Oliver Bonk

Last updated
Oliver Bonk
Born (2005-01-09) January 9, 2005 (age 19)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 176 lb (80 kg; 12 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team		 Philadelphia Flyers
London Knights  (OHL)
NHL draft 22nd overall, 2023
Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career TBD–present

Oliver Bonk (born January 9, 2005) is a Canadian ice hockey player for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) while under contract to the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 22nd overall by the Flyers in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Contents

Playing career

During the 2022–23 season, in his first full season with the London Knights, Bonk recorded ten goals and 30 assists in 67 games. He ranked second among rookie defencemen in the OHL with 40 points, and ranked first with 17 power-play points and four short-handed points. [1] [2] Bonk was named to the league's Second All-Rookie Team. [3]

Following the conclusion of the season, Bonk was drafted 22nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. Bonk was one of two of Philadelphia's first-round selections, the other being Matvei Michkov. The Flyers had acquired the 22nd pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets via trade, who in turn had acquired the pick from the Los Angeles Kings at the 2022–23 trade deadline. [2]

Bonk missed several weeks of the 2023–24 season while participating in the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships with the Canadian junior team. [4] After a lengthy goalscoring drought that had begun in the final months of the 2022–23 season, coach Dale Hunter shifted Bonk's power play position, resulting in a significant increase in goalscoring for the remainder of the season. [5] He finished the regular season with 24 goals and 43 assists in 60 games, and was named to the OHL First All-Star Team. [6] [7] The Knights received the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the top team in the regular season, [8] and in the playoffs reached the OHL Finals for the second consecutive season, where they defeated the Oshawa Generals to hoist the J. Ross Robertson Cup. [9] Bonk had 7 goals and 9 assists in the championship run, [6] and was cited as a key part of the "core" of the team. [9]

International play

Bonk made his debut with the Canadian national junior team at the 2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. With the quarter-final game against the Czech Republic tied eleven seconds from going to overtime, a puck redirected into the Canadian net off Bonk's stick, and as a result Team Canada was eliminated. He remarked that it was a "bad bounce," and vowed to use the overall experience as motivation, saying "we're not going to mope about it and feel bad about ourselves. It was a world-class atmosphere." [4]

Personal life

Bonk is the son of Czech former player Radek Bonk. [10] Oliver was born in Ottawa, Ontario while Radek was playing for the Ottawa Senators. [2]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
2021–22 St. Thomas Stars GOJHL 32527321460116
2021–22 London Knights OHL 10033671012
2022–23 London KnightsOHL671030403821011116
2023–24 London KnightsOHL60244367321879168
OHL totals137347611076468202816

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2024 Canada WJC 5th50332
Junior totals50332

Awards and honours

AwardYearRef
OHL
Second All-Rookie Team 2023 [3]
J. Ross Robertson Cup champion 2024 [11]
First All-Star Team2024 [7]

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References

  1. ↑ Morreale, Mike G. (June 16, 2023). "Bonk focused on all-around game ahead of 2023 NHL Draft". NHL.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Han, Giana (June 28, 2023). "Flyers draft defenseman Oliver Bonk with their second pick of the first round". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "OHL Announces 2022-23 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". Ontario Hockey League. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Pyette, Ryan (January 5, 2024). "Oliver Bonk has new resolve after medal-less world junior experience". The London Free Press . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ Meltzer, Bill (February 1, 2024). "Farm Report: 'Bumper Bonk' Causing a Sensation". NHL.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Nolan, Siobhan (May 28, 2024). "Two Flyers Prospects Named To OHL All-Star Teams". The Hockey News . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Sweetland, Josh (May 28, 2024). "OHL Announces 2023-24 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  8. ↑ Sweetland, Josh (March 24, 2024). "London Knights claim Hamilton Spectator Trophy as OHL Regular Season Champions". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Pyette, Ryan (May 18, 2024). "A London Knights championship, built on one gold-plated OHL draft crop". The London Free Press . Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  10. ↑ Maher, Sarah Jean (June 28, 2023). "What are the Flyers getting in Oliver Bonk? We watched a game with his dad, Radek". The Athletic . Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Tournament field set for 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow". Canadian Hockey League. May 19, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Philadelphia Flyers' first round draft pick
2023 		Succeeded by
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