Orono, Maine -- Raffi Wolf was passionate about ice hockey.
After graduating from high school, she was determined to play one more year before putting her career on hold to attend college in her native Germany.
The quest took Wolf across the Atlantic to Canada where in 1998 she was training and competing with elite players. While in Calgary, she came to the attention of the University of Maine coaching staff, which was gearing up for its inaugural season.
They offered her the chance to study and play hockey at the same time, which was not a viable option in Germany.
"As a European hockey player, it was a dream come true," said Wolf, who arrived in Orono as part of a predominately freshman group.
"We had to overcome a lot of challenges together, having to learn the ropes of being a Division I student-athlete," she said of a key factor in the team's ability to build camaraderie.
Unlike many of her classmates, Wolf arrived at UMaine with considerable experience and physical attributes. She not only had played with the German national team but had already been doing weight training.
"She wanted to win. She wanted to get better. She didn't have any time for fooling around," said her coach, Rick Filighera.
Wolf became a key building block for the Black Bears program. She scored 43 points as a freshman, still the school rookie record.
She continued to put her imprint on the team. She still ranks third on UMaine's career list with 55 goals and is fifth in points (92). Her 17 power-play goals are tied for first.
Among single-season marks, Wolf ranks second in goals (31) and fourth in points (43).
"She was the very first impact player we had at the Division I level," Filighera said.
"She was a very serious hockey player at a time when hockey was very young for women," he said. "She put us on the map."
Wolf's background playing and training in Europe also were instrumental in her determination and tenacity.
Filighera admitted that as a young coach, he wasn't sure how to guide and motivate Wolf. He asked then men's hockey assistant coach Grant Standbrook for advice.
"Grant looked me right in the eyes and said, 'coach, the best thing you can do is do no coaching at all.' He was right," Filighera said.
Wolf parlayed her performance at UMaine into a spot on Team Germany for the 2002 Winter Games, where she notched two assists.
"It was super exciting and I brought that excitement back with me to the University of Maine," Wolf said.
She also proved flexible and versatile when as a senior during the 2002-03 season, Filighera moved her from center to defense. She used her puck-handling skills, strength and powerful shot to help initiate the offense.
"After that experience, I felt like I was a better player for being able to go back and forth between positions," she said.
After graduating from UMaine with a B.S. in kinesiology and exercise science, Wolf returned with Team Germany to the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. She later earned two master's degrees and finally a Ph.D. in philosophy (research methodology) from the University of Pittsburgh.
Wolf works as a senior assessment research analyst in the Boston area.
The 2021 UMaine Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet will take place on Friday, Sept. 17 at Jeff's Catering in Brewer, Maine from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The evening will begin with a social hour and hors d'oeuvres followed by a buffet meal and the official induction presentations of all of the inductees. This special event will be by reservation only, with limited space available. Tickets for the event are available for $50. To purchase your ticket to the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, please visit GoBlackBears.com/tickets. If you prefer to mail your payment, please contact banquet Co-Chairs Cherie Damon (207.949.4745 / cdicemom2@aol.com) or Sue Pate (207.249.9245 / suepate@roadrunner.com). Friday evening's induction banquet will be streamed for free here.
