After a win on a cold Wednesday evening in early December, Inside The Rink sat down with veteran player Bokondji Imama.
Imama was drafted in 2015, in the sixth round, 180th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning traded Imama’s rights away in 2017 to the LA Kings for a conditional 2018 seventh-round draft pick. In the 2017-2018 season, Imama played 38 games for the Ontario Reign and tallied one assist. From that season on, Imama dressed for 115 more games and netted 16 goals and 18 assists. He served as Alternate Captain in the 2020-2021 season for the Reign. In the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, Imama played for the Tucson Roadrunners and served as Alternate Captain in the 2022-2023 season. Imama speaks on what it is like to hold a leadership position on the team: “Yeah, no, it meant a lot. Obviously, when I think about LA, you know, I was there playing into my first couple of pro seasons. So, for me, all I remember about it was more like growth, and also life experience. I’m from Montreal, Quebec, and being able to live in California by the ocean was also an amazing experience. It was a great experience, and it was good for my career.” He dressed in 104 games for the Roadrunners and tallied 10 goals with 17 assists. In the 2023-2024 season, he dressed in 53 games for the Belleville Senators and netted three goals with seven assists. During the 2024-2025 season, Imama has dressed in 19 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has tallied two goals with two assists thus far. Imama has experienced 15 NHL call-ups to the Arizona Coyotes and Ottawa Senators. “Biggest takeaway was just to, you know, keep working for what you want. Sometimes you gotta be patient, but I feel like trusting the process is the biggest thing you can do.”
Some players take on the enforcer role throughout their careers, and Imama is no different. Imama’s game comes with physicality. Until this season, Imama has accumulated 776 PIMS throughout his career, with a high of 178 with the Tuscon Roadrunners in 2021-2022. He touched on what it means for his game. “Oh, absolutely. It’s a big part of my game. In today’s game, it’s something that happens way less; you gotta focus on everything. I gotta focus on my game, on my plays defensively and whatnot. I stay ready for whenever, you know, that that type of thing happens.”
Every player is different in where they like to create scoring opportunities or plays on the ice. For a veteran like Imama, it is an attribute that is a big part of his game. “For me, it’s the forecheck. I think it’s probably the biggest attribute in my game. I just love getting in there, and I think I go with my stick too, when I get in there. There’s also my physicality then, you know, it can create space for the clock and just extend that possession from my team.”
Some players play the game and ignore the clock. Some players pay attention to the time on the clock and adjust their game to the time on the clock to create a chance to win, especially in close and tight games. “I try to be smart with my game, so you know, whenever it’s time to fight, I try to do it when it’s the appropriate time for the team when the team can actually benefit from it. The physical play that’s just something that I feel is just in me at this point. I feel like, you know, anyone that’s close to me is gonna get a little bump.”
Not being a rookie in the room anymore and becoming the veteran all the younger players look up to is a responsibility. Players remember what it was like to be that young player trying to pave their way through the rigors of a season. “I feel well, personally; I’m this open-book type of guy. I feel like I get it along with anyone, whether you are American, from Russia, or from Sweden. So I’m very open. I make sure I keep some contact between me and the guys. Obviously, there’s nothing like just getting together outside the rink; that also helps a lot.”
Most players have that pivotal moment that encourages them to improve themselves for the next level. With Imama, the next level came for him in the 2021-2022 season. He earned his first call-up to the NHL for his former team, the Arizona Coyotes. “I will say it was my first NHL call-up. It took me about five seasons before getting my first call-up. The day I got it, I felt like I was closer. I felt like what I was doing was getting me somewhere. I feel like since that day, I’ve always been pretty professional, but I feel like since that day, I just took it up another level. I’m just trying to make sure that, you know, eventually, I’ll be able to establish myself over there.”
Game days are very much sacred to players. Some have routines that they follow to a T, and some go with the flow. When Inside The Rink asked Imama what his game-day routine was, he stated, “Yes, You wanna know the whole thing?” Imama went through his entire routine on game days. “I love to morning skate. I just get loose, obviously, and then I go for a little stretch in the gym. After that, we have our team meetings. I get to eat my little pre-game meal, and I go bus line shit. It is getting into my pre-game nap, and after my nap, I love a nice cold shower. After that, I finish with a hot shower, and then I head to the game. I just trying to stay calm, not just trying to get too hyped up too early. Just trying to stay calm, keep the body loose, and then just go to work.”
During the course of a season, there are 72 games in the AHL, and with recalls, injuries, and the possibility of post-season play, it is important for players to stay motivated and focused. “I feel like the biggest thing is just remember why you’re doing it. I’ve been doing it for the love of the game. Hockey has been a big part of my life. I’m just so grateful that I get to wake up and be a hockey player for a living. So some days that are harder, I make sure I’m reminding myself how grateful I am to be playing this game” and that it was pretty much.”
Discover more from Inside The Rink
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Great interview!