Misplaced Pages

Ray Bourque: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 02:14, 4 June 2014 edit99.224.51.134 (talk) Undid revision 610815519 by YavinEight (talk)← Previous edit Latest revision as of 05:16, 31 December 2024 edit undoJevansen (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers3,376,053 editsm added Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmenTag: AWB 
(276 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1960)}}
{{redirect|Raymond Bourque|the Canadian politician|Raymond Z. Bourque}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player {{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Raymond Bourque
| halloffame = 2004 | halloffame = 2004
| image = Bourque 7.jpg | image = Bourque 7.jpg
| caption = Bourque with the ] in 1981
| image_size = 240 px
| caption = Raymond Bourque, playing for the Boston Bruins in October 1981.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|12|28}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|12|28}}
| birth_place = ], ] | birth_place = ], Canada
| height_ft = 5 | height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11 | height_in = 11
| weight_lb = 220 | weight_lb = 219
| position = ] | position = ]
| shoots = Left | shoots = Left
| played_for = ]<br> ] | played_for = ]<br>]
| ntl_team = Canada | ntl_team = CAN
| draft = 8th overall | draft = 8th overall
| draft_year = 1979 | draft_year = 1979
Line 20: Line 20:
| career_start = 1979 | career_start = 1979
| career_end = 2001 | career_end = 2001
| medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's ]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{flagicon|Canada}} ] }}
{{MedalCompetition|]}}
{{MedalSilver | ] | }}
{{MedalGold | ] | }}
{{MedalGold| ] | }}
}} }}


'''Raymond Jean Bourque''' (born December 28, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ] player. He currently holds records for most career goals, assists, and points by a ] in the ] (NHL). Bourque is also an ] and has become near-synonymous with the ] franchise, for which he played 21 seasons and became its longest-serving captain. Bourque finished his career with the ], with whom he won his only ] in his final NHL game. '''Raymond Jean Bourque''' (born December 28, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ] player. He holds records for most career goals, assists, and points by a ] in the ] (NHL). He won the ] as the NHL's best defenceman five times, while finishing second for that trophy a further six times. He also twice finished second in the voting for the ], a rarity for a defenceman. He was named to the end-of-season ] 19 times, 13 on the first-team and six on the second-team.


Bourque was also an ] with ] and became nearly synonymous with the ] franchise, for which he played 21 seasons and became Boston's longest-serving ]. Bourque finished his career with the ], with whom he won his only ] championship in his final NHL game. In 2017, he was named one of the ].
==Playing career==
Bourque was born in ], Quebec. Bourque was the third-round pick of the ] of the ] (QMJHL). Half-way through his rookie season, coach and GM ] traded Bourque to Sorel for high-scoring ]. After a stellar junior career with Sorel and Verdun of the ], in which he was named the league's best defenseman in 1978 and 1979, Bourque was drafted 8th overall by the Bruins, with a first-round draft choice obtained from the ] in a ] trade for goaltender ], whose son ] would be a future teammate of Bourque's. Boston GM ] intended to select defenseman ], but Brown was selected by the ] immediately prior to Boston's selection. Panicking, the Bruins settled on Bourque, allegedly against their better judgment.<ref>Good and lucky at NHL draft http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Draft/2012/06/19/19897566.html</ref>


==Early life==
Bourque would make an immediate impact in Boston during his rookie season of ], scoring a goal in his first game while facing the ].<ref name="Timeline">{{cite news |last=Harding |first=Thomas |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20010610/ai_n9988311 |title= Raymond Bourque timeline |work=] |location=Colorado Springs |accessdate=July 21, 2008 | date=June 10, 2001}}</ref> Bourque asserted himself from the start as one of the best defencemen in the league, winning both the ] as Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-Star selection, the first time in NHL history a non-goaltender had ever achieved the distinction. His 65 points that season was a record at the time for a rookie defenceman.<ref name="HHOF">{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p200401&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo|title=Ray Bourque biography |publisher=] |accessdate=July 22, 2008}}</ref>
Bourque was born in ], Quebec, the son of Raymond Bourque Sr. and Anita Allain.<ref> Frenette Funeral Home</ref><ref name="Father dies"> Boston.com - April 1, 2009</ref> Both of his parents were originally from ], and moved to Montreal in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.capebretonpost.com/sports/hockey/habs-bruins-alumni-to-face-off-at-sydneys-centre-200-17044/|title=Habs, Bruins alumni to face off at Sydney's Centre 200|author=Cape Breton Post|date=December 9, 2015|work=]|location=Sydney, Nova Scotia|access-date=March 9, 2019}}</ref> His mother died from cancer when he was 12 years old, while his father died in 2009.<ref name="Father dies"/><ref>{{cite news |last=LaPointe|first=Joe|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/01/21/sports/hockey-bourque-at-33-is-still-mr-defense.html |title= HOCKEY; Bourque, at 33, Is Still Mr. Defense |work=] |location=New York City |access-date=October 24, 2017 | date=January 21, 1994}}</ref> Bourque was raised bilingual, speaking both English and French at home, though he went to a French school.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://extras.denverpost.com/hockey/focus1008.htm|title=Do you speak hockey?|last=Frei|first=Terry|date=October 8, 2000|work=]|location=Denver|access-date=March 10, 2019}}</ref>


==Playing career==
In ], upon the retirement of Bruins' captain ] to coach the club, Bourque and veteran ] were named co-captains of the team, Middleton to wear the "C" during home games and Bourque for road games. Upon Middleton's retirement in ], Bourque became the team's sole captain, and retained the position for the remainder of his Bruins' tenure. In so doing, he passed ] as the longest tenured Bruins' captain in history, as well as passing ] of the ] as the longest-serving team captain in NHL history, a mark since surpassed by ] of the Red Wings.
===Early career===
Bourque was the third-round pick of the ] of the ] (QMJHL; now known as the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League). Halfway through his rookie season, head coach and general manager (GM) ] traded Bourque to Sorel for high-scoring ]. After a stellar junior career with Sorel and Verdun of the QMJHL, in which he was named the league's best defenceman in 1978 and 1979, Bourque was drafted eighth overall by the Bruins in the ], with a first-round draft choice obtained from the ] in a ] trade for goaltender ]. Boston GM ] had intended to select defenceman ], but Brown was selected by the ] immediately prior to Boston's selection. Panicking, the Bruins settled on Bourque, allegedly against their better judgment.<ref>{{usurped|1=}}</ref>


