The 16-year-old Harmony, Kings County resident was chosen by the Val D’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the recent 2015 QMJHL draft.
Although he’s only played only one year of midget AAA hockey so far, Rafuse was taken by Val D’Or in the first pick in the second round. He will attend the Val D’Or training camp in August with the hopes of making the Foreurs as a 16-year-old.
Serious business
Rafuse has been playing hockey since the age of five. About two years ago, at the age of 14, it started being serious business for him.
He came up through the Western Valley minor hockey system until his first year of bantam, which he spent with the Kings Mutual Valley bantam AAA Wildcats. He finished that 2012-2013 season with 19 goals and 33 points in 28 games.
By then, he had acquired an agent - really a family advisor, he says - who “was looking into prep school opportunities” for him out of province.
He ended up at The Hill Academy in Ontario for school and played hockey with the Don Mills Flyers major bantam AAA and minor midget AAA teams.
Despite it being his first time away from home at age 14, he enjoyed it, and would have gone back for a second year, ”but they changed the rules.” Instead, he returned to Nova Scotia and completed Grade 10 at West Kings while playing with the Valley midget AAA Wildcats (12 goals, 31 points in 34 games).
He also had a two-game stint with the junior A Wildcats and was added to the junior A roster for the playoffs after the season ended for the midgets.
Junior Wildcats head coach Nick Greenough selected Rafuse as a territorial pick in the 2015 MHL draft, after Val D’Or had already drafted him.
Greenough describes Rafuse as “a very mature young man. His skill level, combined with his physical attributes, make for a great combination.”
Rafuse’s selection by Val D’Or “is the highest a former Wildcats’ player has ever been drafted, Greenough said.
“It’s great to see a Valley player drafted that high,” he said. “It says a lot about Cole’s desire to be a hockey player. We wish him all the best in Val D’Or.”
Along with playing minor hockey, Rafuse has been part of provincial teams since U-14. He played U-14 and U-15, then this past year, “made it through five stages of tryouts” to make the U-16 team, which was also the Canada Games team.
At the Canada Games, Team Nova Scotia finished fifth, the province’s best-ever finish in hockey.
“It was a great trip and a great experience, to be there with all the best athletes, in every sport, from across the country,” Rafuse said.
“It’s always been my dream to be drafted. I’ve had an advisor the past two years. If I make Val D’Or, I’ll sign with him as my agent.”
Going to Ontario in 2013 as a real watershed, he said.
“I realized then I might have a future in hockey.”
Leaving home at 14 “was a bit of an adjustment,” he said. “I lived with five other players, all 17 years old.”
Val D’Or dreams
Being drafted by Val D’Or didn’t come as a total surprise.
“I had met with them before the draft, and they said they were interested,” he said. “I kind of hoped they might choose me with the pick they did.”
Also in his favour was that Greenough played his major junior hockey in Val D’Or, and he and the Val D’Or general manager, a former teammate, remain close.
Rafuse leaves for Quebec on Aug. 8.
“The final team is picked after a week-and-a-half. If you’re cut, you come home. If you make the team, you’re there for the year.”
He knows he will be “in the mix with a lot of other players.” His goal is “to keep working hard, do my best and see what happens,” he said.
“I feel good about my chances. I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t wait.”
He is fully aware that making Val D’Or at age 16 “is likely to open a lot of doors for me, put me on the radar,” possibly of some NHL teams.
“My ultimate goal is to someday play in the NHL.”
Rafuse says he’s heard the Val D’Or fans are great.
“It’s a small community in northern Quebec. I come from a small community here, so hopefully it won’t be too much of an adjustment,” he said.
Despite only being 16, Rafuse says he is ready, and up to the challenge.
“I’m good with it,” he says. “It’s what I want, and everything is on schedule.”
The 16-year-old Harmony, Kings County resident was chosen by the Val D’Or Foreurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the recent 2015 QMJHL draft.
Although he’s only played only one year of midget AAA hockey so far, Rafuse was taken by Val D’Or in the first pick in the second round. He will attend the Val D’Or training camp in August with the hopes of making the Foreurs as a 16-year-old.
Serious business
Rafuse has been playing hockey since the age of five. About two years ago, at the age of 14, it started being serious business for him.
He came up through the Western Valley minor hockey system until his first year of bantam, which he spent with the Kings Mutual Valley bantam AAA Wildcats. He finished that 2012-2013 season with 19 goals and 33 points in 28 games.
By then, he had acquired an agent - really a family advisor, he says - who “was looking into prep school opportunities” for him out of province.
He ended up at The Hill Academy in Ontario for school and played hockey with the Don Mills Flyers major bantam AAA and minor midget AAA teams.
Despite it being his first time away from home at age 14, he enjoyed it, and would have gone back for a second year, ”but they changed the rules.” Instead, he returned to Nova Scotia and completed Grade 10 at West Kings while playing with the Valley midget AAA Wildcats (12 goals, 31 points in 34 games).
He also had a two-game stint with the junior A Wildcats and was added to the junior A roster for the playoffs after the season ended for the midgets.
Junior Wildcats head coach Nick Greenough selected Rafuse as a territorial pick in the 2015 MHL draft, after Val D’Or had already drafted him.
Greenough describes Rafuse as “a very mature young man. His skill level, combined with his physical attributes, make for a great combination.”
Rafuse’s selection by Val D’Or “is the highest a former Wildcats’ player has ever been drafted, Greenough said.
“It’s great to see a Valley player drafted that high,” he said. “It says a lot about Cole’s desire to be a hockey player. We wish him all the best in Val D’Or.”
Along with playing minor hockey, Rafuse has been part of provincial teams since U-14. He played U-14 and U-15, then this past year, “made it through five stages of tryouts” to make the U-16 team, which was also the Canada Games team.
At the Canada Games, Team Nova Scotia finished fifth, the province’s best-ever finish in hockey.
“It was a great trip and a great experience, to be there with all the best athletes, in every sport, from across the country,” Rafuse said.
“It’s always been my dream to be drafted. I’ve had an advisor the past two years. If I make Val D’Or, I’ll sign with him as my agent.”
Going to Ontario in 2013 as a real watershed, he said.
“I realized then I might have a future in hockey.”
Leaving home at 14 “was a bit of an adjustment,” he said. “I lived with five other players, all 17 years old.”
Val D’Or dreams
Being drafted by Val D’Or didn’t come as a total surprise.
“I had met with them before the draft, and they said they were interested,” he said. “I kind of hoped they might choose me with the pick they did.”
Also in his favour was that Greenough played his major junior hockey in Val D’Or, and he and the Val D’Or general manager, a former teammate, remain close.
Rafuse leaves for Quebec on Aug. 8.
“The final team is picked after a week-and-a-half. If you’re cut, you come home. If you make the team, you’re there for the year.”
He knows he will be “in the mix with a lot of other players.” His goal is “to keep working hard, do my best and see what happens,” he said.
“I feel good about my chances. I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t wait.”
He is fully aware that making Val D’Or at age 16 “is likely to open a lot of doors for me, put me on the radar,” possibly of some NHL teams.
“My ultimate goal is to someday play in the NHL.”
Rafuse says he’s heard the Val D’Or fans are great.
“It’s a small community in northern Quebec. I come from a small community here, so hopefully it won’t be too much of an adjustment,” he said.
Despite only being 16, Rafuse says he is ready, and up to the challenge.
“I’m good with it,” he says. “It’s what I want, and everything is on schedule.”
