Bokondji Imama Bio
Bokondji “Boko” Imama is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who plays for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on August 3, 1996, in Montreal, Quebec, Imama has built his career on a physical, hardworking style that has carried him from junior hockey to the NHL. He has previously played for the Arizona Coyotes and the Ottawa Senators organizations.
Early Life and Background
Bokondji Imama was born in Montreal, Quebec, and grew up in a large family as one of five siblings. He has four sisters, and his parents, Kumbia and Bokondji, immigrated to Canada from the Democratic Republic of the Congo before he was born. His parents’ journey shaped a family environment rooted in resilience and a strong sense of community, and Montreal’s deep hockey culture provided Imama with an early connection to the sport. The combination of family support and exposure to Canadian hockey helped him develop his passion for the game from a young age.
Imama grew up playing minor hockey in the Montreal area, where his combination of size, skating ability, and physicality quickly stood out among his peers. Coaches and scouts noticed his willingness to play a heavy, responsible game, traits that would later become central to his identity as a professional. Those formative years in Quebec laid the foundation for his transition to major junior hockey and eventually to the professional ranks.
Path to Hockey
Imama’s path to professional hockey began when the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League selected him in the fourth round of the 2012 QMJHL Entry Draft. He joined the Drakkar for the 2012–13 QMJHL season and spent parts of three seasons with the team, earning a reputation for his physicality and willingness to stand up for teammates. That reputation only grew when, in December 2015, the QMJHL suspended him for 15 games after he came off the Saint John Sea Dogs’ bench to defend 15-year-old teammate Joe Veleno during a brawl against the Halifax Mooseheads.
Midway through the 2014–15 season, Imama was traded to the Saint John Sea Dogs, where his offensive game developed significantly. After posting 19 points in 48 games in 2015–16, he broke out the following year, leading the Sea Dogs and finishing seventh in the QMJHL with 41 goals in 66 games. He added 15 points in 18 games during the 2017 QMJHL playoffs as the Sea Dogs won the President’s Cup and advanced to the Memorial Cup, scoring one goal and two assists in four games at the 2017 Memorial Cup before Saint John was eliminated in the semifinal by the Erie Otters.
Bokondji Imama Career
Early Career (2017–2021)
The Tampa Bay Lightning selected Imama in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, but on May 31, 2017, after failing to agree on a contract, the Lightning traded him to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Imama signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Kings the following day. Save for a brief stint with the ECHL’s Manchester Monarchs in 2018–19, he spent the first four seasons of his professional career with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, where he continued to refine his two-way game.
During the 2019–20 season, Imama became a central figure in a high-profile incident when Bakersfield Condors defenceman Brandon Manning directed a racist taunt at him, resulting in a five-game suspension for Manning. On February 7, 2020, Imama and Manning faced each other for the first time since the incident, and Imama fought early in the first period before adding a goal and an assist to complete a Gordie Howe hat trick in a 10–3 Reign win, a performance that earned him the game’s third star.
Arizona Coyotes Era (2021–2023)
On July 24, 2021, the Kings traded Imama and defenceman Cole Hults to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forwards Tyler Steenbergen and Brayden Burke. During his first season with the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, Imama was again the target of a racist gesture, this time by San Jose Barracuda forward Krystof Hrabik on January 12, 2022. The AHL suspended Hrabik for 30 games, and Imama continued to handle the situation with composure while focusing on his play.
The Coyotes recalled Imama from the Roadrunners on April 22, 2022, and he made his NHL debut that night against the Washington Capitals. The following day, he scored his first NHL goal against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington in a 5–4 overtime loss. He appeared in four games with Arizona that season before being assigned to Tucson to start 2022–23, where he played five games with the Coyotes during the year.
Ottawa Senators Era (2023–2024)
As an unrestricted free agent, Imama signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Ottawa Senators on July 1, 2023. After attending Ottawa’s training camp, he failed to make the team and was placed on waivers. He went unclaimed and was assigned to Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators to start the 2023–24 season, where he registered ten points in 53 games. On January 13, 2024, the AHL suspended him for three games following events in a game versus the Toronto Marlies on January 12.
Imama was recalled by Ottawa on April 6, 2024, and made his Senators debut that night in a 4–3 loss to the New Jersey Devils, fighting Kurtis MacDermid in the first period. He appeared in six games with Ottawa, going scoreless, before his contract expired at the end of the season.