===Boston Bruins===
Bourque proved a solid force for Boston for twenty-one seasons (1979–2000), famous for combining offensive prowess at a level that few defensemen in league history had ever achieved—he was a perennial shot accuracy champion at ]—and near-unparalleled defensive excellence.<ref name="Plus-Minus">{{cite web |url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/plus_minus_career.html |title=NHL & WHA Career Leaders and Records for Plus/Minus |publisher=Hockey-Reference.com |accessdate=July 21, 2008}}</ref> Bourque won five ] as the league's top defenceman and finished second to ] in 1990 in the closest race ever for the ], the league's Most Valuable Player award. The Bruins' reliance on Bourque's on-ice mastery was so total that—while Bourque was very durable throughout much of his career—the team was seen by many to flounder whenever he was out of the lineup.<ref name="Almanac">{{cite book|editor=Paul Kelly |title= Hockey Almanac: 1993–94 |location=Lincolnwood, IL |publisher=Publications International Ltd |page=42 |oclc=29917276}}</ref>
] of the ] during his rookie season (1979).]]
Bourque made an immediate impact in Boston during his rookie season of ], scoring a goal in his first game while facing the ].<ref name="Timeline">{{cite news |last=Harding |first=Thomas |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20010610/ai_n9988311 |title= Raymond Bourque timeline |work=] |location=Colorado Springs |access-date=July 21, 2008 | date=June 10, 2001}}</ref> Bourque asserted himself from the start as one of the best defensemen in the league, winning both the ] as Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-Star selection, the first time in NHL history a rookie non-goaltender had ever achieved the distinction. His 65 points that season was a record at the time for a rookie defenseman.<ref name="HHOF">{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=p200401&type=Player&page=bio&list=ByName#photo|title=Ray Bourque biography |publisher=] |access-date=July 22, 2008}}</ref>


In ], upon the retirement of Bruins' captain ] to coach the club, Bourque and veteran ] were named co-captains of the team, Middleton to wear the "C" during home games and Bourque for road games. Upon Middleton's retirement in ], Bourque became the team's sole captain, and retained the position for the remainder of his Bruins' tenure. In so doing, he passed ] as the longest-tenured Bruins' captain in history, as well as passing ] of the ] as the longest-serving team captain in NHL history, a mark since surpassed by ] of the Red Wings.
During Bourque's tenure with the Bruins, the team continued what would be a North American professional record twenty-nine consecutive seasons in the playoffs, a streak that would persist through the ]. In the playoffs, Bourque led the team to the ] Final against the ] in both ] and ], where the Bruins lost in both series.<ref name="Hartscrewjob">{{cite book|editor=Ralph Dinger|title=The National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book, 1990–91 |location=Philadelphia |publisher=Running Press |page=151|isbn=0-89471-870-3}}</ref>


Bourque proved a solid force for Boston for 21 seasons (1979–2000), famous for combining offensive prowess at a level that few defencemen in league history had ever achieved—he was a perennial shot accuracy champion at ]—and near-unparalleled defensive excellence.<ref name="Plus-Minus">{{cite web |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/plus_minus_career.html |title=NHL & WHA Career Leaders and Records for Plus/Minus |publisher=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=July 21, 2008}}</ref> Bourque won five ] as the league's top defenceman and finished second to ] in 1990 in the closest race ever for the ], the league's Most Valuable Player award. The Bruins' reliance on Bourque's on-ice mastery was so total that—while Bourque was very durable throughout much of his career—the team was seen by many to flounder whenever he was out of the lineup.<ref name="Almanac">{{cite book|editor=Paul Kelly |title= Hockey Almanac: 1993–94 |location=Lincolnwood, IL |publisher=Publications International Ltd |page=42 |oclc=29917276}}</ref>
Bourque was also popular among Bruins fans because of his willingness to re-sign with Boston without any acriminous or lengthy negotiations. He passed over several opportunities to set the benchmark salary for defenceman; instead, he usually quietly and quickly agreed to terms with the Bruins, and this stance irritated the ] which had been pushing to drive up players' wages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/15/sayitaintso_bruins/ |title=Say It Ain't So: Boston Bruins |date=May 9, 2001 |publisher=]/'']'' |accessdate=April 25, 2011}}</ref>


During Bourque's tenure with the Bruins, the team continued what would be a North American professional record twenty-nine consecutive seasons in the playoffs, a streak that lasted through the ]. In the playoffs, Bourque led the team to the ] against the ] in both ] and ], where the Bruins lost in both series.<ref name="Hartscrewjob">{{cite book|editor=Ralph Dinger|title=The National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book, 1990–91 |year=1990 |location=Philadelphia |publisher=Running Press |page=151|isbn=0-89471-870-3}}</ref> In the ], Bourque missed the playoffs for the only time in his career, when the Bruins finished with the NHL's worst record that season.
===#77===
]
Bourque was well known for wearing number 77 with the Bruins and Avalanche, but it was not his original number. When he debuted with the Bruins in 1979 he was assigned sweater number 7, a number that had been rarely issued by the team after ] departed from the team in 1975. In December 1987, Esposito's number 7 was retired by the Bruins. Although Bourque could have continued wearing number 7 until his own departure from Boston, he decided to change jerseys out of respect for Esposito. Bourque was called upon to take part in Esposito's jersey-retirement ceremony at Boston Garden. He skated to Esposito at center ice, took his sweater off, and handed it to Esposito while revealing his new number, 77—thus dramatically "surrendering" the number 7 jersey so it could be retired. He would wear number 77 for the remainder of his career.<ref name="Timeline"/>


Bourque was also popular among Bruins fans because of his willingness to re-sign with Boston without any acrimonious or lengthy negotiations. He passed over several opportunities to set the benchmark salary for defencemen; instead, he usually quietly and quickly agreed to terms with the Bruins, and this stance irritated the ] (NHLPA), which had been pushing to drive up players' wages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/15/sayitaintso_bruins/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010501233824/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/15/sayitaintso_bruins/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 1, 2001 |title=Say It Ain't So: Boston Bruins |date=May 9, 2001 |publisher=]/] |access-date=April 25, 2011}}</ref>
===International play===
Bourque played for Team Canada in the ] in 1981, 1984 and 1987. However, he did not play in the 1991 edition, despite attempts by ] and ] to persuade him to take part. Bourque also played for the NHL All-Stars in ] against the Soviet Union, and played for the Canadian team in the ], leading all defensemen in scoring, with a goal and two assists in six games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quanthockey.com/olympics/en/teams/team-canada-players-1998-olympics-stats.html|accessdate=March 12, 2014|title=Team Canada - Olympics - Nagano 1998 - Player Stats}}</ref>


===Colorado Avalanche=== ===Colorado Avalanche===
The Bruins' record for North American professional sports, twenty-nine consecutive seasons in the playoffs, was ended in the ]. The next two seasons, the Bruins returned to the playoffs and in 1999, they won a playoff series for the first time since 1994. The Bruins' record for most consecutive seasons in the playoffs by any team in ] was ended at 29 seasons in the ]. The next two seasons, the Bruins returned to the playoffs and in 1999, they won a playoff series for the first time since 1994.


