Peter Bondra (Slovak pronunciation: eter ‘bondra]; born on 7 February 1968) is Ukrainian born Slovak former professional ice hockey player. As the team’s general manager, he was a part of the Slovakia national team from 2007 to 2011. A two-time 50 goal scorer, Bondra was the 37th person to be the 37th player in National Hockey League (NHL) history to score 500 NHL goals. Bondra scored the lowest number of points among the players who made it to that point with 892. Bondra scored the most goals in the NHL during two seasons, the 1994-95 season and then 1997-98. Bondra is one of the few players who scored 5 or more goals a single game in NHL.
Family and life
Bondra is born the year 1968 at Bakivtsi, Lutsk Raion, Ukraine that was at the time an integral component 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 together Peter along with his two brothers, Juraj and Vladimir, to Poprad at the age of Peter was only three years old. His father died in 1982.
Bondra is a Soviet citizen when he first arrived to the United States, later obtaining a Slovak passport and citizenship in 1993 prior the opening of the 1994 Winter Olympics qualifying tournament. After moving to Crofton, Maryland, Bondra resides in Riva together with his spouse Luba and their daughter Petra and their two twins David and Nick. He has participated in multiple alumni events and has also played in games with the current Capitals organization. David, his Son David has been a forward for Bratislava Capitals and also plays for Slovak national team, which is similar to his father. The other son of his, Nick has started his collegiate track at Amherst College in 2017.
Working as a professional
Bondra played one season for HK Poprad in the lower levels of the Czechoslovak league. He later moved into VSZ Kosice in the First Division at the age of 18. His older brother Juraj was also a player as a defense player, having achieved a championship trophy for the team in the preceding year. As early as his second campaign at Kosice, Peter was considered as one of the best shooters in the Czechoslovak league. He was also the winner of the league championship along with his brother in 1988.
National Hockey League
Bondra was selected by the Washington Capitals in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, 156th overall. Before joining the Capitals, he played for TJ VSZ Kosice (now called HC Kosice) for four seasons from 1986 to 90 in Czechoslovakia. When he moved to Washington, Bondra became one of the more prolific goal-scorers in the 1990s. Because of the language barrier, he made an ally of Ukraine-born Capitals player Dmitri Kristich and he would converse in both Russian and Ukrainian. His most successful playoff run was in 1997-98 during which the Capitals made it towards the Stanley Cup Finals before being swept by the Detroit Red Wings. In 2003-04, Bondra’s 14th year with Washington and the Capitals were a disappointment and as part of a salary purge move, they traded some of the veterans of the team to teams that were considered contenders. In the end, Bondra was traded with the Ottawa Senators for Brooks Laich and a second round draft pick. The press conference to announce the deal, Bondra notably broke into tears.
In 14 years playing for the Capitals, Bondra scored 472 goals and recorded 353 assists in 961 games. Bondra holds the Capitals team record in small-handed goal goals (32). Together with Washington Bondra, he played for the five All-Star Games (1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 in 1999 and 1997). Both in 1997 and 1999 Bondra was awarded the Fastest Skater Competition on All-Star Weekend. In 2004, the Capitals held a vote for fans to select the top 30 players from the history of the franchise to commemorate their 30th year in the league. Bondra finished second having received 2,018 votes. The winner, Olaf Kolzig, beat Bondra by just 20 votes.
During the 1994-95 (with 34 goals scored in a lockout shortened season) along with the 1997-98 period (with 52), Bondra led the league in goals scored even though Bondra did not win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for the most goals scored during the course of a season didn’t exist before the 1997-99 campaign.
After 2004, the NHL season was cancelled due to negotiations over the NHL strike, Bondra was spotted playing a couple of times with HK Tatravagonka SKP Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga. Prior to the 2005-06 season, Bondra was in talks to return to the Capitals however the team he signed with was the Atlanta Thrashers for one season.
On the 10th of December, Bondra was signed to a single-year deal for the Chicago Blackhawks. On December 22 the 22nd of December, 2006 Bondra scored his 500th NHL career goal at the United Center, in Chicago’s 3-1 win over Toronto. Toronto Maple Leafs. Bondra scored from the goal line and netted the rebound of Jassen Cullimore’s goal from the left side past Toronto’s Jean-Sebastien Aubin, 6:37 into 3rd period on the powerplay. Bondra has become the 37th hockey player in the history of the league to score 500 goals and the fourth player in league history to record his 500th goal in a Blackhawks jersey, along with Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Michel Goulet.
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On the 29th of October, 2007, Bondra made the announcement that he would be retiring from pro hockey, at 39. Since retirement, Bondra has represented Colosseo USA the Slovak company that produces custom electronic scoreboards.
International competition
Bondra has played for Slovakia at seven times during international competitions, which included his participation in 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 tournament-leading seven goals (including the winning goal of the tournament) and ranked third among the players who scored nine points. He led Slovakia 4-3 against Russia to the silver medal in the 2002 World Championship. He scored five points (three goals two assists) in eight games, which helped Slovakia get an Olympic bronze at 2003’s World Championship. He had played in 47 of the games, scoring 35 goals and scoring for Slovakia.
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