Zenon Konopka

Zenon Konopka (born January 2, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Also known as "Zenon the Destroyer", Konopka played for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild, and Buffalo Sabres during his National Hockey League (NHL) career.

Playing career
As a youth, Konopka played in the 1995 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Konopka played junior hockey with the Ottawa 67's of the OHL from 1998 to 2002, and was a member of the 1999 Memorial Cup champions. He was not drafted by a NHL team and caught on with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. 

After three minor league seasons with various teams in the ECHL and AHL, he made his NHL debut in 2005–2006, playing 23 games for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. After the Ducks were eliminated, he returned to Portland in the AHL, where he led all playoff scorers in power play goals and assists. In 2006–07, he returned to the minors, playing for Portland in the AHL. On January 26, 2007, he was traded by the Anaheim Ducks along with Curtis Glencross and a draft pick to the Blue Jackets in exchange for forwards Mark Hartigan, Joe Motzko and a draft pick. He played for Columbus's farm team in the AHL, the Syracuse Crunch, with occasional call-ups to the Blue Jackets.

On July 10, 2008, Konopka signed a two year-contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent. In 2009, after a strong training camp, Konopka made the Lightning's roster out of training camp. On July 2, 2010, he signed with the New York Islanders as an unrestricted free agent.

Konopka was the most penalized player in 2009–10 and 2010–11 NHL seasons.

On July 5, 2011, Konopka signed a one-year contract with the Ottawa Senators. During the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, Konopka directed verbal abuse towards a New York Rangers player during a live television interview. Konopka was fined $2,500 by the NHL.

On July 1, 2012, Konopka signed a two-year, $1.85-million contract with the Minnesota Wild. He reportedly had three offers on the table before accepting the deal with Minnesota.

On January 3, 2014, Konopka was claimed off waivers by the Buffalo Sabres, with whom he remained until the end of the season.

On May 15, 2014, Konopka was suspended for 20 games following violation of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program after taking dehydroepiandrosterone on a doctor's suggestion. His contract with the Sabres expired July 1, during the suspension.

On January 30, 2015, Konopka signed with Ciarko PBS Bank KH Sanok of the PHL in Poland. As of June 2015, he was on tour with other professional journeymen hockey players in Australia. He planned on returning to North America after the tour ended in the hopes of returning to the NHL or, if unable to do that, an American minor league.

On April 1, 2017, Konopka officially retired from hockey when he signed a one-day contract with the Syracuse Crunch to close out his career. Konopka had previously served as Syracuse's captain, and is considered one of the more popular players in team history. Before the game a ceremony featured a video from his former teammates, and the presentation of a lifetime key to the Crowne Plaza Syracuse.

Personal
Zenon Konopka is also an entrepreneur and owner of a company Prime Wine Products and partners with local charities to help children's programs. Konopka also owns and operates Konopka Co-Packing, a packaging company that employs over 20 workers. He was once part-owner in an Ottawa bar-restaurant called "Stout Bros." and has run the "Zenon Konopka Hockey Academy" in Ottawa since 2007.

He also has a black pet rabbit, Hoppy, and maintains an Instagram and a Twitter account  for his pet, who has relocated with him since 2006. Konopka told Fox Sports North that he never wanted a rabbit as a child, but a friend suggested one as Konopka is allergic to cats and dogs. "I can't help that I fell in love with the little guy ... the guy's pretty cool. He just chills around, has his litter box, does his business there and he's pretty soothing to come home to." Zenon also has a specially made hockey jersey made for Hoppy for each team he plays for.

Konopka is of Polish descent. His father was born in Poland. His mother is a native of Buffalo, New York. Konopka's sister, Cynthia, sang the national anthems at Scotiabank Place before the Senators' game on January 16, 2012.

Career statistics
Bold indicates led league

References

External links

Official Zenon Konopka Website

Category:1981 births
Category:Buffalo Sabres players
Category:Canadian ice hockey centres
Category:Canadian people of Polish descent
Category:Cincinnati Mighty Ducks players
Category:Columbus Blue Jackets players
Category:HC Lada Togliatti players
Category:Ice hockey people from Ontario
Category:Idaho Steelheads (ECHL) players
Category:Living people
Category:Memorial Cup winners
Category:Mighty Ducks of Anaheim players
Category:Minnesota Wild players
Category:New York Islanders players
Category:Ottawa 67's players
Category:Ottawa Senators players
Category:People from Niagara-on-the-Lake
Category:Portland Pirates players
Category:Syracuse Crunch players
Category:Tampa Bay Lightning players
Category:Undrafted National Hockey League players
Category:Utah Grizzlies (AHL) players
Category:Wheeling Nailers players
Category:Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins players
Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in Russia