Despite a nucleus of young talent and high expectations for ], injuries caused the Bruins to plummet to the bottom of their division, and they went on track to miss the playoffs. This was further exacerbated by negative attention over teammate ]'s hit on ].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2000/03/08/s030790.html | publisher=] | title=Bruins' Marty McSorley charged with assault | date=March 8, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2000/02/23/mcsorelya000223.html | publisher=] | title=NHL brass promises to 're-evaluate' McSorley's career | date=November 11, 2000}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bruins Hit Bottom\ Carter, Dafoe Hurt; McSorley Head-Hunts |last1= Marrapese-Burrell |first1=Nancy |newspaper=] |date= February 22, 2000 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BG&p_theme=bg&p_action=search&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADDE32A40C5D10&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_sort=YMD_date:D }}</ref> Bourque requested a trade from the fading Bruins so he would have a chance to win the ].<ref name="HHOF"/> Initially, he requested a trade to a team on the East Coast such as the ], and Flyers' general manager ] offered the Bruins ] and ] for Bourque. In reality, Bruins general manager ] was finalizing a trade with the ], under the condition that it could not be leaked to the press. Sinden badly wanted Bourque to have a chance to close out his career with a Cup win, and told Bourque, "This may not be your first choice, but this is the team I feel is best."{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} On March 6, 2000, Bourque was traded to Colorado with fellow veteran ] for ], ], ] and a first round draft pick. Despite a nucleus of young talent and high expectations for ], injuries caused the Bruins to plummet to the bottom of their division, and they went on track to miss the playoffs. This was further exacerbated by negative attention over teammate ]'s hit on ].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/bruins-marty-mcsorley-charged-with-assault-1.200872 | publisher=] | title=Bruins' Marty McSorley charged with assault | date=March 8, 2000 |access-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nhl-brass-promises-to-re-evaluate-mcsorley-s-career-1.241930 | publisher=] | title=NHL brass promises to 're-evaluate' McSorley's career | date=November 11, 2000 |access-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bruins Hit Bottom\ Carter, Dafoe Hurt; McSorley Head-Hunts |last1= Marrapese-Burrell |first1=Nancy |newspaper=] |date= February 22, 2000 |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BG&p_theme=bg&p_action=search&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADDE32A40C5D10&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_sort=YMD_date:D }}</ref> With his career nearing an end and the team going in the wrong direction, Bourque requested a trade from the fading Bruins so he would have a chance to win the Stanley Cup.<ref name="HHOF"/> Bourque and fellow veteran ] were sent to Colorado in exchange for ], ], ] and a first-round draft pick (2000 draft, 27th overall, ]).


Although Bourque played just one full season with the Avalanche, he proved to be a force both on the ice and in the locker room. In 2000, he helped the struggling Avalanche improve their form and capture their division. During the playoffs, they advanced to the conference finals, where they lost to the ] in a hard-fought series, with Bourque hitting the post in the last minutes of Game Seven which would have tied the game after his team rallied from a 3–0 deficit in the third period to 3–2. Although Bourque played just one-and-a-half seasons with the Avalanche, he proved to be a force both on the ice and in the locker room. In 2000, he helped the struggling Avalanche improve their form and capture their division. During the playoffs, they advanced to the conference finals, where they lost to the ] in a hard-fought series, with Bourque hitting the post in the last minutes of Game 7, which would have tied the game after his team rallied from a 3–0 deficit in the third period to 3–2.


In 2000–01—what turned out to be his only full season in Colorado—he was named an alternate captain. He led all Colorado defencemen in scoring, and formed a solid defensive pairing with ] and ], the latter of whom the Avs received from the ] in a trade. Bourque was named to the postseason First All-Star team, finishing as runner-up to the ]' ] for the Norris Trophy. Bourque returned to the Avs for the 2000–01 season and was named as an alternate captain. He led all Colorado defencemen in scoring and formed a solid defensive pairing with ] and ], the latter of whom the Avs received from the Los Angeles Kings in a trade. Bourque was named to the post-season First All-Star team, finishing as runner-up to the Detroit Red Wings' ] for the Norris Trophy.


In the 2001 playoffs, Bourque scored the game-winning goal in Game Three of the finals against the ]. After a 4–1 loss in Game Five that put the Avalanche in a series deficit 3–2, Bourque flew in his family and relatives for the pivotal Games Six and Seven, winning them 4–0 and 3–1, respectively. Finally, on June 9, 2001, after 22 seasons, Bourque—and the Avalanche—won the Stanley Cup, in what proved to be Bourque's final game as a player. After team captain ], who had just won his second title, took the Cup from ] ], he immediately handed it to Bourque (without hoisting it himself) so Bourque could take the first victory lap around the ice. This broke a longstanding tradition that called for the captain to take the first lap. Victorious Colorado goalie ], whose fourth championship had come the same day as Bourque's first, said of the Cup and his teammate, "A name was missing from that , and today it is back to normal."<ref name="2000-2001 Stanley Cup Final">{{cite book |editor1-last=Falla |editor1-first=Jack |title=Quest for the Cup: A History of the Stanley Cup Finals, 1893–2001 |publisher=Key Porter Books |location=Toronto |year=2001 |page=266 |isbn=978-1-55263-343-4}}</ref> The Avalanche advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, where Bourque scored the game-winning goal in Game 3 against the ]. Colorado took the series in seven games to win their second Stanley Cup. During the post-game presentation that followed the Avalanche's victory in the decisive seventh game, team captain ] broke with tradition and gave the Cup to Bourque so he could skate with it first. Colorado goaltender ], whose fourth championship had come the same day as Bourque's first, said of the Stanley Cup and his teammate, "A name was missing from that , and today it is back to normal."<ref name="2000-2001 Stanley Cup Final">{{cite book |editor1-last=Falla |editor1-first=Jack |title=Quest for the Cup: A History of the Stanley Cup Finals, 1893–2001 |publisher=Key Porter Books |location=Toronto |year=2001 |page=266 |isbn=978-1-55263-343-4}}</ref> Bourque had waited longer to win his first Cup than any other Cup-winning player had in the 108-year history of the Stanley Cup, having played 1,612 regular season and 214 playoff games before winning the ultimate prize.


