Jim Hrivnak

Jim Hrivnak (born May 28, 1968) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Selected by the Washington Capitals in the 1986 NHL Draft, Hrivnak played parts of four seasons with the Capitals before joining the Winnipeg Jets and later, the St. Louis Blues.

Playing career Hrivnak played for Merrimack College from 1985 to 1989. His freshman year he would go 12-6. This would lead to him being named ECAC east rookie of the year his freshman year. Hrivnak would have a great sophomore year as he would play every game for the warriors going 27-7 overall. Leading Merrimack to their first ECAC East championship. He would have a shutout in the championship game leading to him being named finals MVP. The accolades would keep coming as Hrivnak would also be named 1987 ECAC East league MVP as well being honored as an all American. During his junior year during the 1987-88 season he would have a program record 31 wins as he and Merrimack would win another ECAC East championship. This would result in Merrimack making their first ever appearance in the DI NCAA tournament. Hrivnak would be between the pipes as Merrimack pulled off a huge first round upset of hockey east champions Northeastern. Before eventually falling in the quarterfinals. He would once again be named an all American at the end of the season. His senior year he would go 18-4. He would finish his time at Merrimack with a 88-23-2 record. He still holds numerous records at Merrimack such as most shutouts in a season, most overall shutouts and most wins.

Following his graduation, Hrivnak played with the Capitals American Hockey League affiliate, the Baltimore Skipjacks, to conclude their 1988–89 season.

Hrivnak made his NHL debut on December 6, 1989, against the Pittsburgh Penguins and stopped one shot. From 1989 to 1992 he would play in 32 games for the capitals going 15-10-1 during this stretch. During the 1992-93 season he would see more action playing in 27 game for the capitals and going 13-9-2. On March 22, 1993, Hrivnak was traded from the Capitals to the Winnipeg Jets for Rick Tabaracci. He would start 3 games for the jets going 2-1. On July 29, 1993, Hrivnak was traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a 7th round draft pick. He would play 23 games with the Blues going 4-10 overall.

While playing with the St. Louis Blues during the 1993–94 season, he set a new record for most saves by a Blues goaltender against the Boston Bruins with 46.

This would turn out to be his final year in the NHL as he would finish with an overall record of 34-30-3.

He would then go to milwaukee admirals of the International Hockey League playing in 28 games and going 17-10-1. After bouncing around a couple of teams in the IHL and AHL. He would sign with the Las Vegas Thunder in 1995 playing in 13 games going 10-1-1. This would be his final season in America. As In 1996 he sign with Kölner Haie of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga playing in 21 games. He would then sign with Manchester Storm of the Ice Hockey Superleague. Playing in 21 games. Then the year after in 1998 he would join Hamburg Crocodiles of Germany2. Playing 35 games going 11-14-2. Hrivnak joined Ässät in the Finnish league Liiga to compete in their 1999–2000 season. He played 34 games in two seasons with Ässät. On October 28, 2003, Hrivnak joined the Granby Prédateurs of the Quebec Senior Major Hockey League. He would then retire after the 2003-04 season.

In 2018, Hrivnak was inducted into the Merrimack College Athletics Hall of Fame. ECAC rookie of the year 1985-86 ECAC East champion 1986-87 Merrimack team MVP 1986-87 ECAC East finals MVP 1986-87 ECAC East league MVP 1986-87 ACHA All American 1986-86 ECAC East champion 1987-88 ECAC East finals MVP 1987-88 Merrimack Co team MVP 1987-88 New England college D2 all star 1987-88 ACHA All American 1987-88

Merrimack athletics Hall of Fame 2018 Records

Merrimack College

Most wins career (88) Most wins in a season (31) Most shutouts career (11)