Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, the easy assumption is that Sacha Rapchuk would be born into hockey, but that cliché Canadian story isn’t always the case.
Sacha’s father – current Brisbane Lightning assistant coach Ivan Rapchuk, who had played hockey as a kid, was more focused on soccer when Sacha was born.
Around five years old, Rapchuk would be taken to a local ice rink, learning to figure skate to improve his skating. It’s here that the hockey journey began.
“So, I was born in Canada. My Dad played [hockey] when he was younger, obviously, but he focused more on soccer,” Rapchuk told Hockey Hype Australia.
“He took me to the hockey rink to try out some figure skating, to get my skating good; he did the same with my brother.
“I just started figure skating for about two years when I was four or five, something like that, pretty young, just as I could walk.
“Started figure skating and then put me into Timbits in Canada.”
In 2011 the family packed up and moved to Australia, and it didn’t take long for the Rapchuks to find hockey after arriving.
Within two weeks of touching down, Sacha would suit up for the Southern Stars in Brisbane, and that was the start of the Australian hockey story.
“It was a smaller club than it is now; for sure, it was tiny,” continued Rapchuk.
“Four or five people running the whole show, I think. Three teams, Peewees, Bantams, and Atoms. And the kids all played throughout the leagues; whoever was good enough to play up played up.
“So, I played up into Peewee sometimes, my brother [Arum Rapchuk] played up into Bantams.”
Before Rapchuk would become a household name in the Australian Ice Hockey League with the Lightning, a trip across to North America to play hockey came calling.
A full season with the San Diego Sabres in the USPHL was a perfect match for Rapchuk and his hockey style, a terrific precursor for his first full AIHL campaign.
“It was really good, an awesome experience to have,” said Rapchuk.
“Meeting all new people, I have made lifelong friends that I am still in touch with today, I call them, and I am like ‘I miss you guys’ all the experiences and stuff like that.
“The hockey was awesome, especially for my type of game, so more of a physical game. Less skilled little players, and especially on the West Coast it’s more of a physical game compared to the East Coast where it’s more skilled players, so I kind of fit in fairly well.”
A career highlight for Rapchuk, who is only 19 years old, was being part of the Australian U20 national team that would take gold at the Division III World Championships in Turkiye, Istanbul.
The Mighty Bucks – as they are dubbed, went undefeated across the tournament. In a display of electrifying hockey, Rapchuk would jump on a plane straight from San Diego to suit up for the team.
It turned out to be a trip to remember for Rapchuk, who was making his debut in the green and gold of Australia for the very first time.
“That was my first ever representation of Australia for me because I missed out from COVID. I missed out on two years of World Championships,” continued Rapchuk.
“Already being in form because I have been on the ice all day in San Diego, I went straight from there over to Turkiye. I was ready to go, amped for the tournament.
“The team was awesome; we all gelled together. I knew every kid on that team since peewees; I at least played against them in respected national championships.
“The team got there, and it was like we didn’t miss a beat from Nationals Camp. Back in the day in Peewee, the hockey was really good, it was awesome to verse people from different countries around the world and see how they play hockey.
“I think we made Australia proud in taking the gold medal, and also the women’s getting silver and gold in the U18s. It was just an awesome wrap to the year of nationals.”
A moment to reflect on the achievement of gold for Australia, Rapchuk returned to finish the Sabres season, and then all attention turned to the Brisbane Lightning and their AIHL season.
Arriving late to the team for the 2023 season, Rapchuk would soon find his groove at the top level in Australia, picking up 16 points (eight goals, eight assists) from 26 games as a rookie.
Jetlag and a 25-hour flight later from Los Angeles after the Sabres season was wrapped up, and Rapchuk was in a Lightning jersey with teammates on the ice.
“That was an interesting practice, at least,” Rapchuk laughed.
“It’s really good to see all the boys after being away for a long time.
“I was confident in my ability to play, at least fitness-wise. It was the [Central Coast] Rhinos, and I didn’t have a very good first few games, I don’t know why.
“I think it was a bit hard to adapt to the gameplay back in Australia because it’s quite different too, different compared to San Diego because it’s adults.
“I came back pretty well against the other teams in the following games, I think I scored my first goal against Adelaide [Aderenaline].”
A new team in the AIHL, there is a strong culture building at the Lightning, with both men’s and women’s under the same branding. On and off the ice, things are looking positive.
Speaking from his time at the Lightning, Rapchuk is proud of what is being built for elite-level hockey in Queensland.
“The culture is awesome here,” continued Rapchuk.
“I think, especially for our first year, it’s hard for some teams for the first year to come in and do as well as we did.
“And it’s not just the hockey to attribute how well we did, it’s the culture, kind of a nurturing. We have lots of young guys on the team, so we have older guys like Damian Bright and Anthony Barnes. They just nurture the younger guys like me.
“Just getting us accustomed to what it’s like playing in the AIHL, it’s kind of like a family over here.”
Rapchuk’s hockey game is ever-evolving, years away from his prime, continuing to improve with each season and experience on the ice.
As Rapchuk continues to grow, so does the AIHL, with former NHL players and draft picks arriving in Australia as the league gains popularity and exposure.
Slightly star-struck, Rapchuk can learn from players such as Scott Timmins and Ty Wishart, two former NHLers who now call the Melbourne Mustangs home.
“I’m on the ice, third liner on the ice against some ex-NHL players, I’m just like ‘what is happening right now?’ it’s crazy, but it’s so cool to play against them,” said Rapchuk.
“Their patience, even guys like [Jordan] McTaggart, players on my team, like [Alexis] Gerard, the patience is just unmatched compared to all the other players.
“The way they skate around the ice where it’s just like I own this rink, they might not be skating their hardest, but when they need to, they do, and they just hold onto the puck so well.
“[Ty] Wishart just feeds everyone you know, very good vision; it helps me adapt my game to better combat these players.”
Rapchuk will now shift focus to returning to the US, where he will suit up with the Atlanta Madhatters, a fresh team with familiar faces, linking up once again with his previous coach from San Diego.
And while another season travelling the world and playing hockey will take up the months ahead, Rapchuk won’t be lost to Brisbane or the AIHL. It’s something that is in the plans for many years to come.
“Of course, if something goes terribly wrong, then no, but that’s not going to happen,” continued Rapchuk.
“100% be back for the Lightning; I think there is some unfinished business in the team, lots of players believe that.
“We are going to come back better next year, more hungry, I think. This season was a learning curve for everyone on the team, not just the coaches, not just the staff, but the players as well.
“I think we are going to come back bigger and better next season and hopefully go even further in the playoffs.”
For the moment, though, Rapchuk will set foot in Atlanta for another USPHL season. Coming off a fresh AI campaign Rapchuk is in fully-fledged hockey mode now.
Once the first blade hits the ice Rapchuk will be flying the Australian flag, looking to showcase what Aussies have to offer in the hockey world while continuing to build his own game.
“It will be a really good experience, I think,” said Rapchuk.
“Coming from the AIHL, I’m in form again; I’m nonstop hockey.
“I think it will be good to go over there and show up the Americans, the Canadians, show them what Australian hockey is all about.
“I really try to keep away from the American and Canadian style, I want to have my own style of hockey. I kind of want to represent Australia in a good way.
“Even if people might not know I am from Australia, but maybe down the track they will look and be like, ‘Oh, he’s Australian’, and that’s how they play in Australia, that’s good hockey.
“I kind of want people to look at me like that.”
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