Flyers first-round pick rocks epic mullet topped only by his father, a former longtime NHL player
Nearly three decades after his father, Radek Bonk, went third overall to the Ottawa Senators in the 1994 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers made his son, Oliver Bonk, the 22nd choice in the 2023 draft. However, hockey skill wasn't the only thing passed down through the generations.
The 18-year-old defenseman walked onto the draft stage Wednesday in Nashville rocking a sweet mullet, much like his father did 29 years ago.
Although, when asked the most important question, whose mullet was better, Bonk gave the nod to his old man.
"I'm going to have to say him," Bonk said. "He's got a lot more flow, and he had it going for a longer time. So, I'll still give it to him."
For the record, Bonk's father approved of his son's assessment.
"I have to agree, though. Mine was way better," the elder Bonk told Kyle Bukauskas of Sportsnet. "It was a sick salad."
A 14-year NHL veteran, including 10 with the Senators, Bonk was a consistent player throughout his career, tallying four consecutive 20-plus goal seasons from 1999-00 to 2002-03, when goal-scoring leaguewide hit near record lows.
While Bonk was a well-rounded center, his son is of similar ilk, only on the defensive side. Bonk is a highly coveted right-handed shot from the point and finished second among defensemen in points (40) for the London Knights of the OHL last season.
Bonk and his father shared an epic hairstyle on their big days so many years apart. However, the future Flyers defenseman says the most significant thing they have in common is "giving one hundred percent," adding that his father's influence on his game has been invaluable.
"I wouldn't be here without him," Bonk said. "Every lesson I've learned is because of him."
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