Bourque had waited longer to win his first Cup than any other Cup-winning player had in the 108-year history of the Stanley Cup, having played 1,612 regular season and 214 playoff games before winning the ultimate prize. On June 12, 2001, three days after the Cup victory, Bourque exercised his right as a player to bring the Cup back to Boston for an emotional rally in Boston's City Hall Plaza, attended by some 20,000 fans. Bourque retired shortly thereafter, having set defensive regular season records in goals (410) and assists (1169) for 1579 points. During the 2000–01 season, which would be the last for both players, Bourque surpassed ] (intended to be Bourque's replacement on his former team, the Bruins) to become the all-time leader in goals, assists and points for a defenceman at any senior professional level. On June 12, 2001, three days after the Cup victory, Bourque brought the Cup back to Boston for an emotional rally attended by some 20,000 fans at Boston's City Hall Plaza. Bourque retired shortly thereafter, having set defensive regular-season records in goals (410) and assists (1169) for 1579 points. During the 2000–01 season, which would be the last for both players, Bourque surpassed ] (intended to be Bourque's replacement on his former team, the Bruins) to become the all-time leader in goals, assists and points for a defenceman at any senior professional level.

==International play==
Bourque played for Team Canada in the ] in 1981, 1984 and 1987. However, he did not play in the 1991 edition, despite attempts by ] and Mark Messier to persuade him to take part. Bourque also played for the NHL All-Stars in ] against the Soviet Union, and played for the Canadian team in the ], leading all defencemen in scoring with one goal and two assists in six games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quanthockey.com/olympics/en/teams/team-canada-players-1998-olympics-stats.html |access-date=March 12, 2014|title=Team Canada – Olympics – Nagano 1998 – Player Stats}}</ref><ref>{{cite Sports-Reference}}</ref>

==Jersey number==
For a majority of his NHL career, Bourque wore jersey number 77. After he retired following the 2000–01 season, both the Bruins and the Avalanche honored him by retiring number 77.

When he was initially called up to the Bruins, Bourque was assigned the number 7, which had been worn by former Bruins star forward ] from the time he was acquired by the team in 1967 until he departed in 1976 via trade. Bourque was the third player to be issued the number following Esposito's departure, following ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/BOS/numbers.html |title = Boston Bruins Sweater Numbers}}</ref>

In 1987, six years after Esposito's retirement, and three years after he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Bruins decided to retire number 7 in his honor. Bourque, thus, would be the last Bruin to wear number 7 and was permitted to do so as long as he desired to even after Esposito's retirement ceremony, which was scheduled for December 3 of that year. Bourque, however, came up with his own way to honor the veteran Bruin and did so at the ceremony.

As the Bruins were dressing for that night's game, Bourque put on two jerseys with his normal number 7 as the top layer. When the team came out for the retirement ceremony, Bourque skated over to Esposito just before he was about to speak to the Boston crowd. He removed his number 7 jersey and handed it to Esposito, a move that was seen as "surrendering" the number to him. In doing this, Bourque also revealed his new number to the crowd, as the jersey he had been wearing underneath his number 7 bore the number 77 he would wear for the remainder of his career.<ref name="Timeline"/>


==Retirement== ==Retirement==
].]] ].]]
Bourque was inducted into the ] in 2004, his first season of eligibility. His uniform number #'''77''' has been retired by both the Bruins and the Avalanche; he is one of only six players (], ], ], ] and ]) whose jersey has been retired by more than one club. His birthplace of ] named the ''Aréna Raymond-Bourque'' in his honour.<ref name="Arena">{{cite web|url=http://saintlaurent.ville.montreal.qc.ca/en/intro/publication/agenda/agendaen20080227.pdf|title=L'Agenda Spring-Summer 2008|format=PDF|accessdate=July 22, 2008}}</ref> Bourque was inducted into the ] in 2004, his first season of eligibility. His uniform number 77 has been retired by both the Bruins and the Avalanche; he is one of only nine players whose jersey has been ] by more than one club. His birthplace of ] named the "Aréna Raymond-Bourque" in his honour.<ref name="Arena">{{cite web|url=http://saintlaurent.ville.montreal.qc.ca/en/intro/publication/agenda/agendaen20080227.pdf|title=L'Agenda Spring-Summer 2008|access-date=July 22, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706201646/http://saintlaurent.ville.montreal.qc.ca/en/intro/publication/agenda/agendaen20080227.pdf|archive-date=July 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>


Bourque still lives in the Boston area with wife Christiane, remaining active in several local charities, and was named a Bruins team consultant on November 3, 2005. He is also the co-owner of an Italian restaurant called Tresca in Boston's ].<ref name="Tresca">{{cite web|url=http://www.trescanorthend.com/about.htm|title=Tresca Restaurant|accessdate=July 22, 2008}}</ref> Bourque and his wife Christiane still live in Massachusetts, where they are active in several local charities. Bourque was named a Bruins team consultant on November 3, 2005. He is also the co-owner of an Italian restaurant called Tresca in Boston's ].<ref name="Tresca">{{cite web|url=http://www.trescanorthend.com/about.htm|title=Tresca Restaurant|access-date=July 22, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807161435/http://www.trescanorthend.com/about.htm|archive-date=August 7, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Bourque founded the Bourque Family Foundation in the summer of 2017.<ref name=charity>{{cite web|title=Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque is an unashamed homer for Boston sports|url=http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/21490825/nhl-hockey-hall-famer-ray-bourque|publisher=ESPN|date=November 25, 2017|access-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref>


