Robin Bawa
Encyclopedia
Robin N. Bawa is a retired former professional ice hockey
player who spent parts of four seasons in the National Hockey League
between 1989 and 1994.
with the Kamloops Blazers
, but was passed over in the NHL Entry Draft
. Finally, after a 57-goal performance in the 1986–87 season, Bawa earned a pro contract from the Washington Capitals
.
Bawa would turn pro the following season, spending the year in the IHL with the Fort Wayne Komets
. While Bawa had been primarily a skill player in junior, he began to fight more often in pro hockey and developed into an enforcer, as that was his best ticket to the NHL. He would average over 200 penalty minutes in his first three years in Washington's system, finally earning a 5-game callup to the Capitals in 1989–90, during which he scored his first NHL goal against Alain Chevrier
and the Chicago Blackhawks
.
Bawa played one more season in the Capitals' system, posting 381 penalty minutes in Fort Wayne but not seeing any more NHL action, before being sold to the Vancouver Canucks
in 1991. He played 2 games for the Canucks in 1991–92, and set a career high with 27 goals in the IHL.
Early in the 1992–93 season, Bawa would be dealt to the San Jose Sharks
, where he would have his most prolonged NHL stint. He spent most of the rest of the season in the NHL, scoring 5 goals in 42 games and posting 47 penalty minutes.
Bawa was exposed in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft
and claimed by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He played 12 more NHL games in 1993–94, registering his only career assist.
Following his release from the Ducks, Bawa continued to toil in the IHL for 5 more seasons, three of those back in Fort Wayne, before a concussion ended his career near the end of the 1998–99 season. He finished his IHL career with 106 goals and 188 assists in 610 career games along with 635 penalty minutes.
Bawa is the first person of India
n descent to play in the NHL, where he achieved six goals and one assist in 61 games, while collecting 60 penalty minutes.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who spent parts of four seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
between 1989 and 1994.
Playing career
Bawa spent 5 productive seasons of junior hockey in the WHLWestern Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
with the Kamloops Blazers
Kamloops Blazers
The Kamloops Blazers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League based out of Kamloops, British Columbia. They play their home games at Interior Savings Centre.-History:...
, but was passed over in the NHL Entry Draft
NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
. Finally, after a 57-goal performance in the 1986–87 season, Bawa earned a pro contract from the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
.
Bawa would turn pro the following season, spending the year in the IHL with the Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
. While Bawa had been primarily a skill player in junior, he began to fight more often in pro hockey and developed into an enforcer, as that was his best ticket to the NHL. He would average over 200 penalty minutes in his first three years in Washington's system, finally earning a 5-game callup to the Capitals in 1989–90, during which he scored his first NHL goal against Alain Chevrier
Alain Chevrier
Alain Guy Chevrier is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender.Chevrier started his National Hockey League career with the New Jersey Devils. He would also play with the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings...
and the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
.
Bawa played one more season in the Capitals' system, posting 381 penalty minutes in Fort Wayne but not seeing any more NHL action, before being sold to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
in 1991. He played 2 games for the Canucks in 1991–92, and set a career high with 27 goals in the IHL.
Early in the 1992–93 season, Bawa would be dealt to the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, where he would have his most prolonged NHL stint. He spent most of the rest of the season in the NHL, scoring 5 goals in 42 games and posting 47 penalty minutes.
Bawa was exposed in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft
1993 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1993 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 24, 1993, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1993–94 season, the Florida Panthers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.-Rules:...
and claimed by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He played 12 more NHL games in 1993–94, registering his only career assist.
Following his release from the Ducks, Bawa continued to toil in the IHL for 5 more seasons, three of those back in Fort Wayne, before a concussion ended his career near the end of the 1998–99 season. He finished his IHL career with 106 goals and 188 assists in 610 career games along with 635 penalty minutes.
Bawa is the first person of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n descent to play in the NHL, where he achieved six goals and one assist in 61 games, while collecting 60 penalty minutes.