Brian Bonin
Encyclopedia
Brian Raymond Bonin is a former professional ice hockey
center
. He was drafted in the ninth round, 211th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins
in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
.
After being named Minnesota Mr. Hockey
in 1992 for his play at White Bear Lake Area High School
, Bonin entered the University of Minnesota
. His stellar time with the Golden Gophers culminated with winning the Hobey Baker Award
, given to the most outstanding collegiate hockey player in the NCAA, in his senior season. Bonin led the nation in scoring during the 1995-1996 season at the University of Minnesota, and was named a first-team All-American, WCHA Player of the Year, first-team All-WCHA, and team Most Valuable Player in both his junior and senior seasons
Bonin made his professional debut with the IHL's Cleveland Lumberjacks
in the 1996–97 season. He then joined the AHL
's Syracuse Crunch
for the 1997–98 season
, tallying 69 points in 67 games.
Bonin made his NHL
debut with the Penguins in the 1998–99 season, appearing in five regular-season and three playoff games. The rest of the season was split between the IHL's Kansas City Blades
and the AHL's Adirondack Red Wings
. After another full season with the Syracuse Crunch and most of one with the Cleveland Lumberjacks, Bonin joined the Minnesota Wild
for seven NHL games in the 2000–01 season. To date, he has no further NHL experience.
In his 12 career NHL games, Bonin was held off the scoresheet. He also went scoreless in his three career Stanley Cup
playoff games.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
center
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
. He was drafted in the ninth round, 211th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft
1992 NHL Entry Draft
The 1992 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 264 players were drafted.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
.
After being named Minnesota Mr. Hockey
Minnesota Mr. Hockey
The following is a list of ice hockey players who have been selected over the years to receive the Mr. Hockey award as the most outstanding senior high school hockey player in the state of Minnesota. The recipients are reviewed and selected by a group of National Hockey League scouts and Division I...
in 1992 for his play at White Bear Lake Area High School
White Bear Lake Area High School
White Bear Lake Area High School, abbreviated WBLAHS, is a high school in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The school was formed by merging White Bear High School and White Bear Lake Mariner High in the 1983-84 school year, and currently consists of two campuses and an alternative learning center...
, Bonin entered the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
. His stellar time with the Golden Gophers culminated with winning the Hobey Baker Award
Hobey Baker Award
The Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player.It is named for hockey player and World War I veteran Hobey Baker, who played collegiately at Princeton University and learned the game at St...
, given to the most outstanding collegiate hockey player in the NCAA, in his senior season. Bonin led the nation in scoring during the 1995-1996 season at the University of Minnesota, and was named a first-team All-American, WCHA Player of the Year, first-team All-WCHA, and team Most Valuable Player in both his junior and senior seasons
Bonin made his professional debut with the IHL's Cleveland Lumberjacks
Cleveland Lumberjacks
The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:...
in the 1996–97 season. He then joined the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
's Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse Crunch
The Syracuse Crunch are a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Syracuse, New York, at the War Memorial at Oncenter...
for the 1997–98 season
1997–98 AHL season
The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...
, tallying 69 points in 67 games.
Bonin made his NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
debut with the Penguins in the 1998–99 season, appearing in five regular-season and three playoff games. The rest of the season was split between the IHL's Kansas City Blades
Kansas City Blades
The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena....
and the AHL's Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack Red Wings
The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
. After another full season with the Syracuse Crunch and most of one with the Cleveland Lumberjacks, Bonin joined the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
for seven NHL games in the 2000–01 season. To date, he has no further NHL experience.
In his 12 career NHL games, Bonin was held off the scoresheet. He also went scoreless in his three career Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
playoff games.
Awards
- Minnesota Mr. HockeyMinnesota Mr. HockeyThe following is a list of ice hockey players who have been selected over the years to receive the Mr. Hockey award as the most outstanding senior high school hockey player in the state of Minnesota. The recipients are reviewed and selected by a group of National Hockey League scouts and Division I...
(most outstanding senior high school player in Minnesota): 1991–92 season - Hobey Baker AwardHobey Baker AwardThe Hobey Baker Award is an annual award given to the top National Collegiate Athletic Association men's ice hockey player.It is named for hockey player and World War I veteran Hobey Baker, who played collegiately at Princeton University and learned the game at St...
(top player in NCAA): 1995–96 season