| Born: | Nov 28, 1973 | Draft: | 1992 Penguins, 211th Overall |
| Hometown: | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Position: | Centre |
| Known For: | NCAA Top Collegiate Player (1996) | Shoots: | Left |
| National Team: | United States | Current Status: | Retired |
Brian Bonin (born November 28, 1973) is a former American ice hockey player, having played his final year in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild during the 2000-2001 season. Drafted 211th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, Bonin committed to the University of Minnesota in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for four years. In each year, he improved his offensive numbers, becoming a point-per game player in each of his last three years and serving as the team’s captain in his final season. After one year in the International Hockey League (IHL), Bonin joined the American Hockey League (AHL) and recorded 69 points in 67 games during his rookie year with the Syracuse Crunch.
Making his NHL debut with the Penguins in 1998, Bonin appeared in five games but failed to record a point. He split the remainder of the season between the NHL and IHL, but received a chance to play in three postseason games with the Penguins. After serving a full year as captain to the Syracuse Crunch, Bonin received another chance at the NHL, this time with the Wild. He appeared in seven games but failed again to pick up any points, finishing his second and final run with a minus-3 rating. His demotion to the IHL wasn’t all doom and gloom, as the defenseman earned player of the week and month in December, and was named to the league’s Second All-Star Team.
Unable to come to terms with a new contract with an NHL club, Bonin made the decision to test the European market. Signing with SC Langnau of the Swiss National League, he appeared in two seasons with the club and amassed 76 points in 83 games. His attempt at a North American comeback was short-lived, as he received just four games with the Worcester IceCats of the AHL before calling it a career and retiring from the sport.
Brian Bonin Statistics
Deeper Dive
Achievements
- USHS Minnesota Mr. Hockey (Best Minnesota High School Player) (1992)
- 3x NCAA (WCHA) Champion (1993, 1994, 1996)
- 2x NCAA (WCHA) First All-Star Team (1995, 1996)
- 2x NCAA (WCHA) Player of the Year (1995, 1996)
- 2x NCAA (West) First All-American Team (1995, 1996)
- NCAA Top Collegiate Player (Hobey Baker Award) Finalist (1995)
- NCAA Top Collegiate Player (Hobey Baker Award) (1996)
- NCAA (WCHA) Tournament MVP (1996)
- World Championship Bronze Medal (1996)
- IHL Player of the Month (December, 2001)
- IHL Player of the Week (Dec. 18, 2001)
- IHL Second All-Star Team (2001)