The Case for the Washington Capitals Retiring Peter Bondra's #12

Think of this biography of Peter Bonda as an open letter to the Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis in an effort to get the club to finally honor Bondra with the long overdue tribute of having his number retired by the Capitals.

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Bondra was born on this date in 1968 in Lutsk, Ukraine in the Soviet Union after his Czechoslovkain father had moved there as a teenager. When Bondra was three years old, the family moved back to Poprad, Czechoslovakia where he father had originally come from.

Bondra played one season in the lower divisions of the Czech system for HK Poprad before transferring to VSZ Kosice in the First Division at age 18 during the 1986-87 season, where he joined his older brother Juraj Bondra, a defenseman who had already won a title the previous year.

After scoring just 4 goals and 9 points in 32 games of his first season, Bondra impressed with 27 goals and 38 points in 45 games in 1987-88. The team would go on to win the Czechoslovakian championship that season with both Bondra brothers on the roster.

Peter Bondra started his career with VSZ Kosice

Bondra would continue to progress, scoring 30 goals and 40 points in 1988-89 before raising his totals to 36 goals and 55 points in 49 games of the 1989-90 season, leading the team in scoring both seasons.

This earned him the attention of NHL scouts, which led to his being drafted by the Washington Capitals, who drafted him in the 8th round of the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

He immediately made the move to North America for the 1990-91 season, making the Capitals roster on his first attempt without having to play any games in the minors, as many Europeans often did to get used to the harder hitting game played on smaller ice while assimilating to the change in culture.

A young Bondra during his rookie season

As a rookie, Bondra played in 54 games, scoring 12 goals and 28 points. The following season he saw action in 71 games while raising his point totals to 28 goals and 28 assists, with both categories equaling his point total from the year prior, which allowed him to double his point total to 56.

Bondra really found his stride in 1992-93, scoring 37 goals and adding 48 assists for 85 points to lead the team in scoring for the first time. That season, he also made his first NHL All-Star Game appearance in recognition of his fine season.

Bondra appeared in his first of five All-Star Games in 1993

He was limited by injuries to 69 games in 1993-94, which limited his point totals to 24 goals and 43 points.

Bondra jumps over the boards during the 1993-94 season

Despite being limited 24 goals that season, he had a career night on February 5, 1994 when he joined an exclusive club when he scored 5 goals in a 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bondra also set two NHL records that night, tying the mark for the Most Goals in a Period with 4 and setting the mark for the Fastest Four Goals, which required just 4:12.

Peter Bondra versus the Tampa Bay Lightning

Also during 1994, Bondra changed his citizenship to Slovakian, having come to the United States as a citizen of the Soviet Union in 1990. That allowed him to make his first international appearances, taking part in four games of Olympic Qualifying play for Slovakia.

Bondra in the rarely seen early Slovakia jersey

The start of the NHL season was delayed due to labor issues, but once the season started, Bondra struck for 34 goals in 47 games. Despite having just 9 assists, Bondra's 43 points were enough to lead the Capitals in scoring for the second time. His 34 goals led the NHL, two ahead of Jaromir Jagr's 32.

In 1995-96, Bondra set a career high with 52 goals, just missing out on leading the team in points with 80 to teammate Michal Pivonka's 81. Bondra's 52 goals were 29 more than teammate Steve Konowalcuk's 23. He also appeared in his second All-Star Game, the first of four consecutive appearances. Of note, his 52 goals came in only 67 games for Washington, as Bondra missed the start of the season due to a contract hold out, which resulted in him (and holdout teammate Pivonka) playing in 7 games for the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League, the only minor league games of his career. In those seven games, Bondra scored 8 times.

Bondra duirng his brief stint with the Vipers

That fall, Bondra again suited up for Slovakia, this time at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, where he scored 3 goals in 3 games.

Bondra during the 1996 World Cup

For the 1996-97 season, he once again led the Capitals in scoring with 46 goals and 77 points, which was 29 goals more than Konowalchuk's 17 and 31 points ahead of Dale Hunter's 46. Washington missed the playoffs that season, ending a run of six straight postseason appearances by the Capitals to start Bondra's NHL career.

