Peter Bondra

Peter Bondra (Slovak pronunciation: [ˈpɛtɛɾ ˈbɔndɾa]; born February 7, 1968) is a Soviet-born Slovak former professional ice hockey player. He was the general manager of the Slovakia national team from 2007 to 2011.[2] A two-time 50-goal scorer, Bondra became the 37th player in National Hockey League (NHL) history to score 500 NHL goals. He has the fewest points among all players who reached that milestone with 892.

Peter Bondra
Bondra (right) with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005
Born (1968-02-07) February 7, 1968
Bakivtsi,[1] Lutsk Raion, Ukrainian SSR,
Soviet Union
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Left
Played for HC Košice
Washington Capitals
Ottawa Senators
HK ŠKP Poprad
Atlanta Thrashers
Chicago Blackhawks
National team  Slovakia
NHL Draft 156th overall, 1990
Washington Capitals
Playing career 1986–2007

Life and family

Bondra was born in 1968 in Bakivtsi, Lutsk Raion, Ukraine, which was then a part of the Soviet Union. Bondra's father (a Rusyn) had moved to Lutsk from Jakubany, Czechoslovakia, when he was 16, and where he met his wife (a Pole). The parents moved with Peter and his two older brothers, Juraj and Vladimír, to Poprad when Peter was three years old. His father died in 1982.[3][4]

Bondra was a Soviet citizen when he arrived in the United States, later obtaining a Slovak passport and citizenship in 1994. After living in Crofton, Maryland,[5] Bondra resides in Riva with his wife Luba, their daughter Petra, and their sons David and Nick.[6] He has participated in multiple alumni games and appearances with the current Capitals organization. His son David is a forward of HC Kunlun Red Star and also plays for Slovak national team, similarly to his father. His other son, Nick, began his collegiate career at Amherst College in 2017.

Playing career

Early career

Bondra played one season for HK Poprad in the lower ranks of Czechoslovak league competition, and transferred to VSŽ Košice in the First Division at the age of 18. His older brother Juraj also played there on defense, having already won one championship title with the team the year before. As early as his second season with Košice, Peter was considered one of the top shooters in the Czechoslovak league, and won the league championship together with his brother in 1988.[7]

National Hockey League

Bondra was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, 156th overall. Before joining the Capitals, he played for TJ VSŽ Košice (now called HC Košice) for four seasons from 1986 to 1990 in Czechoslovakia. In Washington, Bondra became one of the more prolific goal-scorers of the 1990s. Due to the language barrier, he became good friends with Ukrainian-born Capitals player Dmitri Khristich, with whom he conversed in both Russian and Ukrainian.[8] His deepest playoff run came in 1997–98, when the Capitals advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals before being swept by the Detroit Red Wings. In the 2003–04 season, Bondra's 14th with Washington, the Capitals endured a disappointing year and in a salary purge move traded veteran members of the team to contenders. As a result, Bondra was traded to the Ottawa Senators for Brooks Laich and a second round draft pick. At the press conference announcing this trade, Bondra notably broke into tears.[9]

In 14 years with the Capitals, Bondra scored 472 goals and racked up 353 assists in 961 games. He holds the Capitals team records in short-handed goals (32). With Washington, he appeared in five All-Star Games (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999). In 1997 and 1999, Bondra won the Fastest Skater Competition on All-Star weekend. In 2004, the Capitals held a vote for fans to determine the top 30 players in franchise history to celebrate their 30th season in the league. Bondra finished second with 2,018 votes. The winner, Olaf Kölzig, beat him by only 20 votes.

During the 1994–95 (with 34 in a lockout-shortened season) and 1997–98 seasons (with 52), Bondra led the league in goals scored, although the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy for most goals scored in a season did not exist until the 1998–99 season.

After the 2004–05 NHL season was canceled due to the NHL labor dispute, Bondra played a handful of games with HK Tatravagónka ŠKP Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga. Prior to the 2005–06 season, Bondra was in talks to rejoin the Capitals, though he ended up signing with the Atlanta Thrashers for one season.

On December 10, Bondra signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. On December 22, 2006, he scored his 500th NHL career goal at the United Center, in Chicago's 3–1 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bondra drove to the net and netted the rebound of Jassen Cullimore's shot from the left point past Toronto's Jean-Sébastien Aubin, 6:37 into the third period on the power play. Bondra was the 37th player in league history to reach the 500-goal mark and the fourth player to record his 500th goal in a Blackhawks sweater, joining Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Michel Goulet.

On October 29, 2007, Bondra announced his retirement from professional hockey at the age of 39.[2] Since retirement, Bondra has represented Colosseo USA, a Slovak company that makes custom video scoreboards.

