Bokondji Imama
A powerful enforcer on the ice whose journey from Montreal to the professional ranks embodies resilience and the physical side of modern hockey.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: August 3·Millennials
Biography
Bokondji Imama, known universally as 'Boko,' carved his path to professional hockey not as a finesse scorer but as a formidable physical presence. Born in Montreal to Congolese parents, his size and toughness became his calling card through junior leagues, where he was a feared fighter and a loyal teammate. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning, his professional journey has been a grind through the AHL, with brief NHL call-ups to the Senators, Coyotes, and Penguins, where he provided energy and protection for his linemates. While his stat sheets are not filled with goals, his impact is measured in shifted momentum and the respect he commands in the corners. Imama's story is one of embracing a specific, demanding role in a sport that still values enforcers, all while representing a growing diversity within the game.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Bokondji was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bokondji Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Bokondji's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
- Made his NHL debut with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2020-21 season.
- Recorded his first NHL point, an assist, while playing for the Ottawa Senators in 2022.
- Served as an alternate captain for the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners, demonstrating leadership.
Did You Know?
His full name, Bokondji, means 'warrior' or 'savior of the world' in Lingala.
He played his major junior hockey for the Saint John Sea Dogs, winning a Memorial Cup in 2017.
He is known for his elaborate and colorful suit choices on game days.
“I earn my ice time with my fists and my heart.”