Washington revamped it's roster for the 1997-98 season, but Bondra still was able to lead the team in scoring for the fourth time as he equaled his career high with 52 goals on his way to 78 points, just 2 points ahead of Adam Oates. Bondra's 52 goals again led the NHL, tying him with Teemu Selanne and 1 ahead of Pavel Bure and John LeClair at 51.

Bondra led the league with a career best 52 goals in 1997-98

The 1997-98 season was the first where the NHL took a break from its schedule in February to allow its best players to compete for their home countries at the Olympics. Bondra played in two games for the Slovaks in the Preliminary Round, scoring a goal while amassing an eyebrow raising 25 penalty minutes!

In the postseason, the Capitals, who had only advanced past the second round of the playoffs once in their previous 23 seasons, defeated the Boston Bruins in 6 games, the Ottawa Senators in 5 and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals by eliminating the Buffalo Sabres in 6 where they lost in four straight to the defending champion Detroit Red Wings. Bondra tied for the team lead with 7 goals after playing in 17 of the team's 21 playoff games.

Bondra made his only Stanley Cup Finals in 1998

He would play in 66 games in 1998-99, scoring 31 goals and 55 points to lead the team in scoring for the fifth time despite missing 16 games that season. He had a difficult 1999-00 season when he scored 21 goals and 38 points in 62 games.

The 2000-01 season saw Bondra rebound nicely with a 45 goal, 81 point year while playing in all 82 games for Washington, just missing out on leading the club in scoring by a single point to Oates.

Bondra led the Capitals in scoring five times

Bondra again came second in team scoring in 2001-02 to the newly arrived Jagr, but led the team in goals with 39 to go with his 31 assists for 70 points. Following the season, Bondra competed for Slovakia in the first World Championships of his career, where the Slovakians stunned the hockey world by winning gold over Russia. Bondra had an outstanding tournament, scoring 7 goals and 9 points in 9 games, including the game winning goal in the final with less than two minutes remaining.

Bondra celebrating with the World Championship trophy in 2002

In 2002-03 Bondra had his ninth season of 30 goals or more when he had exactly 30 as part of a 56 point season. After the conclusion of the NHL season, he returned to the World Championships with Slovakia, scoring 3 goals and 5 points in 8 games on his way to earning a bronze medal.

In 2003-04, his 14th season in Washington, he had 21 goals and 35 points in 54 games but was traded to the Ottawa Senators for Brooks Laich and a second round draft pick in a salary cutting move by the Capitals, who had already dealt away Jagr, and finished in the bottom two of the NHL that season. Bondra played 23 games in Ottawa, scoring 5 goals and 14 points.

Bondra during his brief time with the Senators

Internationally, Bondra was named to the Slovakia roster for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, but was unable to appear in any games due to an injury.

The 2004-05 NHL season was never played due to a lockout of the players by the owners. Many NHL players chose to play in the top European leagues to keep busy and in shape in case there was a resolution to the labor problems. While Bondra did suit up for his childhood hometown Poprad HK SKP, it was only for 6 games. While with HK SKP, he did score 4 goals and 6 points.

For the 2005-06 season, Bondra signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Thrashers. He played in 60 games for Atlanta and scored 21 goals, his 14th season of 20 goals or more in this then 15th year in the NHL. He also contributed 18 assists for 39 points.

Bondra with the Thrashers in 2005-06

Also during the 2005-06 season, Bondra competed in his second Olympics for Slovakia, scoring 4 goals in 6 games in Torino, Italy.

Bondra celebrates a goal during the 2006 Olympics

A free agent once more, he signed to play the 2006-07 season with the Chicago Blackhawks. While he only saw action in just 37 games for Chicago, on December 22, 2006, Bondra knocked a rebound of a point shot by Janssen Cullimore past Toronto goaltender Jean-Sebasstien Aubin on a power play to score the 500th goal of his career.

Bondra scored his 500th NHL goal with the Blackhawks

His final NHL totals were 503 goals and 389 assists for 892 points in 1,081games played. Additionally, he scored another 30 goals and 26 assists for 56 points in 80 playoff games.

Internationally, Bondra scored 18 goals and 22 points in 28 games while winning World Championship gold and bronze medals for Slovakia. In 2016, Bondra was named to the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Bondra was named to the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2016

Bondra ranks second in games played for Washington with 961, was first in goals (472), points (825), power play goals (137) and game winning goals (73) at the time of his trade to Ottawa and is currently second to Alexander Ovechkin in those four categories. He is still first in Capitals history with 32 shorthanded goals and 19 hat tricks and is third in longevity for Washington with 14 seasons played.

