Michal Pivoňka (born January 28, 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. Since Eastern Europe was still under the Iron Curtain, it was still difficult for younger hockey players from the Eastern Bloc to play in the NHL. 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 International Awards and honors Directorate Award (Best Forward) and All-Star Selection, 1985 IIHF world junior hockey championships References External links Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com 1966 births Baltimore Skipjacks players Czech ice hockey centres Czechoslovak defectors Czechoslovak ice hockey centres Detroit Vipers players Kansas City Blades players Living people Sportspeople from Kladno Washington Capitals draft picks Washington Capitals players Czechoslovak emigrants to the United States Czechoslovak expatriate ice hockey people Czechoslovak expatriate sportspeople in the United States Czech expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Czech expatriate sportspeople in Austria Expatriate ice hockey players in Austria