# Brian Ihnačák

Brian Stephen Ihnacak (born April 10, 1985) is a Canadian-born Italian retired professional ice hockey forward.

## Career

Ihnacak was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, going 259th overall. With the National Hockey League reducing the number of rounds in the NHL Entry Draft from nine to seven in 2005, Ihnacak currently holds the distinction of being the last Pittsburgh Penguins draft selection to be drafted in the ninth round. The NHL Central Scouting service had Brian ranked 44th overall in North America before the 2004 NHL draft. Ihnacak retired from active hockey in August 2024 at the age of 39. Immediately after retirement, he became a European scout for Pittsburgh Penguins.

## International career

Ihnacak competed at the 2014 IIHF World Championship as a member of the Italy men's national ice hockey team.

## Personal

Brian's father, Peter Ihnacak, was a former Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick who was selected 34th overall in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. His uncle, Miroslav Ihnacak, was also drafted and played for the Maple Leafs. Miroslav later played for the Detroit Red Wings.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2001–02 | St. Michael's Buzzers | OPJHL | 48 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | St. Michael's Buzzers | OPJHL | 46 | 40 | 46 | 86 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2003–04 | Brown University | ECAC | 31 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | Brown University | ECAC | 30 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | Brown University | ECAC | 15 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | Brown University | ECAC | 27 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2007–08 | MHK SkiPark Kežmarok | SVK | 37 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 77 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | Augusta Lynx | ECHL | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2008–09 | Elmira Jackals | ECHL | 39 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | MHK SkiPark Kežmarok | SVK.2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | HKm Zvolen | SVK | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | HK Aquacity ŠKP Poprad | SVK | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Mississippi RiverKings | CHL | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Texas Brahmas | CHL | 20 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | Allen Americans | CHL | 6 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | SG Pontebba | ITA | 37 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 60 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| 2012–13 | HC Valpellice | ITA | 32 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 52 | 16 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 12 |
| 2013–14 | HC Valpellice | ITA | 36 | 35 | 46 | 81 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | Malmö Redhawks | Allsv | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2014–15 | Vålerenga Ishockey | NOR | 44 | 22 | 55 | 77 | 60 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| 2015–16 | Mountfield HK | ELH | 52 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 46 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
| 2016–17 | HC Sparta Praha | ELH | 38 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2017–18 | HC Verva Litvínov | ELH | 18 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017–18 | EHC Olten | SUI.2 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2018–19 | HC Dynamo Pardubice | ELH | 19 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019–20 | HC ’05 iClinic Banská Bystrica | SVK | 12 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | HC Merano | ITA.2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21 | HC '05 Banská Bystrica | SVK | 21 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 79 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2021–22 | HC '05 Banská Bystrica | SVK | 15 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021–22 | HC Košice | SVK | 16 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| SVK totals | SVK totals | SVK totals | 111 | 32 | 50 | 82 | 208 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 14 |
| ITA totals | ITA totals | ITA totals | 105 | 67 | 88 | 155 | 168 | 21 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 43 |
| ELH totals | ELH totals | ELH totals | 127 | 38 | 41 | 79 | 156 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 2014 | Italy | WC | 15th | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2015 | Italy | WC D1A | 21st | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 12 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 |

## Awards and honors

| Award | Year |
| All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team | 2003–2004 |
| Coppa Italia | 2012-2013 |
| Italy most goals Italy most points | 2013-2014 |
| Norwegian All-Star Team | 2014-2015 |