American center Nick Bonino, 37, has re-signed to play an additional season with HK Olimpija Ljubljana, the Slovenian-based ICEHL club announced on Sunday.
This past season, his first in Europe, Bonino had 19 points in 26 games for Olimpija, including both the multi-state ICEHL and two games in the Slovenian national championship. Olimpija finished eighth in the ICEHL regular season and lost in the play-in round, and won the Slovenian championship.
“My family and I feel great in Ljubljana,” Bonino is quoted on the club’s website. “The club has a clear vision and an ambitious plan that inspires me. I want to be part of this chapter and help the team on and off the ice.”
"With his first decision to join Olimpija, ‘Bones’ proved that he is a person who relies on his feelings,” said Olimpija club CEO Anže Ulčar. “These feelings turned out to be right, as he feels good in Ljubljana and wants to build our story. He has proven to be a very reliable player who takes responsibility in decisive moments and leads the team with his calmness. He impressed me with his attitude in the national championship final, where he showed complete professionalism and dedication and was the best individual on our team.”
Nick Bonino Signs In Slovenia
American center Nick Bonino, 36, has signed a contract to play the remainder of the current season with HK Olimpija Ljubljana, the <a href="https://www.hkolimpija.si/en/nick-bonino-has-joined-hk-olimpija-ljubljana/">Slovenian-based ICEHL club announced</a> on Friday.
Born in Hartford, Conn., Bonino was drafted out of high school in the sixth round, 173rd overall, by the San Jose Sharks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the next three seasons playing for the Boston University Terriers, helping the team win an NCAA championship in 2008-09.
From 2010 until 2024, Bonino recorded 358 points in 858 NHL regular-season games with the Anaheim Ducks, Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, Sharks and New York Rangers. He also had 48 points in 105 playoff games, helping Pittsburgh win back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
Internationally, Bonino has represented the USA at three IIHF World Championships, earning two bronze medals and serving as team captain in 2023 in Tampere.
Prior to signing in Ljubljana, Bonino’s only previous experience playing for a European club came during the 2012-13 NHL lockout when he played 19 games for Italian second-division club Neumarkt-Egna. He also played for German club Adler Mannheim in that season’s Spengler Cup tournament.