Today's featured jersey is a 1993-94 Washington Capitals Peter Bondra jersey as worn during his record setting five goal game on this date in 1994 when he set the NHL record for the Fastest Four Goals in NHL history.

The Capitals wore their star-spangled jerseys from their inception in 1974-75 through the 1994-95 season. They brought back their original white jersey for the 2011 Winter Classic, the annual NHL outdoor game held on New Year's Day. They would wear the throwback white version as their third jersey for four seasons until changing to the red version as their alternate for the 2015-16 season.

Bonus jersey: Today's bonus jersey is a 1995-96 Washington Capitals Peter Bondra jersey as worn during his career best season of 52 goals in 1995-96.

The Capitals had adopted this style of jersey, often referred to as "the screaming eagle" style that season after 21 seasons wearing their original red, white and blue jerseys. This style remained in use through the 1999-00 season until being dropped by the team in favor of its black alternate jersey.

 

photo courtesy of Classic Auctions

Extra bonus jersey: Today's extra bonus jersey is a 1998-99 Washington Capitals Peter Bondra jersey as worn during his four goal performance as a part of the Capitals record setting 9 goal scoring binge in a span of 11:32 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 3, 1999.

The Capitals had adopted this style of jersey, often referred to as "the screaming eagle" style in 1995 after 21 seasons wearing their original red, white and blue jerseys. This white style remained in use through the 2006-07 season before a complete redesign in 2007 coinciding with the new Reebok Edge jerseys saw a return to patriotic red, white and blue colors.

Extra extra bonus jersey: Today's extra extra bonus jersey is a 1999-00 Washington Capitals Peter Bondra jersey. The Capitals comprehensively rebranded themselves in 1995 when they introduced an entirely new color scheme and logo, replacing their original red, white and blue colors with blue, bronze and black. Two seasons later in 1997-98, Washington debuted a new third jersey, which promoted their secondary logo to the front of their new black jersey. Note the arched treatment for the name on the back, which also employed a single white outline to encapsulate the entire name.

1999-00 was the final season of use as an alternate, notable for the NHL 2000 patch worn by all the players that season. For the 2000-01 season, this jersey was promoted to the Capitals primary road jersey, replacing the blue road jersey with the black jersey, which saw the names on the back become straight across and each letter now separate from the others from 2000-01 to 2006-07.

photo courtesy of Classic Auctions

Extra extra extra bonus jersey: Today's extra extra extra bonus jersey is a 2002 Slovakia National Team Peter Bondra jersey as worn during Slovakia's stunning World Championship, less than ten years after becoming an independent nation following the breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1993 and being forced to start at the lower depths of the IIHF ladder system in Pool C.

Today's video section is highlights of Bondra's five goal performance, which includes his record setting four first period goals.

Next is video of Bondra's 500th NHL career goal while he was a member of the Blackhawks.

Finally, here are highlights of Slovakia winning the World Championship, with Bondra scoring the clinching goal in the gold medal game.

1998-99 Washington Capitals Peter Bondra Jersey

It began like any other game when the Washington Capitals hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning on this date in 1999. Corey Schwab started in goal for the Lightning while the Capitals number one Olaf Kolzig took his familiar place in the crease for Washington.

Olaf Kolzig got the start for the Capitals

Washington failed to capitalize on a power play opportunity at 1:37 and the Lightning also could not score with their first man advantage at 8:17. Peter Bondra of the Capitals broke the stalemate at 10:40 shortly after Kelly Miller's charging penalty expired 23 seconds earlier. In fact, Miller received an assist on the goal. Despite two more power plays, Washington could not add to their lead and the period ended with the Capitals up by a goal and leading in shots by a comfortable 13-4 margin.

The well-travelled Mike Sillinger scored his fourth goal of the season from Rob Zamuner and Darcy Tucker at exactly 5:00 with both teams at even strength to tie the game at 1-1.

And then it began.

Bondra struck for the second time in the game at 9:46 to regain the lead for Washington and he completed his hat trick just 35 seconds later with an assist from Adam Oates. It was Bondra's 20th goal of the season, his eighth consecutive season of 20 goals or more.