Bourque's eldest son, ], was drafted by the ] in 2004. Christopher played for the ] in the ] and made his NHL debut for the Capitals in ]. Chris then joined the Boston Bruins, his father's former team, on May 26, 2012. His younger son, ], was a third round draft choice of the ] in 2009, and was a member of the USA's 2010 gold-medal ] team, earning three assists during the tournament.<ref name=ryan>{{cite web|title=Kreider, Bourque make final USA cut|url=http://rangers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=547060|publisher=New York Rangers|date=December 22, 2010|accessdate=December 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Goalscoring Leaders|url=http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/205/IHM205000_85C_11_0.pdf|publisher=iihf.com|accessdate=December 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Player Statistics by Team: USA|url=http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/205/IHM2050USA_83_8_0.pdf|publisher=iihf.com|accessdate=December 29, 2010}}</ref> Ryan plays for the ] in the ] (AHL) and was an alternate captain for the USA's ] team, in which he again earned three assists as the team won the bronze medal.<ref name=ryan/><ref>{{cite web|title=Boxford's Bourque an alternate captain of Team USA; squad is 1–0 at World Junior Hockey Championships|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/boxford/newsnow/x1808784146/Boxfords-Bourque-an-alternate-captain-of-Team-USA-squad-is-1-0-at-World-Junior-Hockey-Championships|publisher=Tri-Town Transcript|date=December 27, 2010|accessdate=December 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2011 WJC Player Statistics by Team: USA|url=http://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/236/IHM2360USA_83_6_0.pdf|publisher=iihf.com|accessdate=January 5, 2010}}</ref> Bourque's younger brother Richard was also a hockey player and was drafted by the Bruins in the ] in the tenth round, but never played professional hockey. Bourque's eldest son, ], was drafted by the ] in 2004. Christopher played for the ] of the ] (AHL) in the ] and made his NHL debut for the Capitals in ]. Chris then joined the Boston Bruins on May 26, 2012, and has his number retired by the Bears.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2022/08/06/chris-bourque-will-have-his-number-17-retired-by-hershey-bears/ | title=Chris Bourque will have his number 17 retired by Hershey Bears | date=August 6, 2022 }}</ref> His younger son, ], was a third-round draft choice of the ] in 2009, and was a member of the USA's 2010 gold-medal, ] team, earning three assists during the tournament.<ref name=ryan>{{cite web|title=Kreider, Bourque make final USA cut|url=http://rangers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=547060|website=New York Rangers|date=December 22, 2010|access-date=December 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Goalscoring Leaders|url=https://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/205/IHM205000_85C_11_0.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505224907/http://reports.iihf.hockey/Hydra/205/IHM205000_85C_11_0.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=May 5, 2021|work=]|access-date=December 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Player Statistics by Team: USA|url=https://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/205/IHM2050USA_83_8_0.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506105038/http://reports.iihf.hockey/Hydra/205/IHM2050USA_83_8_0.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=May 6, 2021|work=]|access-date=December 29, 2010}}</ref> and was an alternate captain for the USA's ] team, in which he again earned three assists as the team won the bronze medal.<ref name=ryan/><ref>{{cite web|title=Boxford's Bourque an alternate captain of Team USA; squad is 1–0 at World Junior Hockey Championships|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/boxford/newsnow/x1808784146/Boxfords-Bourque-an-alternate-captain-of-Team-USA-squad-is-1-0-at-World-Junior-Hockey-Championships|publisher=Tri-Town Transcript|date=December 27, 2010|access-date=December 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2011 WJC Player Statistics by Team: USA|url=https://stats.iihf.com/Hydra/236/IHM2360USA_83_6_0.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505123432/http://reports.iihf.hockey/Hydra/236/IHM2360USA_83_6_0.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=May 5, 2021|work=]|access-date=January 5, 2010}}</ref>

Since retiring, Bourque has worked in the restaurant industry as the owner of Tresca, an Italian restaurant in Boston's ] neighborhood, and manages the Bourque Family Foundation, which supports charitable events around the Boston area.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Ray |url=https://bourquefamilyfoundation.org/about-ray/ |website=Bourque Family Foundation |date=April 2018 |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref>


==Awards and achievements== ==Awards and achievements==
]
{{MedalTableTop|name = }}
Bourque's exceptional talent as a player has led him to become one of the most honored players in hockey history. During his career, he was selected to thirteen NHL First Team (the most in history) and six Second Team All-Star squads, second in total in league history only to ] and most amongst defencemen. He won the ] as the top defenceman in the league five times, fourth all-time after ], ] and ]. Among his numerous other records and honors are the following:
{{MedalSport | Men's ]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{flagicon|Canada}} ] }}
{{MedalCompetition|]}}
{{MedalSilver | ] | }}
{{MedalGold | ] | }}
{{MedalGold| ] | }}
{{MedalBottom}}
Bourque's exceptional talent as a player has led him to become one of the most honored players in hockey history. During his career, he was selected to thirteen NHL First Team (the most in history) and six Second Team All-Star squads, second in total in league history only to ] and most amongst defencemen. He won the ] as the top defenceman in the league five times, fourth all-time after ], ] and ].


===Career===
Among his numerous other records and honors are the following:
* 11th all-time (4th among defencemen) in career games played with 1,612.
* 4th all-time in career assists with 1,169; a record for defencemen.
* 11th all-time in career points scored (1,579).
* 1st in career points scored by a defenceman (1,579).
* 1st in career goals scored by a defenceman (410).
* Career leader in shots on goal by a defenceman(6,206).<ref>{{cite web|title= Alex Ovechkin passes Ray Bourque for most shots in NHL history|date=22 December 2022|url=https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2022/12/22/alex-ovechkin-passes-ray-bourque-for-most-shots-in-nhl-history/|access-date=22 December 2022}}</ref>
* Is third in career plus-minus with 528, behind ] and Orr.<ref name="Plus-Minus"/>
* Bruins' all-time career leader in games played (1,518), assists (1,111) and points (1,506), also ranking fourth in goals and first in assists with a single team (any position).
* 3rd all-time in playoff assists and 10th all-time in playoff points.
* In 1998, three years before the end of his career, he was ranked number 14 on '']''' ]. He was the highest-ranking player who had not yet won a Stanley Cup, the next highest being No. 38-ranked ].<ref name="The100">{{cite book|last=Dryden|first=Steve|title=The Top 100 NHL Players of All-Time|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7710-4175-4}}</ref>
*In 2017, he was named one of the ].


===NHL records===
* Retired third (second among defencemen), and is currently eighth (fourth among defencemen), in all-time games played with 1,612.
* Holds the NHL record for most shots on goal in one game with 19 (Mar. 21, 1991)
* Retired second, and is currently fourth, in all-time assists with 1,169; this is still a record for defencemen.

