• Rutkowski had a strong season on the blueline in Portland, recording 43 points (12-31--43) and a plus-13 rating helping the Winterhawks to 44-25-2-1 record in 2009-10 and a playoff spot for the first time since 2006. He led the team with a plus-six rating and added seven points (4-3--7) in 13 playoff games in 2010.

• He plays on a Portland team that features five draft-eligible players ranked in the top 90 North American skaters including: Ryan Johansen (No. 10 ranked), Nino Niederreiter (No. 12 ranked), Bradley Ross (No. 59 ranked) and California-born defenseman Taylor Aronson (No. 88 ranked).

• Rutkowski joins friends Mark Pysyk (No. 7 ranked) and Alexander Petrovic (No. 29 ranked) as Edmonton-area defensemen ranked in the top 45. He was roommates with Pysyk while playing for Team Pacific at the World Under-17 Challenge and Alexander Petrovic was a minor hockey opponent growing up.

• North Serra was his minor hockey association and his most memorable hockey achievement is a peewee provincial championship in which his team only lost three games all season.

FAVORITES

NHL team: Washington Capitals
NHL player: Mike Green
Shootout move: “Fake shot, to backhand, to forehand”
Goal celebration: “Touch the ice like Tyler Ennis”
Video game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Movie: Taken
TV show: Two and a Half Men
Actress: Megan Fox
Music group: Dj Tiesto
Website: NHL.com, WHL.ca
Book: Playing with Fire by Theo Fleury
Pump-up song: “Element of Life” by DJ Tiesto
Home-cooked meal: Steak, Ribs
Activity away from the rink: Hanging out with the boys, Soccer, Golf