Bondra completed his hat trick at the halfway point of the game

Calle Johanson made it 4-1 for the Captials 1:29 later from Andrei Nikolishin and Brian Bellows 9th goal came just 35 seconds afterwards at 11:50 to stretch the Washington lead to 6-1.

Bellows scored just 35 seconds after Nikolishin

This marked the end of the line for Schawb in the Tampa Bay goal. He was replaced by former Captial and NHL veteran Bill Ranford, who was rudely greeted by Joe Juneau's 10th goal of the season, from Bondra and Nikolishin just 1:15 after entering the game.

Corey Schwab's night ended early after Washington's fifth goal

Bondra then confirmed the rout with his fourth of the game another 63 seconds afterwards from Oates and Juneau at 14:33.

Bondra celebrates his fourth goal of the night

James Black joined the scoring parade from Nikolishin, his third of the period, and Bellows at the 16:56 mark, the Capitals seventh even strength goal of the period.

Jaroslav Svejkovsky's third goal of the season, from Steve Konowalchuk and Jan Bulis came on the power play at 19:20 to give Washington eight goals in the second period alone and set a new NHL record for the fastest 8 goals by one team, which they did in 9 minutes and 34 seconds.

Jaroslav Svejkovsky completed the Capitals onslaught

The period ended with Washington leading 9-1, with their 8 second period goals coming on 25 shots to Tampa Bay's 8. Once Bondra began the record scoring binge, the longest Washington went without a goal during the period was just 2 minutes and 24 seconds.

After the break, Washington set another record for the quickest 9 goals by one team in league history when Bellows 10th of the season, from Oates and Juneau, lit the lamp at 1:18 on the power play, giving the Capitals 9 goals in the span of 11:32.

The remainder of the game was scoreless as the Capitals cruised to a 10-1 final score and outshot Tampa Bay 46-22 for the game.

"Tonight was a night where we scored early and just kept going forward," said Bondra, who matched his goal total for the previous seven games. "I don't think I played bad before. I would hit a post. Tonight was a night when the puck went in. Everything I shot went in."

14 of the 18 Capitals scored a point, led of course by Bondra's 5 points. Defensemen Johansson and Joe Reekie were both a +5. Conversely, every Tampa Bay player, save for Tucker who was even, finished the game with a minus rating with Wendel Clark and Chris Gratton getting tagged with a -4 for the game during which the last place Lightning were missing five defensemen due to injuries.

Today's featured jersey is a 1998-99 Washington Capitals Peter Bondra jersey as worn during his four goal performance during the Capitals record setting scoring binge against the Tampa Bay Lightning. While Bondra's four goal game was certainly impressive, it was not his best, as he once scored five goals in a game on February 5, 1994 in a 6-3 Washington victory over... the same Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Capitals had adopted this style of jersey, often referred to as "the screaming eagle" style in 1995 after 21 seasons wearing their original red, white and blue jerseys. This style remained in use through the 2006-07 season before a complete redesign in 2007 coinciding with the new Reebok Edge jerseys saw a return to patriotic red, white and blue colors.

First up in today's video section is a Bondra tribute video featuring lots and lots of goals.

And there was much rejoicing.

The 2016 IIHF Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The 2016 class was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame yesterday and included four players, all with NHL experience to go with their international accomplishments.

First, was Slovakian Peter Bondra, who first competed for Slovakia at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, scoring 3 goals in 3 games. He then appeared for the Slovaks at the 1998 Olympics, the first for the star players of the NHL. In 2002, he and the Slovakians had the tournament of their lives, as Bondra scored 7 goals to lead all players and 9 points in 9 games, including the game winning goal in the gold medal final with less than two minutes to play as Slovakia won their first, and to date only, World Championship.

He returned for his second World Championship in 2003 and won a bronze medal. Bondra made one final international appearance, that being during the 2006 Olympics where he scored 4 goals in 6 games.

Bondra celebrates with his 2002 World Championship gold medal

"I'd like to thank Slovakian hockey. I was always proud to play for my country, Olympics or World Championships. My dream was to always play for the national team and score the game winning goal for a gold medal. My dream came true," Bondra stated at the ceremony.

