season.
“My uncle suggested to get in contact with the Metro Jets,” said Rachfal, a 2002 birth year from Allen Park, Mich. “The Jets have always been an exceptional organization. I knew they had a strong coaching staff, and a group of players that wanted to play for the logo.”
This season, Rachfal sees regular minutes as a shutdown defenseman on the MJDP team, collecting three goals and nine points in 16 games along the way.
Jets coach-GM Justin Quenneville has liked what he has seen out of Rachfal to date.
“’Racher’ has been nothing short of impressive so far,” said Quenneville. “Most players have a tough transition from high school to junior, but he has done a great job buying in and continuing to improve his game on both sides of the puck. He has very good hockey instincts, an underrated stick, and overall, a big reason for his team having so much success this year.
“Not many people know his story, and he’s a quiet kid at heart, but he comes to the rink every day loving the game and committed to his development. I have been very impressed with his maturity, his focus and drive to invest in himself, and our staff enjoys working with him every day. I can only see him continue to impress people with his play.”
Rachfal said over the first two months of the season, he has noticed an uptick in his overall game and with his teammates in the locker room.
“I believe I can bring a strong defensive body, good puck movement and a solid shot from the point,” Rachfal said. “I have seen a lot of improvement within the first two months of the season as an individual as well as a team. From the beginning of the season to now, between practices and games, we have grown closer as a family, which has carried onto the ice.”
Like the majority of players that don the Jets colors, advancing to higher levels is also something Rachfal strives for on a daily basis.
“My short-term goals are to continue the season very strong and build my strength and possibly be given an opportunity to get called up to Tier II,” Rachfal said. “My long-term goals have always been to work on my hockey career to hopefully get a chance to play for a university, to play the sport I love while obtaining a degree in the process.”