* Is eleventh in all-time points scored with 1,579.
===Trophies and leaders===
* Is first in all-time points scored by a defenceman with 1,579.
* Won the ] in ]
* Is first in all-time defence goals scored with 410.
* Won the ] in ], ], ], ] and ]
* The career leader in shots on goal with 6,206, nearly one thousand ahead of the second leading shooter, ].<ref name="SOG">{{cite web|url=http://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/shots_career.html|title=Career Shots On Goal leaders |publisher=Hockey-Reference.com |accessdate=July 21, 2008}}</ref>
* Led the NHL in shots in ], ], and ]. * Won the ] in ]
* Received the ] in 2003
* Is third in all-time cumulative plus-minus with 528, behind ] and Orr.<ref name="Plus-Minus"/>
* ] champion in ]
* Won the ] in 1987, ], ], ], and ].
* Won the ] in ]. * Led the NHL in shots in ], ] and ]

* Received the ] in 2003.
===NHL All-Star teams===
* Named a NHL First Team All-Star in ], ], 1984, ], 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, ], 1994, ], and ].
* Named a Second Team All-Star in ], ], ], ], 1995 and ]. * NHL first team All-Star in 1980, ], 1984, ], 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, ], 1994, ], and ].
* Second Team All-Star in ], ], ], ], 1995 and ].
* Became only the sixth defenceman in professional history to score 30 goals in a season (1984).

* Became only the third defenceman in professional history to reach the 1,000 NHL points milestone (1992)
===NHL All-Star Game===
* Is the Bruins' all-time career leader in games played (1,518), assists (1,111) and points (1,506), also ranking fourth in goals and first in assists with a single team (any position).
* Named to play in the All-Star Game for the 19th consecutive season, 2001; Bourque also appeared in the All-Star Game in every season that it was held during his career (there was no game in ] or ]).
* Registered his 1,528th point Oct. 25, 2000, vs. Nashville, passing ] as the NHL's all-time leader among defencemen.
* Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game in ].
* Registered his 1,137th assist Dec. 21, 2000, vs. L.A. Kings, passing Coffey for second place on the NHL's all-time assists list and first among defencemen.
* Won the NHL All-star Game Shooting Accuracy Competition in ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="AllStarShooting">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=67157 |title=NHL Al-Star Game Shooting Accuracy Competition Winners |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530040331/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=67157 |archive-date=May 30, 2013 }}</ref>
* Named to play in the All-Star Game for the 19th consecutive season, passing ] for the league record, 2001; Bourque also appeared in the All-Star Game in every season that it was held during his career (there was no game in ] or ]).
* Was named the Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game in ].
* Is third all-time in playoff assists and tenth all-time in playoff points.
* Won the NHL All-star Game Shooting Accuracy Competition in ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref name="AllStarShooting">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=67157|title=NHL Al-Star Game Shooting Accuracy Competition Winners |publisher=NHL.com |accessdate=May 7, 2013}}</ref>
* In 1998, three years before the end of his career, he was ranked number 14 on '']''' ]. He was the highest-ranking player who had not yet won a Stanley Cup, the next highest being No. 38-ranked Dionne.<ref name="The100">{{cite book|last=Dryden|first=Steve|title=The Top 100 NHL Players of All-Time|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|year=1999|isbn=978-0-7710-4175-4}}</ref>
*] champion &mdash; ].


==Career statistics== ==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs=== ===Regular season and playoffs===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5" | ] ! colspan="5"|]
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! colspan="5" | ] ! colspan="5"|]
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! ] ! ]
! Team ! Team
! League ! League
! GP !! ] !! ] !! ] !! ]
! GP
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
! ]
! ]
! ]
! ]
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|- |-
| ] | ]
Line 138: Line 151:
| 30 || 9 || 16 || 25 || 29 | 30 || 9 || 16 || 25 || 29
| — || — || — || — || — | — || — || — || — || —
|- |-
| ] | ]
| Verdun Black Hawks | Verdun Black Hawks
Line 155: Line 168:
| ] | ]
| 80 || 17 || 48 || 65 || 73 | 80 || 17 || 48 || 65 || 73
| 10 || 2 || 9 || 11 || 27 | 10 || 2 || 9 || 11 || 2
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| ] | ]
Line 166: Line 179:
| Boston Bruins | Boston Bruins
| NHL | NHL
| 65 || 17 || 49 || 66 || 51 | 65 || 17 || 49 || 66 || 5
| 9 || 1 || 5 || 6 || 16 | 9 || 1 || 5 || 6 || 16
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
Line 190: Line 203:
| Boston Bruins | Boston Bruins
| NHL | NHL
| 74 || 19 || 58 || 77 || 68 | 74 || 19 || 58 || 77 || 6
| 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
Line 202: Line 215:
| Boston Bruins | Boston Bruins
| NHL | NHL
| 78 || 17 || 64 || 81 || 72 | 78 || 17 || 64 || 81 || 7
| 23 || 3 || 18 || 21 || 26 | 23 || 3 || 18 || 21 || 26
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
Line 271: Line 284:
| 12 || 1 || 9 || 10 || 14 | 12 || 1 || 9 || 10 || 14
|- |-
| ] | ]
| Boston Bruins | Boston Bruins
| NHL | NHL
Line 289: Line 302:
| 21 || 4 || 6 || 10 || 12 | 21 || 4 || 6 || 10 || 12
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | QMJHL totals ! colspan="3"|NHL totals
! 204 !! 56 !! 164 !! 220 !! 195 ! 1,612 !! 410 !! 1,169 !! 1,579 !! 1,141
! 15 !! 5 !! 17 !! 22 !! 18
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" | NHL totals
! 1612 !! 410 !! 1169 !! 1579 !! 1141
! 214 !! 41 !! 139 !! 180 !! 171 ! 214 !! 41 !! 139 !! 180 !! 171
|} |}
Line 300: Line 309:
===International=== ===International===
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em"
|- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Year
! Team ! Team
! Event ! Event
! rowspan="102" bgcolor="#ffffff"|
! Result
! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
|-
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
|- style="text-align:center;"
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| ] | ]
| 7 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 6
| {{goca}}
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 7
| 1
| 4
| 5
| 6
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| ] | ]
| Canada | Canada
| CC | CC
| 8 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 8
| {{goca}}
| 8 |-
| 0
| 4
| 4
| 8
|- style="text-align:center;"
| ]
| NHL All-Stars
| ]
|
| 2
| 1
| 0
| 1
| 2
|- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;"
| ] | ]
| Canada | Canada
| CC | CC
| 9 || 2 || 6 || 8 || 10
| {{goca}}
|- bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 9
| ]
| 2
| 6
| 8
| 10
|- style="text-align:center;"
| ]
| Canada | Canada
| ] | ]
| 6 || 1 || 2 || 3 || 4
| 4th
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
| 6
! colspan="4" | Senior totals
| 1
! 30 !! 5 !! 15 !! 20 !! 28
| 2
| 3
| 4
|- style="text-align:center; background:#e0e0e0;"
! colspan=4 | Senior totals
! 32
! 5
! 16
! 21
! 30
|} |}