Today's featured Bondra jersey is a 2002 Slovakia National Team Peter Bondra jersey as worn when "Peter the Great" scored the game winning goal in the championship final of the 2002 World Championships, an unexpected title considering that just three months earlier Slovakia failed to advance out of the Preliminary Round of the 2002 Olympics. Slovakia's rise to the World Championship came less than ten years ofter becoming an independent nation following the breakup of Czechoslovakia  in 1993 and being forced to start at the lower depths of the IIHF ladder system in Pool C, while the Czech Republic was allowed to retain Czechoslovakia's place in the Top Division of the World Championship system.

The next player, alphabetically, to be inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame was Russian Sergei Fedorov, whose international career began during the days of the Soviet Union. The young hockey protege was a three time member of the Soviet Union National Team at the World Junior Championships in 1987, 1988 (silver) and 1989, when he won a gold medal. Later that spring he made his debut at the World Championships at the senior level, where he added a second gold medal. He returned to the 1990 World Championship with the Soviets and took home a second consecutive gold.

His final international appearance for the Soviet Union came at the 1991 Canada Cup, and actually occurred after his defection in July of 1990.

Fedorov skating for the Soviet Union for the final time at the 

1991 Canada Cup three months before they country ceased to exist

He returned to the international stage in 1996 as a member of Russia at the World Cup of Hockey, as the Soviet Union by now had ceased to exist, breaking up on December 26, 1991. His second international appearance for Russia was at the 1998 Olympics, where he won a silver medal, his first for Russia. Four years later, he was again a medal winner at the Olympics, this time a bronze in 2002.

18 years after his last World Championships, Fedorov would return in 2008, scoring 5 goals and 12 points in 9 games as he won his third gold medal at the Worlds and his first for Russia, as the previous two were won with the Soviets.

In 2010 he played in both the Olympics in Salt Lake City and then later the World Championships three months later where he won a silver medal.

"I am so honored and so pleased that this life of hockey that has given me so much joy has borught me to this place and this special recognition,' said Fedorov.

Today's featured Fedorov jersey is a 1996 Russia National Team Sergei Fedorov jersey as worn when Fedorov played in his first international tournament for Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, his first international appearance in seven years.

Although scheduled to wear a new style for the 1998 Olympics, Russia rejected their previously approved jersey so late that they were forced to revert to their "waving flag" style from the 1996 World Cup. Fedorov and the Russians then won the Olympic silver medal in this "retired" jersey style.

Joining Fedorov in the IIHF Hall of Fame was fellow Russian Valeri Kamensky, who won gold his first time out at the 1984 European Under-18 Junior Championships for the Soviet Union. He followed that with a bronze at the U20 World Juniors in 1985 and a gold a the World Juniors in 1986, where he led the tournament in goals with 7 on his way to 13 points in 7 games.

Later in the spring of 1986, Kamensky made his debut for the senior level team at the World Championships, winning another gold medal just months apart. Kamensky was busy in 1987, as he first played for the Soviets in the two game Rendez-vous '87 series against the NHL All-Stars in Quebec. He next played in the World Championships, scoring 5 goals and 8 points in 10 games, earning a sliver medal. Finally, later in the spring, he competed for the Soviets at the 1987 Canada Cup.

Valeri Kamensky began his international career with the Soviet Union

He made his Olympic debut at the 1988 Games in Calgary, where he contributed 6 points in 8 games on his way to a gold medal. Along with other Soviet National Team duties, such as the Izvestia Trophy, Kamensky played in the next three World Championships, winning gold in 1989 and 1990 and bronze in 1991 when he was named as the tournament's Best Forward following 6 goals and 11 points in 10 games before closing out his international Soviet career with the Goodwill Games in July of 1990.

His first World Championship for Russia came in 1994 with 5 goals and 10 points in 6 games. In 1996, Kamensky won the Stanley Cup with the Colordao Avalanche, which earned him a place in the Triple Gold Club, having previously won an Olympic Gold medal and a World Championship gold medal.

With the NHL now accommodating their players participation in the Olympics, Kamensky was able to return to the Olympics for the first time in a decade, where he earned a silver medal.

He wrapped up his international career with the 2000 World Championships, his seventh.

