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.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
COLLEGE HOCKEY
No. 14 Denver (4-4-0, 2-2-0 WCHA)
Opponent: No. 7 Wisconsin (4-4-2, 3-2-1 WCHA)
When: Tonight and Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where: Kohl Center, Madison, Wis.
TV/radio: FSN North (most cable and satellite providers)/KCKK 1600 AM
Notes: DU is 9-1-2 against Wisconsin at the Kohl Center since the arena opened in 1998, and the Pioneers are 12-2-2 in their past 16 overall games against the Badgers. … This series pits the teams that have combined to win the past three NCAA titles. … In coach George Gwozdecky’s 13-year tenure, DU is 36-13-4 in games following bye weeks or holiday breaks. … Gwozdecky and Badgers coach Mike Eaves were teammates on Wisconsin’s 1977 NCAA championship team.
Air Force (4-5-1, 2-1-1 AHA)
Opponent: Canisius College (1-8-0, 1-4-0 AHA)
When: Saturday 5 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.
Where: Buffalo (N.Y.) State Sports Arena
TV/radio: None
MIKE CHAMBERS
