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
Washington Capitals
Klagenfurter AC
NHL Draft 59th overall, 1984
Washington Capitals
Playing career 1984–2000

Michal Pivoňka (born January 28, 1966) is a Czech former 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 and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1983–84Poldi SONP KladnoCZE II3415132819—————
1984–85ASD Dukla JihlavaTCH338111918—————
1985–86ASD Dukla JihlavaTCH425131818—————
1986–87Washington CapitalsNHL731825434171122
1987–88Washington CapitalsNHL71112334281449134
1988–89Baltimore SkipjacksAHL3112243619—————
1988–89Washington CapitalsNHL528192730631410
1989–90Washington CapitalsNHL7725396454110226
1990–91Washington CapitalsNHL7920507034112358
1991–92Washington CapitalsNHL8023578047715613
1992–93Washington CapitalsNHL692351746660220
1993–94Washington CapitalsNHL821436503874484
1994–95EC KACAUT72464—————
1994–95Washington CapitalsNHL4610233350714521
1995–96Detroit VipersIHL7191019—————
1995–96Washington CapitalsNHL7316658136632518
1996–97Washington CapitalsNHL547162322—————
1997–98Washington CapitalsNHL3336920130330
1998–99Washington CapitalsNHL36561112—————
1999–2000Kansas City BladesIHL5216345038—————
NHL totals 825 181 418 599 478 95 19 36 55 86

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1983 Czechoslovakia EJC 5 4 5 9 14
1984 Czechoslovakia EJC 5 3 4 7 2
1984 Czechoslovakia WJC 7 1 2 3 0
1985 Czechoslovakia WJC 7 9 4 13 14
1985 Czechoslovakia WC 10 0 1 1 0
1986 Czechoslovakia WJC 7 5 5 10 10
1986 Czechoslovakia WC 10 2 1 3 6
1991 Czechoslovakia CC 5 0 3 3 2
Junior totals 31 22 20 42 40
Senior totals 25 2 5 7 8

Awards and honors

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

References

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


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