Today's featured Kamensky jersey is a 1988 Russia National Team Valeri Kamensky jersey as worn when Kamensky played in his first Olympic Games while as a member of the Soviet Union. This was one of the first times the Tackla company of Finland supplied jerseys to the IIHF and before they developed their signature look with colored shoulders adorned with their trademark diamond shaped logo.

photo courtesy of Classic Auctions

The final player inductee was Finn Ville Peltonen, who first played for Finland at the European U18 Junior Championship where he began his medal collection with a bronze. He then moved up to the U20 level at the 1993 World Juniors.

He made his Olympic debut at the 1994 Olympics, winning a bronze medal, which was followed by a silver medal at the World Championships later that spring in his first attempt.

He became a legend in Finland when he scored a hat trick and had an assist in Finland's 1985 World Championship gold medal winning final game, a 4-1 win over Sweden. Peltonen finished with 6 goals and 11 points.

Mika Stromberg and Saku Koivu celebrate as
Peltonen is elated after completing his hat trick

He played in both the World Championships and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 followed by the 1997 World Championships. At the 1998 Olympics, Peltonen won a bronze medal. He next won three consecutive World Championship medals, silver in 1998 and 1999 and bronze in 2000.

After a break of a couple of years, Peltonen played in the next six World Championships from 2003 to 2008, winning a bronze in 2006, a silver in 2007 and another bronze in 2008. During this timer period, Peltonen also finished as runner up in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and won a silver medal at the 2006 Olympics.

Aside from games as a part of the Euro Hockey Tour, Peltonen's final major international tournament was the 2010 Olympics games, his fourth, where he won a bronze medal.

In all, Peltonen represented Finland 19 times, winning 13 medals.

Today's featured Peltonen jersey is a 1995 Finland National Team Ville Peltonen jersey from the 1995 World Championships where Peltonen famously had a hat trick in the gold medal game to give the Finns their first ever world Championship, which came at the expense of arch rival Sweden.

This jersey was made by Tackla though branded as Reeebok. This style was worn during 1994 and 1995 until Nike became the supplier to the IIHF in 1996.

Pat Quinn was also inducted into the builders category. He led Canada to its first gold medal in 50 years at the 2002 Olympics and also led Canada to the championship of the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and gold medals at both the 2008 U18 World Championship and the 2009 World U20 World Championships.

Pat Quinn

Ben Smith, who was a four time US Olympic Women's hockey coach, who led the Americans to the gold medal at the first women's Olympic hockey tournament in 1998, was also inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame

Ben Smith

Finally, the deserving winner of the second Richard "Bibi" Torriani Award was Gabor Ocskay of Hungary. The Torriani Award is given to players who have had a great international career regardless of where they have played in recognition of players who did not necessarily win Olympic or World Championship medals, but who still had remarkable careers.

Ocskay first gained recognition outside of his native Hungary at the age of 16 when he was the top scorer at the 1992 European Junior Championships C Pool with 10 points in just 3 games as he led the Hungarians to promotion to the B Pool.

He would go on to play for Hungary at the European U18 juniors twice, the U20 World Juniors twice, the World Championships 16 times in the B, C and D Pool and later at the Division I level and a round of Olympic qualifying, scoring 76 goals and 91 assists for 167 points in 122 games. He also played his hometown Alba Volán Székesfehérvár of the Hungarian Nationwide Championship League for 16 seasons, eventually scoring 307 goals and 446 assists for 753 points in 488 games.

Gabor Ocskay

He was a three time Hungarian Player of the Year, a two time Hungarian champion and won two bronze, two silver and a gold medal as he helped guide Hungary up the IIHF ladder, all the way to the Top Divsion by winning the Division I Group B championship in 2008, only without Ocskay, as he unexpectedly died on March 24th, 2008 of a heart attack at the age of only 33, just two days after winning the 2008 Hungarian championship. His passing hit the hockey fans in Hungary hard, and they remembered him by lighting candles at every ice rink in the country.

Gabor's sister Zsuanna remarked, “The family and the whole Hungarian community, which is like family, have never forgotten him,” she said. “The rink in his hometown of Szekesfehervar bears his name since 2009 and the ice hockey academy is named after him. Some of the players who trained there were members of this national team that competed in St. Petersburg.”

Today's featured Ocskay jersey is a 2009 Hungarian National Team Gábor Ocskay jersey that he would have worn in Switzerland at the 2009 Top Division World Championships had he been alive to do so.

1993-94 Washington Capitals Peter Bondra Jersey

On this date in 1994, the Washington Capitals hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Capital Centre. Don Beaupre got the start in goal for Washington while Tampa Bay countered with Daren Puppa.