Pittsburgh Penguins Era (2024–Present)
After one season in the Senators organization, Imama signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, 2024. He went unclaimed on waivers and was assigned to Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to start the 2024–25 season. He made 24 appearances for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording two goals and five points, while waiting for his opportunity at the NHL level.
Imama was recalled by Pittsburgh on January 25, 2025, after Bryan Rust suffered an injury, and made his Penguins debut the following day against the Seattle Kraken, replacing Blake Lizotte in the lineup. On February 28, he delivered a controversial hit on Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway that forced Hathaway from the game, drawing criticism from Philadelphia coach John Tortorella, though Imama stated he had not intended to injure Hathaway and was protecting teammate Noel Acciari. He scored his first goal with the Penguins on March 22 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, following a fight with Mathieu Olivier earlier in the match, finishing with one goal in 16 NHL games during the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Imama is recognized around the league for his physicality, straight-line speed, and willingness to engage physically with opponents, especially in defense of teammates. He plays a north-south, energy-driven game, contributes on the penalty kill, and has shown the ability to deliver timely offense in limited minutes, as seen with his Gordie Howe hat trick for the Ontario Reign and his first NHL goal against the St. Louis Blues. His combination of size, conditioning, and character has made him a trusted bottom-six forward and penalty killer.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Imama’s career are his 2017 QMJHL President’s Cup win with the Saint John Sea Dogs, his first NHL goal against Jordan Binnington in April 2022, and his first goal as a Penguin in March 2025 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has also been a leading voice against racism in hockey following the incidents involving Brandon Manning and Krystof Hrabik, helping spark broader conversations about respect and inclusion in the sport.
Bokondji Imama Career Wins
Imama’s career is defined less by a high volume of wins and more by championships and milestones earned through his physical, team-first approach. His most prominent team victory came with the 2017 President’s Cup championship alongside the Saint John Sea Dogs, followed by an appearance at the 2017 Memorial Cup. At the professional level, he has been a reliable contributor in the AHL with the Ontario Reign, Tucson Roadrunners, Belleville Senators, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and he has earned regular NHL opportunities with the Arizona Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
QMJHL Highlights
Imama’s most significant junior victory came during the 2017 QMJHL playoffs, when the Saint John Sea Dogs captured the President’s Cup with Imama contributing 15 points in 18 games. The team then represented the QMJHL at the 2017 Memorial Cup, where Imama registered one goal and two assists in four games before Saint John was eliminated in the semifinal by the Erie Otters.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of his President’s Cup championship, Imama has been a steady performer in the AHL, helping the Ontario Reign, Tucson Roadrunners, Belleville Senators, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins compete in their respective divisions. His NHL performances, including his first NHL goal and his first goal as a Penguin, stand as personal milestones that reflect his perseverance and growth across multiple organizations.
Bokondji Imama Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Bokondji Imama was raised in Montreal in a close-knit family with deep Congolese roots. His parents, Kumbia and Bokondji, immigrated to Canada from the Democratic Republic of the Congo before he was born, building a new life in Quebec. He grew up alongside four sisters, and the values of hard work, family loyalty, and perseverance instilled by his parents have remained central to his identity as a professional athlete.
Personal Life
Imama continues to be closely connected to his family and his Montreal roots, often crediting his parents and sisters for the support that has sustained his hockey career. His background as the child of Congolese immigrants has shaped his perspective and his willingness to speak out against racism in hockey. Public details about his current residence, marital status, or children have not been disclosed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has represented Imama’s most meaningful NHL opportunity to date, as he earned a one-year, two-way contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins and was promoted to the NHL roster on January 25, 2025, following an injury to Bryan Rust. He made his Penguins debut the next day against the Seattle Kraken and quickly became a regular in the lineup, delivering a physical presence and energy on the fourth line and penalty kill. His most notable moment came on March 22, 2025, when he scored his first goal as a Penguin against the Columbus Blue Jackets, capping a game in which he also fought Mathieu Olivier.
Imama recorded one goal in 16 NHL appearances during the 2024–25 season, while adding two goals and five points in 24 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL. His physical style, including a controversial hit on Philadelphia’s Garnet Hathaway on February 28, kept him in the middle of key storylines for the Penguins’ stretch run. As the season progresses, Imama’s role as a dependable energy forward and penalty killer should give him a clear path to remain in the NHL mix while continuing to provide leadership at the AHL level when needed.