==See also== ==See also==
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
*{{Legendsmember|Player|P200401}} * {{Ice hockey stats |hr=b/bourqra01 |legendsm=P200401}}
*{{hockeydb|520}} * {{Team Canada|ray-bourque}}
* {{Olympics.com |id=ray-bourque |oc_archive=20210226134558 |org_archive=20210304064712}}
* {{Olympedia|100556}}


{{s-start}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
&nbsp;
{{S-start}}
{{succession box | before = ] | title = ] | years = ] | after = ]}} {{succession box | before = ] | title = ] | years = ] | after = ]}}
{{succession box | before = ] | title = ] | years = ]–] | with = ] (]–]) | after = ]}}

{{succession box | before = ] | title = ]| years = ]–] <br><small>with ], ]–]</small> | after = ]}} {{succession box | before = ]<br>Chris Chelios<br>Chris Chelios | title = Winner of the ] | years = ], ]<br>], ]<br>] | after = ]<br>]<br>Paul Coffey}}

{{succession box | before = ] | title = Winner of the ] | years = ] | after = ]}}
{{succession box | before = ] | title = Winner of the ] | years = ], ] | after = ]}}

{{succession box | before = ] | title = Winner of the ] | years = ], ] | after = ]}}
{{succession box | before = ] | title = Winner of the ] | years = ] | after = ]}} {{succession box | before = ] | title = Winner of the ] | years = ] | after = ]}}
{{succession box | before = ] | title = Winner of the ] | years = ] | after = ]}}
{{s-end}}


{{succession box | before = ] | title = Winner of the ] | years = ] | after = ]}}
{{S-end}}
}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = Bourque, Ray
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Canadian ice hockey player
| DATE OF BIRTH = December 28, 1960
| PLACE OF BIRTH = ], ]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bourque, Ray}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bourque, Ray}}
] ]
Line 420: Line 372:
] ]
] ]
]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
Line 429: Line 381:
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
]

Latest revision as of 05:16, 31 December 2024

Canadian ice hockey player (born 1960) "Raymond Bourque" redirects here. For the Canadian politician, see Raymond Z. Bourque.

Ice hockey player
Ray Bourque
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2004
Bourque with the Boston Bruins in 1981
Born (1960-12-28) December 28, 1960 (age 64)
Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 219 lb (99 kg; 15 st 9 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Left
Played for Boston Bruins
Colorado Avalanche
National team  Canada
NHL draft 8th overall, 1979
Boston Bruins
Playing career 1979–2001
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing Canada Canada
Canada Cup
Silver medal – second place 1981 Canada
Gold medal – first place 1984 Canada
Gold medal – first place 1987 Canada

Raymond Jean Bourque (born December 28, 1960) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He holds records for most career goals, assists, and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman five times, while finishing second for that trophy a further six times. He also twice finished second in the voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, a rarity for a defenceman. He was named to the end-of-season All-Star teams 19 times, 13 on the first-team and six on the second-team.

Bourque was also an Olympian with Canada and became nearly synonymous with the Boston Bruins franchise, for which he played 21 seasons and became Boston's longest-serving captain. Bourque finished his career with the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he won his only Stanley Cup championship in his final NHL game. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.

Early life

Bourque was born in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, the son of Raymond Bourque Sr. and Anita Allain. Both of his parents were originally from New Brunswick, and moved to Montreal in the 1950s. His mother died from cancer when he was 12 years old, while his father died in 2009. Bourque was raised bilingual, speaking both English and French at home, though he went to a French school.

Playing career

Early career

Bourque was the third-round pick of the Trois-Rivières Draveurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; now known as the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League). Halfway through his rookie season, head coach and general manager (GM) Michel Bergeron traded Bourque to Sorel for high-scoring Benoît Gosselin. After a stellar junior career with Sorel and Verdun of the QMJHL, in which he was named the league's best defenceman in 1978 and 1979, Bourque was drafted eighth overall by the Bruins in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, with a first-round draft choice obtained from the Los Angeles Kings in a 1977 trade for goaltender Ron Grahame. Boston GM Harry Sinden had intended to select defenceman Keith Brown, but Brown was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks immediately prior to Boston's selection. Panicking, the Bruins settled on Bourque, allegedly against their better judgment.

Boston Bruins

Bourque (wearing #7) being chased by Errol Rausse of the Washington Capitals during his rookie season (1979).

Bourque made an immediate impact in Boston during his rookie season of 1979–80, scoring a goal in his first game while facing the Winnipeg Jets. Bourque asserted himself from the start as one of the best defensemen in the league, winning both the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-Star selection, the first time in NHL history a rookie non-goaltender had ever achieved the distinction. His 65 points that season was a record at the time for a rookie defenseman.

In 1985, upon the retirement of Bruins' captain Terry O'Reilly to coach the club, Bourque and veteran Rick Middleton were named co-captains of the team, Middleton to wear the "C" during home games and Bourque for road games. Upon Middleton's retirement in 1988, Bourque became the team's sole captain, and retained the position for the remainder of his Bruins' tenure. In so doing, he passed Dit Clapper as the longest-tenured Bruins' captain in history, as well as passing Alex Delvecchio of the Detroit Red Wings as the longest-serving team captain in NHL history, a mark since surpassed by Steve Yzerman of the Red Wings.

Bourque proved a solid force for Boston for 21 seasons (1979–2000), famous for combining offensive prowess at a level that few defencemen in league history had ever achieved—he was a perennial shot accuracy champion at All-Star Games—and near-unparalleled defensive excellence. Bourque won five Norris Trophies as the league's top defenceman and finished second to Mark Messier in 1990 in the closest race ever for the Hart Memorial Trophy, the league's Most Valuable Player award. The Bruins' reliance on Bourque's on-ice mastery was so total that—while Bourque was very durable throughout much of his career—the team was seen by many to flounder whenever he was out of the lineup.

During Bourque's tenure with the Bruins, the team continued what would be a North American professional record twenty-nine consecutive seasons in the playoffs, a streak that lasted through the 1996 season. In the playoffs, Bourque led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals against the Edmonton Oilers in both 1988 and 1990, where the Bruins lost in both series. In the 1996–97 season, Bourque missed the playoffs for the only time in his career, when the Bruins finished with the NHL's worst record that season.