Darren Puppa

Shawn Chambers opened the scoring for the Lightning with assists from Brian Bradley and Darcy Tucker.

Tampa Bay scored first against Washington

Just 27 seconds later, the Capitals responded with a goal from Peter Bondra who picked up a loose rebound and fired it home over Puppa at 14:44 from Dale Hunter and Sylvain Cote to even the score at 1-1.

Peter Bondra versus the Tampa Bay Lightning

Bondra struck again on his next shot just 15 seconds later at 14:59 using his speed to gather up a loose puck and rush in on Puppa, who was caught off balance. That allowed Bondra, who had a full head of steam, to swing around and shoot the puck in behind the goaltender just 1:15 after his first goal to give the Capitals their first lead of the night. Dimitri Khristich was credited with the lone assist.

Bondra then wasted little time, completing his hat trick just 1:51 later at 16:50 on the power play just 7 seconds after Roman Hamrlik went into the box for Tampa Bay for hauling down, who else, Bondra. Bondra scored from a sharp angle following a nice pass across the crease by Hunter that left Puppa diving in a futile attempt to cover the far side of the net. Khristich got the second assist on the goal which gave the Capitals a 3-1 lead. Bondra's natural hat trick was completed in an impressive 2 minutes and 6 seconds to set a Washington team record.

Bondra was not finished however, as he scored again just 2:06 later with each team a man down. After a nice give-and-go by Hunter and Derian Hatcher, Hunter sent Bondra in alone on Puppa in full flight. Bondra then deked Puppa and slammed on the brakes, which put Puppa flat on his back, allowing Bondra to easily fire the puck over him for his fourth goal of the period in the span of 4:12 to set an NHL record for the Fastest Four Goals in league history, which he accomplished on four consecutive shots.

Hunter had three assists in the first period

The four goals by Bondra had given the Capitals a 4-1 lead and chased Puppa from the net, as Pat Jablonski was in goal for the Lightning to start the second.

While Jablonski held off the Capitals for most of the period, Steve Konowalchuk extended the Washington lead to 5-1 at 17:49 with assists from Randy Burridge and Mike Ridley.

Amazingly, Bondra scored yet again at the 19:30 mark of the second period as Khristich passed the puck up to Shawn Anderson on the left side of the net, who deftly made a touch pass to Bondra, who was moving in on the unguarded left side of the net for an easy tap-in for his fifth goal of the game, a feat that has only been accomplished six times in the 22 years since. He also became just the fourth European player and first Slovakian to score five times in the then 78 years of the NHL.

Bondra could not wait to get back on the ice on this date in 1994

Tampa Bay fought back with two goals within 43 seconds of the third period, but it was too little too late, as Washington held on to win 6-3 thanks to Bondra's record setting night.

Injuries would limit Bondra to 69 games that season, during which he would score 24 goals and 43 points. He would lead the NHL in goals the following season with 34 in the 47 games of the 1994-95 season, which was shortened due to labor issues. Bondra continued his hot streak the following season when he scored 52 goals for the first time, a feat he repeated in 1997-98 when he led the league in goals for the second time.

He would eventually play 16 NHL seasons and score 503 goals and 389 assists for 892 points. He would play in five NHL All-Star Games and a World Cup of Hockey, two Olympics and two World Championships, winning bronze and gold medals for Slovakia.

Today's featured jersey is a 1993-94 Washington Capitals Peter Bondra jersey as worn during his record setting five goal game on this date in 1994 when he set the NHL record for the Fastest Four Goals in NHL history.

The Capitals wore their star-spangled jerseys from their inception in 1974-75 through the 1994-95 season. They brought back their original white jersey for the 2011 Winter Classic, the annual NHL outdoor game held on New Year's Day. They would wear the throwback white version as their third jersey for four seasons until changing to the red version as their alternate for the 2015-16 season.

Bonus jersey: Today's bonus jersey is a 2002 Slovakia National Team Peter Bondra jersey as worn during Slovakia's stunning World Championship, less than ten years after becoming an independent nation following the breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1993 and being forced to start at the lower depths of the IIHF ladder system in Pool C.

Today's video section is highlights of Bondra's five goal performance, which includes his record setting four first period goals.