Peter Bondra (Slovak pronunciation: eter “bondra,” born 7 February 1968) is Ukrainian born Slovak former professional ice hockey player. He was the general manager of the Slovakia national team from 2007 to 2011. A two-time 50 goal scorer, Bondra was one of the 37 players in National Hockey League (NHL) history to achieve 500 NHL goals. He has the fewest points among the players who made it to that point with 892. Bondra has scored most goals in NHL in two seasons: 1994-95 and 1997-98. He was among a few players to score 5 or more goals a single game in the NHL.
Family and life
Bondra is born 1968 in Bakivtsi, Lutsk Raion, Ukraine that was at the time a member of the Soviet Union. His father (a Rusyn) had moved to Lutsk from Jakubany, Czechoslovakia, when he was 16, and the place where he met his future wife (a Pole). The couple relocated together Peter and the two brothers he had earlier, Juraj and Vladimir, to Poprad when Peter was just three years old. His father died in 1982.
Bondra used to be a Soviet citizen when he arrived at the United States, later obtaining a Slovak passport and citizenship in 1993 prior to the commencement of 1994’s Winter Olympics qualifying tournament. After having lived in Crofton, Maryland, Bondra resides with his family in Riva together with his spouse Luba and their daughter Petra, and their sons David as well as Nick. Bondra has played in numerous alumni games and appearances with the present Capitals team. David, his Son David plays forward of Bratislava Capitals and also plays for the Slovak national team, similar to his father. His other son, Nick has started his collegiate football career in Amherst College in 2017.
Playing career
Bondra was a player for one season with HK Poprad in the lower levels of the Czechoslovak league. He then was then transferred onto VSZ Kosice in the First Division at the age of 18. His elder brother Juraj also played there on defense, having been awarded a championship for the team in the year before. In his first year in Kosice, Peter was considered to be among the top shooters in the Czechoslovak league. He was also the winner of the league title with his brother in 1988.
National Hockey League
Bondra was drafted to the Washington Capitals in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, 156th overall. Prior to joining the Capitals Bondra played for TJ VSZ Kosice (now called HC Kosice) for four seasons between 1986 and 1990 in Czechoslovakia. When he moved to Washington, Bondra became one of the most prolific goal scorers during the 90s. Due to the language barrier, he made very close with Ukraine-born Capitals player Dmitri Khristich who he argued with in both Russian and Ukrainian. The most intense playoff run of his was in 1997-98 during which the Capitals advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals before being defeated by Detroit’s Detroit Red Wings. In the 2003-04 season, Bondra’s 14th season with Washington and the Capitals were a disappointment and in a salary reduction move, they traded some of the veterans of the team for contenders. The result was that Bondra was traded for Ottawa Senators. Ottawa Senators for Brooks Laich and the second round draft pick. In the press conference that announced the deal, Bondra notably broke into tears.
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In 14 seasons playing for the Capitals, Bondra scored 472 goals and racked up 353 assists across 961 games. He holds the Capitals team record in small-handed goal goals (32). Alongside Washington Bondra was a participant on the five All-Star Games (1993, 1996 1997, 1998, 1993 as well as 1999). The year 1997 was the last time Bondra won an award for the Fastest Skater Competition on the All-Star Weekend. In 2004, the Capitals were able to vote fans to select the top 30 players from the history of the franchise to commemorate their 30th year as a team. Bondra finished second with 2,018 votes. Winner, Olaf Kolzig, beat Bondra by just 20 votes.
In 1994-95 (with 34 in a lockout-shortened period) in 1997 and 1998 (with fifty-two), Bondra led the league in goals scored, however, there was no Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for the highest number of goals scored in the course of a season didn’t exist until the 1998-99 season.
After 2004, the NHL season was cancelled because of labor disputes in the NHL union dispute Bondra took part in just a few matches for HK Tatravagonka SKP Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga. Prior to the 2005-06 hockey season, Bondra was in talks to return to the Capitals but he was eventually signed by Atlanta’s Atlanta Thrashers for one season.
On the 10th of December, Bondra signed a one-year contract in the Chicago Blackhawks. On December 22 the 22nd of December, 2006, he scored his 500th NHL career goal at the United Center, in Chicago’s 3-1 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bondra was able to get his foot in the net and scored the rebound of Jassen Cullimore’s goal from the left side past Toronto’s Jean-Sebastien Aubin, 6:37 into the third period of the power play. Bondra became the 37th person in league history to score 500 goals and the fourth player in league history to make 500 goals in a Blackhawks jersey, along with Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Michel Goulet.
On October 29 on the 29th of October 2007, Bondra announced his retirement from professional hockey at 39. Since his retirement, Bondra has represented Colosseo USA the Slovak company that produces custom electronic scoreboards.
International competition
Bondra has represented Slovakia on seven occasions in international competitions, 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 record-setting seven goals (including the winning goal of the tournament) and was ranked third out of the players who scored nine points. This helped lead Slovakia 4-3 over Russia to the bronze medal from the 2002 World Championship. He notched 5 points (three goals and 2 assists) in eight games to help Slovakia get their bronze award at the 2003 World Championship. In all, he had played in 47 of the games, scoring 35 goals and scoring for Slovakia.
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