 Hrkac played collegiately at the University of North Dakota, and was the recipient of the Hobey Baker Award for top men's collegiate hockey player during the 1986–87 season.He led the team (along with future Chicago Blackhawks teammate and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Ed Belfour) —widely known during this period as the "Hrkac Circus" (the name rhymes)  — to a national championship and his 116 points that season still stands as the NCAA single-season scoring mark.He made his National Hockey League debut with the Blues during the 1987 NHL playoffs, appearing in three games.