Bokondji Imama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bokondji Imama |
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Imama with the Tucson Roadrunners in 2023
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| Born | August 3, 1996 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||
| Weight | 222 lb (101 kg; 15 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Pittsburgh Penguins Arizona Coyotes Ottawa Senators |
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| NHL Draft | 180th overall, 2015 Tampa Bay Lightning |
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| Playing career | 2017–present | ||
Bokondji "Boko" Imama (born August 3, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He plays as a left winger for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Arizona Coyotes and the Ottawa Senators.
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Boko Imama's Hockey Journey
Starting in Junior Hockey
Boko Imama began his hockey career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The Baie-Comeau Drakkar team picked him in the 2012 draft. He played for the Drakkar for almost three seasons. Imama was known for his strong physical play on the ice.
In 2014–15, he moved to the Saint John Sea Dogs. During his time with the Sea Dogs, he once received a suspension. This happened when he left the bench to defend a younger teammate during a fight. He showed great loyalty to his team.
In the 2016–17 season, Imama had an amazing year. He scored 41 goals for the Sea Dogs. This was the most goals on his team. He also helped the Sea Dogs win the President's Cup. This is a big championship in the QMJHL. After that, they went to the Memorial Cup tournament.
Becoming a Professional Player
The Tampa Bay Lightning chose Imama in the 2015 NHL draft. He later signed a contract with the Los Angeles Kings in 2017. For his first four years as a professional, Imama mostly played in the American Hockey League (AHL). He played for the Ontario Reign, which is the Kings' AHL team.
During his time in the AHL, Imama faced some difficult moments. He was unfortunately targeted with racist comments by other players. However, the league took these incidents seriously. The players who made the comments were suspended. In one game after such an incident, Imama showed great strength. He got into a fight, scored a goal, and made an assist. This is known as a "Gordie Howe hat trick" in hockey.
Playing in the NHL
In 2021, Imama was traded to the Arizona Coyotes. He played for their AHL team, the Tucson Roadrunners. He continued to show his strong play.
On April 22, 2022, Imama made his big debut in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Arizona Coyotes. The very next day, he scored his first NHL goal against the St. Louis Blues. It was a very exciting moment for him. He played a few games with the Coyotes during that season and the next.
In 2023, Imama signed with the Ottawa Senators. He played for their AHL team, the Belleville Senators. He was called up to play six games for the Ottawa Senators in the NHL.
In 2024, Imama joined the Pittsburgh Penguins. He started the season with their AHL team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He was later called up to the NHL to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins. On February 28, 2025, he made a big hit to protect a teammate. On March 22, 2025, he scored his first goal for the Penguins.
Boko Imama's Family Life
Bokondji Imama was born in Montreal, Canada. He has four sisters. His parents, Kumbia and Bokondji, moved to Canada from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
