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Peter Bondra Life Story

Peter Bondra (Slovak pronunciation: eter ‘bondra]; born 7 February 1968) is a Ukrainian-born Slovak former professional hockey player. The general manager was with the Slovakia national team from 2007 until 2011. Two-time 50-goal scorer Bondra was one of the 37 players of the National Hockey League (NHL) history to record 500 NHL goals. Bondra scored the lowest number of points among the players who made it to that point with 892. Bondra was the player with the best goals in the NHL in two seasons, the 1994-95 season and then 1997-98. Bondra is one of the few players to score five or more goals in a single game in the NHL.

Life and family

Bondra was born on the 13th of the year 1968 at Bakivtsi, Lutsk Raion, Ukraine which was a region of Soviet Union. The father of Bondra (a Rusyn) had moved to Lutsk from Jakubany, Czechoslovakia, when at the age of 16, which was also when he first met his wife (a Pole). The couple moved together Peter along with his older brothers, Juraj and Vladimir, to Poprad when Peter was just three years old. His father died in 1982.

Bondra used to be a Soviet citizen at the time of his arrival in the United States, later obtaining a Slovak visa and citizenship prior to the commencement of the 1994 Winter Olympics qualifying tournament. After moving to Crofton, Maryland, Bondra resides in Riva with his wife Luba, their daughter Petra, and their twins David and Nick. Bondra has played in numerous alumni games and appearances with the present Capitals organization. David, his Son David is an forward of Bratislava Capitals and also plays for the Slovak national team, similarly to his father. His other son, Nick, began his collegiate professional career with Amherst College in 2017.

Professionally active

Bondra had a brief stint with HK Poprad in the lower ranks of the Czechoslovak league, before being was then transferred onto VSZ Kosice in the First Division at the age of 18. His older brother Juraj also played there as a defensive player, and had already won one championship title with the team the preceding year. In his first year in Kosice, Peter was considered to be among the top shooters in the Czechoslovak league. He won the league championship along with his brother in 1988.

National Hockey League

Bondra was selected from the Washington Capitals in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, 156th overall. Prior to joining the Capitals the team, he was with TJ VSZ Kosice (now called HC Kosice) for four seasons between 1986 and 1991 in Czechoslovakia. After moving to Washington, Bondra became one of the top goal-scorers of the 1990s. Because of the difficulty in communicating, he became good friends with the Ukrainian born Capitals player Dmitri Khristich who was a frequent conversation partner in both Russian and Ukrainian. His deepest playoff run came in 1997-98 during which the Capitals advanced into the Stanley Cup Finals before being defeated by Detroit’s Detroit Red Wings. In the 2003-04 season, Bondra’s 14th year with Washington was a disappointment for the Capitals had a disappointing year and, as part of a salary-cutting move traded veteran members of the team to rivals. As a result, Bondra was traded by the 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 over 961 games. He holds the Capitals record for short-handed goals (32). Together with Washington Bondra played in five All-Star Games (1993, 1996 1997, 1998, 1993 in 1999 and 1997). In 1997 and 1999, Bondra took home an award for the Fastest Skater Competition on All-Star Weekend. In 2004, the Capitals were able to vote fans to select the top 30 players in the history of the franchise to celebrate their 30th season with the team. Bondra finished second with 2,018 votes. In the final, Olaf Kolzig, beat him by only 20 votes.

During the 1994-95 (with 34 goals scored in a lockout shortened season) in 1997 and 1998 (with the 52), Bondra led the league in goals scored, however, Bondra did not win the 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 the 2004-05 NHL season was cancelled because of the NHL strike, Bondra participated in a few games with HK Tatravagonka SKP Poprad of the Slovak Extraliga. Prior to the 2005-06 campaign, Bondra was in talks to join the Capitals however, he was eventually signed by Atlanta’s Atlanta Thrashers for one season.

On December 10, Bondra signed a one-year deal in the Chicago Blackhawks. On December 22, 2006 Bondra scored the 500th NHL career goal at the United Center, in Chicago’s 3-1 win against Toronto. Toronto Maple Leafs. Bondra scored from the goal line and scored the rebound of Jassen Cullimore’s shot from left side over Toronto’s Jean Sebastien Aubin at 6:37 of the third period , on the powerplay. Bondra is the 37th goal scorer in league history to achieve the milestone of 500 goals and the fourth player to make 500 goals in a Blackhawks uniform, joining Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Michel Goulet.

On October 29 the 29th of October, 2007 Bondra declared his resignation from hockey in 39. Since retiring, Bondra has represented Colosseo USA which is a Slovak company that produces custom scoring boards using video.

International games

Bondra has played for Slovakia on seven occasions in international competitions, including 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 a record-setting seven goals (including the goal that won the tournament) and was third out of all players with nine points to lead 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 to help Slovakia earn the bronze medal at the 2003 World Championship. He was in the field for 47 matches and scored 35 goals on behalf of Slovakia.

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