International play
Medal record
Representing  Slovakia
Ice hockey
World Championships
2002 Sweden
2003 Finland

Bondra has represented Slovakia on seven occasions in international competition, including the 1994 Winter Olympics qualifying tournament, the 1998 Winter Olympics, the 2006 Winter Olympics, the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and the Ice Hockey World Championship in 2002 and 2003. He scored a tournament-leading seven goals (including the tournament-winning goal) and ranked third among all players with nine points to lead Slovakia 4–3 over Russia to the gold medal at the 2002 World Championship. He notched five points (three goals, two assists) in eight games to help Slovakia earn the bronze medal at the 2003 World Championship. Overall, he played 47 games and scored 35 goals for Slovakia.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1986–87 TJ VSŽ Košice CSSR 25 3 4 7 24 7 1 1 2 —
1987–88 TJ VSŽ Košice CSSR 45 27 11 38 20 — — — — —
1988–89 TJ VSŽ Košice CSSR 32 27 10 37 20 8 3 0 3 —
1989–90 TJ VSŽ Košice CSSR 44 29 17 46 — 5 7 2 9 —
1990–91 Washington Capitals NHL 54 12 16 28 47 4 0 1 1 2
1991–92 Washington Capitals NHL 71 28 28 56 42 7 6 2 8 4
1992–93 Washington Capitals NHL 83 37 48 85 70 6 0 6 6 0
1993–94 Washington Capitals NHL 69 24 19 43 40 9 2 4 6 4
1994–95 HC Košice SVK 2 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
1994–95 Washington Capitals NHL 47 34 9 43 24 7 5 3 8 10
1995–96 Washington Capitals NHL 67 52 28 80 40 6 3 2 5 8
1995–96 Detroit Vipers IHL 7 8 1 9 0 — — — — —
1996–97 Washington Capitals NHL 77 46 31 77 72 — — — — —
1997–98 Washington Capitals NHL 76 52 26 78 44 17 7 5 12 12
1998–99 Washington Capitals NHL 66 31 24 55 56 — — — — —
1999–2000 Washington Capitals NHL 62 21 17 38 30 5 1 1 2 4
2000–01 Washington Capitals NHL 82 45 36 81 60 6 2 0 2 2
2001–02 Washington Capitals NHL 77 39 31 70 80 — — — — —
2002–03 Washington Capitals NHL 76 30 26 56 52 6 4 2 6 8
2003–04 Washington Capitals NHL 54 21 14 35 22 — — — — —
2003–04 Ottawa Senators NHL 23 5 9 14 16 7 0 0 0 6
2004–05 HK Tatravagónka ŠKP Poprad SVK 6 4 2 6 4 — — — — —
2005–06 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 60 21 18 39 40 — — — — —
2006–07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 37 5 9 14 14 — — — — —
CSSR totals 151 93 45 138 64 20 11 3 14 —
NHL totals 1081 503 389 892 749 80 30 26 56 60

International
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
1996 Slovakia WCH 7th 3 3 0 3 2
1998 Slovakia OG 10th 2 1 0 1 25
2002 Slovakia WC 9 7 2 9 20
2003 Slovakia WC 8 3 2 5 6
2006 Slovakia OG 5th 6 4 0 4 2
Senior totals 28 18 4 22 55

Awards and honours
Award Year
NHL
All-Star Game 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
IIHF
All-Star Team 2002
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See also

References
  1. "(Не)відомі волиняни: талановитий хокеїст Петер Бондра". 28 September 2016.
  2. "Bondra to serve as Slovakia General Manager". hokej.sk (in Slovak). 2007-07-06. Archived from the original on 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2007-07-06.
  3. Finn, Peter (June 11, 1998). "Distant Cheers for Bondra". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2015-12-16.
  4. "Peter Bondra biography". letsgopens.com. 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2012-03-04.
  5. Sell, Dave (September 18, 1990). "CZECHOSLOVAKIANS LEARNING THE AMERICAN WAY". The Washington Post. Lake Placid, New York. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  6. El-Bashir, Tarik (2005-08-19). "Capitals Re-Sign Dainius Zubrus". The Washington Post.
  7. "Peter Bondra player profile". Washington Capitals. 2010-02-03. Retrieved 2010-02-03.
  8. "United bond between European Capitals". isport.au (in Ukrainian). 2005-06-03. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2005-06-03.
  9. "Long time Cap Bondra traded to Senators". ESPN. 2004-02-18. Retrieved 2004-02-18.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Keith Tkachuk		 NHL Goal Leader

(tied with Teemu Selänne)
1998

Succeeded by
Teemu Selänne
Preceded by
Pavel Bure		 NHL Goal Leader
1995		 Succeeded by
Mario Lemieux
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