Dennis Kevin Bonvie (born July 23, 1973, in Antigonish, N.S.) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, most notable for being the most penalized player in professional hockey history. He is currently a pro scout for the NHL Chicago Blackhawks.

[edit] Playing career

While Bonvie, a 5'11", 205-pound right winger, had appeared in 92 National Hockey League games with six different NHL teams since being turned pro in 1993 by the Edmonton Oilers, he spent the vast majority of his career in the American Hockey League in which he played with eight different clubs. Bonvie was known for a physical style of play and his primary role as the enforcer for his various teams.

As a member of the Hamilton Bulldogs in 1997, Bonvie established a then-single season AHL record for penalty minutes (PIM) with 522, a mark which stood for eight seasons before being eclipsed in 2004–05 by Brian McGrattan of the Binghamton Senators with 551. Bonvie's eventual career AHL penalty minute total, 4,493 minutes (in just 871 regular season games) was a remarkable 1,553 more than Rob Murray's second overall career AHL record high total 2,940 PIM in 1,018 games over fifteen seasons. [1] During the 2008 season, Bonvie surpassed Kevin Evans for the most career penalty minutes in professional hockey history.

The Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza (home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) is often called the "house that Bonvie built." [2]

Dennis's younger brother Herb played pro hockey, but has since retired.

Dennis retired following the 2008 season. In his final season, he played as a member of the Eastern Conference champion Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins hockey team. The Penguins eventually lost the 2008 Calder Cup in six games to the Chicago Wolves.

[edit] Career statistics

[edit] External links

• Dennis Bonvie's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
• Dennis Bonvie's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Player's Recent Transactions & Career Records
• theahl.com - Bonvie nearing the end of the road - 4/12/08