Michal Pivoňka

Michal Pivoňka
Born	(1966-01-28) January 28, 1966 Kladno, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	HC Dukla Jihlava (Cze-1) Washington Capitals (NHL) Klagenfurter AC (Austria)
NHL Draft	59th overall, 1984 Washington Capitals
Playing career	1984–2000

Michal Pivoňka (born January 28, 1966) is a retired National Hockey League player. He played his entire NHL career with the Washington Capitals. Selected by the Capitals in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, Pivonka defected to the United States during the summer of 1986. Since Eastern Europe was still under the Iron Curtain, it was still difficult for younger hockey players from the Eastern Bloc to play in the NHL.

During his NHL career, Pivonka played in 825 games, scored 181 goals and had 418 assists for a total of 599 points, twice leading the Capitals in scoring; 1991–92 (23G, 57A, 80P) and 1995–96 (16G, 65A, 81P). Pivonka last played in the NHL during the 1998-99 season, before finally retiring from hockey in 2000 after several injury filled seasons. He has the third most assists in Capitals history with 418, trailing only Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin.

Career statistics

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1986–87	Washington Capitals	NHL	73	18	25	43	41	7	1	1	2	2
1987–88	Washington Capitals	NHL	71	11	23	34	28	14	4	9	13	4
1988–89	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL	31	12	24	36	19	—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Washington Capitals	NHL	52	8	19	27	30	6	3	1	4	10
1989–90	Washington Capitals	NHL	77	25	39	64	54	11	0	2	2	6
1990–91	Washington Capitals	NHL	79	20	50	70	34	11	2	3	5	8
1991–92	Washington Capitals	NHL	80	23	57	80	47	7	1	5	6	13
1992–93	Washington Capitals	NHL	69	23	51	74	66	6	0	2	2	0
1993–94	Washington Capitals	NHL	82	14	36	50	38	7	4	4	8	4
1994–95	Washington Capitals	NHL	46	10	23	33	50	7	1	4	5	21
1995–96	Detroit Vipers	IHL	7	1	9	10	19	—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Washington Capitals	NHL	73	16	65	81	36	6	3	2	5	18
1996–97	Washington Capitals	NHL	54	7	16	23	22	—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Washington Capitals	NHL	33	3	6	9	20	13	0	3	3	0
1998–99	Washington Capitals	NHL	36	5	6	11	12	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Kansas City Blades	IHL	52	16	34	50	38	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals			825	181	418	599	478	95	19	36	55	86

Awards and honors

Directorate Award (Best Forward) and All-Star Selection, 1985 IIHF world junior hockey championships^[1]

References

↑ Collins gem Hockey Facts and Stats 2009-10, p.517, Andrew Podnieks, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd, Toronto, Canada, ISBN 978-1-55468-621-6

External links

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