Michal Pivoňka

Michal Pivoňka
Born	(1966-01-28) 28 January 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
National team	Czechoslovakia
NHL draft	59th overall, 1984 Washington Capitals
Playing career	1984–2000

Michal Pivoňka (born 28 January 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.

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
1983–84	Poldi SONP Kladno	CZE II		34	15	13	28	19		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	ASD Dukla Jihlava	TCH		33	8	11	19	18		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	ASD Dukla Jihlava	TCH		42	5	13	18	18		—	—	—	—	—
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	EC KAC	AUT		7	2	4	6	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		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Kansas City Blades	IHL		52	16	34	50	38		—	—	—	—	—
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

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com