Brian Ihnačák

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

Brian Ihnačák
Born	(1985-04-10) April 10, 1985 (age 40) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Right
Played for	MHK Kežmarok HKM Zvolen HK Poprad SG Pontebba HC Valpellice Malmö Redhawks Vålerenga Ishockey Mountfield HK HC Sparta Praha HC Litvínov EHC Olten HC Dynamo Pardubice HC '05 Banská Bystrica HC Merano HC Košice
National team	Italy
NHL draft	259th overall, 2004 Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career	2007–2024

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.^{[citation needed]} Ihnacak retired from active hockey in August 2024 at the age of 39. Immediately after retirement, he became a European scout for Pittsburgh Penguins.^[1]

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						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				111	32	50	82	208		15	6	4	10	14
ITA totals				105	67	88	155	168		21	10	19	29	43
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					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