Lonny Bohonos

Infobox Ice Hockey Player


image_size=
played_for = Vancouver Canucks
Toronto Maple Leafs
league =
position = Right wing
shoots = Right
height_ft = 5
height_in = 11
weight_lb = 190
nickname =
nationality = CAN
birth_date = Birth date and age|1973|5|20|mf=y
birth_place = Winnipeg, MAN, CAN
draft = undrafted
draft_year =
draft_team =
career_start = 1994
career_end = 2006 Lonny Bohonos (born May 20, 1973, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) is a retired professional ice hockey Right Wing. He played in the NHL from 1995–1999 with the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs. He last played for the Mannheim Eagles of the Deutsche Eishockey-Liga, in Germany.

Playing career

Bohonos was not selected in the NHL Entry Draft (he was passed over three times from 1991–93), but a huge final year with the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL, in which he lead the league in goals (62) and points (152), earned him an NHL contract from the Vancouver Canucks.

Bohonos turned pro in the 1994–95 season with Vancouver's top AHL affiliate in Syracuse. He quickly established himself as an offensive threat, scoring 75 points in his rookie season. The following year he led Syracuse in goals and points, and earned a three-game callup to the NHL, recording an assist.

However, he was considered a very one-dimensional player, and his NHL potential was questioned as a result. These criticisms have dogged him throughout his career - while Bohonos has unquestionable skill and natural hockey sense as well as an excellent touch around the net, his defensive game and intangibles have been considered below-par. Bohonos was also ripped by analysts and scouts as being a "lazy" player.

He continued to produce in the AHL in 1996–97, and finally earned his big break around mid-season with an extended call-up to the Canucks. In a disappointing year for the team, Bohonos was a bright light in the second half, playing well on a scoring line with Trevor Linden and Martin Gelinas, and finishing with 11 goals and 22 points in 36 games.

The following season, however, was a huge disappointment. While he cracked the Canucks' NHL roster out of training camp for the first time, he was used predominantly on the team's 4th line in a checking role for which he was ill-suited. After recording only 3 points in 31 games and being returned to the AHL, Bohonos was dealt to the Maple Leafs for Brandon Convery in an exchange of struggling talents. He again showcased his talent in a late-season call-up, putting up 6 points in 6 games for the Leafs.

The 1998–99 season saw him back in the AHL, now leading the Maple Leafs' affiliate in St. John's in scoring. In 7 games with Toronto, Bohonos again produced, scoring three goals. The highlight of his career, though, would come in the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs. With Igor Korolev and Fredrik Modin injured, and Derek King struggling, Bohonos was recalled and given an opportunity to skate on a scoring line with Mats Sundin. He responded in style, putting up 3 goals and 6 assists in 9 games to help Toronto to the Conference Finals.

After a year in the IHL with the Manitoba Moose, Bohonos left North America to sign with Davos HC in Switzerland. He became one of the top players in the Nationalliga A, spending three years with Davos and one in Zurich. He returned to North America to spend the 2004–05 season with the Chicago Wolves, but again went back to Europe for 2005–06, this time for the Mannheim Eagles in Germany. In November 2005, he suffered a serious neck injury in a collision with Denis Pederson, and was sidelined for the year. He was expected to make a full recovery for the 2006–07 season, but had to end his career, due to problems resulting from the injury.

Records

yracuse Crunch

* Single Season Goals - 40 in 1995–96
* Single Season Points - 79 in 1995–96. Bill Bowler tied this record in 2000–01.
* Held Career Goal Scoring with 104. Mark Hartigan broke that record on January 19, 2007

Awards & Achievements

*WHL West First All-Star Team (1994)
*CHL Junior First All-Star Team (1994)

External links

*hockeydb|16396
*legendsofhockey|10010