Mike Rathje
Michael Steven Rathje ( born May 11, 1974 in Mannville, Alberta ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played during his playing career for the San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League.
Career
Rathje first played from 1990 to 1993 in the Western Hockey League with the Medicine Hat Tigers. After he was selected by the San Jose Sharks in the NHL Entry Draft in 1992 in the first round in third place and had won with the Canadian National Team at the Junior World Championships 1993 Gold Medal, the Sharks for the IHL playoffs brought him in spring 1993 to the Kansas City Blades, the former farm team.
The 1993/94 season, as well as the following two seasons, the Canadians always began with the Blades in the IHL, but also was always the chance of his achievements in the National Hockey League to show at the Sharks. In the season 1996/97 Rathje established in the NHL, although he had to pause for a long time due to a groin injury he had sustained early in the season. He remained until the end of the season 2003 /04 in San Jose and became one of the pillars of the team from Northern California. His best season in terms of his offensive performance he had, ironically, in 2002/ 03, as San Jose graduated from one of the weakest seasons in franchise history.
After the NHL lockout in 2004 / 05, in the Rathje played no hockey, he signed in August 2005, a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. Due to its chronic back and hip problems, he played in the 2006/07 season only a few games for Philadelphia. The season 2007/ 08 he fell out completely.
Rathje continued into the 2006/07 season in the franchise record for most games in the jersey of the San Jose Sharks, before he was replaced by Patrick Marleau. With eleven seasons, he has played as many years as no other player in San Jose and is still the defender with the most goals points.
Awards and achievements
Career Stats
Internationally
Represented Canada at:
- World Youth Championship 1993
( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )