Tony Hrkac is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) and various European leagues. He was born on July 7, 1966, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Hrkac began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Prince Albert Raiders in 1983. He played three seasons with the Raiders, scoring 146 goals and 238 assists in 192 games. In 1986, he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft.
Hrkac made his NHL debut with the Blues in the 1987-88 season, playing in 15 games and scoring two goals and four assists. He spent the majority of the season with the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, where he scored 32 goals and 63 assists in 63 games.
Hrkac played four seasons with the Blues, from 1987 to 1991, scoring 41 goals and 87 assists in 197 games. He was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in 1991, where he played for one season before being traded to the Dallas Stars.
Hrkac played two seasons with the Stars, from 1992 to 1994, scoring 22 goals and 47 assists in 124 games. He was then traded to the Anaheim Ducks, where he played for two seasons, from 1994 to 1996, scoring 24 goals and 50 assists in 137 games.
Hrkac played for several European teams during the NHL lockout in the 1994-95 season, including EV Zug in Switzerland and HC Bolzano in Italy. He also played for the Frankfurt Lions in Germany during the 1996-97 season.
Hrkac returned to the NHL in 1997, signing with the Edmonton Oilers. He played one season with the Oilers, scoring six goals and 16 assists in 63 games. He then signed with the New York Islanders, where he played for one season, scoring four goals and 11 assists in 54 games.
Hrkac played his final NHL season with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1999-2000, scoring two goals and six assists in 38 games. He then played for several European teams, including HC Davos in Switzerland, HC Bolzano in Italy, and the Frankfurt Lions in Germany.
Hrkac retired from professional hockey in 2003, after playing 20 seasons. He finished his NHL career with 93 goals and 215 assists in 608 games. He also played in various European leagues, scoring 168 goals and 329 assists in 479 games.
Hrkac was known for his playmaking ability and was a skilled passer. He was also a versatile player who could play both center and wing positions. He won a gold medal with Team USA at the 1986 World Junior Championships and a bronze medal at the 1991 World Championships.
After retiring from hockey, Hrkac became a coach and worked with various youth hockey programs. He also started a hockey equipment company, Hrkac Group, which provides custom hockey sticks and equipment.
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