Peter Ihnačák
Peter Ihnačák (born May 3, 1957) is a former Slovak ice hockey centre. Draft. He was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1982 NHL Entry draft as their 3rd choice, 25th overall. Career. A star in Slovakia, Ihnacak was prohibited from playing outside of the Communist bloc because members of his family had already fled Slovakia. He went on to play eight seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1982 until 1990. In his first year with the Maple Leafs, he amassed a total of 66 points (28 goals and 38  assists), the rookie record within the Maple Leafs organization until it was passed by Auston Matthews in 2017. In Europe, he played with the teams of ŠKP Poprad (Slovakia), HC Dukla Jihlava, HC Sparta Prague (both in the Czech Republic), Freiburg and Krefeld Pinguine (both in Germany). International career. He was to play in the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, but was removed from the team because he was considered a flight risk. Eventually, due to his development as a player, Ihnacak's coach pushed for his inclusion on the 1982 World Championship team, which was to play in  Helsinki, Finland. There, Ihnacak successfully (with the aid of his older brother John) made his way to Stockholm, and from there to New York. Coaching career. He was also the head coach of the team of Nuremberg Ice Tigers (Germany). Ihnačák is currently a European-based scout for the Washington Capitals. Personal. Ihnačák's younger brother, Miroslav Ihnačák, was selected by the Maple Leafs in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. After Ihnačák defected, Miroslav was forbidden to play in international tournaments, for fears he may defect as well. This didn't stop him, as he would join his brother and  the Maple Leafs in December 1985. Miroslav would play parts of two seasons with the Maple Leafs, and one game with the Detroit Red Wings, before returning to Europe and finishing his career in Slovakia in 2006.