Bourque was also popular among Bruins fans because of his willingness to re-sign with Boston without any acrimonious or lengthy negotiations. He passed over several opportunities to set the benchmark salary for defencemen; instead, he usually quietly and quickly agreed to terms with the Bruins, and this stance irritated the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), which had been pushing to drive up players' wages.

Colorado Avalanche

The Bruins' record for most consecutive seasons in the playoffs by any team in North American professional sports was ended at 29 seasons in the 1996–97 season. The next two seasons, the Bruins returned to the playoffs and in 1999, they won a playoff series for the first time since 1994.

Despite a nucleus of young talent and high expectations for 1999–2000, injuries caused the Bruins to plummet to the bottom of their division, and they went on track to miss the playoffs. This was further exacerbated by negative attention over teammate Marty McSorley's hit on Donald Brashear. With his career nearing an end and the team going in the wrong direction, Bourque requested a trade from the fading Bruins so he would have a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Bourque and fellow veteran Dave Andreychuk were sent to Colorado in exchange for Brian Rolston, Martin Grenier, Samuel Påhlsson and a first-round draft pick (2000 draft, 27th overall, Martin Samuelsson).

Although Bourque played just one-and-a-half seasons with the Avalanche, he proved to be a force both on the ice and in the locker room. In 2000, he helped the struggling Avalanche improve their form and capture their division. During the playoffs, they advanced to the conference finals, where they lost to the Dallas Stars in a hard-fought series, with Bourque hitting the post in the last minutes of Game 7, which would have tied the game after his team rallied from a 3–0 deficit in the third period to 3–2.

Bourque returned to the Avs for the 2000–01 season and was named as an alternate captain. He led all Colorado defencemen in scoring and formed a solid defensive pairing with Adam Foote and Rob Blake, the latter of whom the Avs received from the Los Angeles Kings in a trade. Bourque was named to the post-season First All-Star team, finishing as runner-up to the Detroit Red Wings' Nicklas Lidström for the Norris Trophy.

The Avalanche advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, where Bourque scored the game-winning goal in Game 3 against the New Jersey Devils. Colorado took the series in seven games to win their second Stanley Cup. During the post-game presentation that followed the Avalanche's victory in the decisive seventh game, team captain Joe Sakic broke with tradition and gave the Cup to Bourque so he could skate with it first. Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy, whose fourth championship had come the same day as Bourque's first, said of the Stanley Cup and his teammate, "A name was missing from that , and today it is back to normal." Bourque had waited longer to win his first Cup than any other Cup-winning player had in the 108-year history of the Stanley Cup, having played 1,612 regular season and 214 playoff games before winning the ultimate prize.

On June 12, 2001, three days after the Cup victory, Bourque brought the Cup back to Boston for an emotional rally attended by some 20,000 fans at Boston's City Hall Plaza. Bourque retired shortly thereafter, having set defensive regular-season records in goals (410) and assists (1169) for 1579 points. During the 2000–01 season, which would be the last for both players, Bourque surpassed Paul Coffey (intended to be Bourque's replacement on his former team, the Bruins) to become the all-time leader in goals, assists and points for a defenceman at any senior professional level.

International play

Bourque played for Team Canada in the Canada Cup in 1981, 1984 and 1987. However, he did not play in the 1991 edition, despite attempts by Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier to persuade him to take part. Bourque also played for the NHL All-Stars in Rendez-vous '87 against the Soviet Union, and played for the Canadian team in the 1998 Winter Olympics, leading all defencemen in scoring with one goal and two assists in six games.

Jersey number

For a majority of his NHL career, Bourque wore jersey number 77. After he retired following the 2000–01 season, both the Bruins and the Avalanche honored him by retiring number 77.

When he was initially called up to the Bruins, Bourque was assigned the number 7, which had been worn by former Bruins star forward Phil Esposito from the time he was acquired by the team in 1967 until he departed in 1976 via trade. Bourque was the third player to be issued the number following Esposito's departure, following Sean Shanahan and Bill Bennett.

In 1987, six years after Esposito's retirement, and three years after he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Bruins decided to retire number 7 in his honor. Bourque, thus, would be the last Bruin to wear number 7 and was permitted to do so as long as he desired to even after Esposito's retirement ceremony, which was scheduled for December 3 of that year. Bourque, however, came up with his own way to honor the veteran Bruin and did so at the ceremony.

As the Bruins were dressing for that night's game, Bourque put on two jerseys with his normal number 7 as the top layer. When the team came out for the retirement ceremony, Bourque skated over to Esposito just before he was about to speak to the Boston crowd. He removed his number 7 jersey and handed it to Esposito, a move that was seen as "surrendering" the number to him. In doing this, Bourque also revealed his new number to the crowd, as the jersey he had been wearing underneath his number 7 bore the number 77 he would wear for the remainder of his career.

Retirement

The Aréna Raymond-Bourque in Saint-Laurent, QC.

Bourque was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, his first season of eligibility. His uniform number 77 has been retired by both the Bruins and the Avalanche; he is one of only nine players whose jersey has been retired by more than one club. His birthplace of Saint-Laurent named the "Aréna Raymond-Bourque" in his honour.

Bourque and his wife Christiane still live in Massachusetts, where they are active in several local charities. Bourque was named a Bruins team consultant on November 3, 2005. He is also the co-owner of an Italian restaurant called Tresca in Boston's North End. Bourque founded the Bourque Family Foundation in the summer of 2017.

Bourque's younger brother Richard was also a hockey player and was drafted by the Bruins in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft in the tenth round, but never played professional hockey. Bourque's eldest son, Christopher, was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2004. Christopher played for the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) in the 2007 season and made his NHL debut for the Capitals in 2007. Chris then joined the Boston Bruins on May 26, 2012, and has his number retired by the Bears. His younger son, Ryan, was a third-round draft choice of the New York Rangers in 2009, and was a member of the USA's 2010 gold-medal, World Junior Championship team, earning three assists during the tournament. and was an alternate captain for the USA's 2011 World Junior Championship team, in which he again earned three assists as the team won the bronze medal.

Since retiring, Bourque has worked in the restaurant industry as the owner of Tresca, an Italian restaurant in Boston's North End neighborhood, and manages the Bourque Family Foundation, which supports charitable events around the Boston area.

Awards and achievements

Bourque in 2024

Bourque's exceptional talent as a player has led him to become one of the most honored players in hockey history. During his career, he was selected to thirteen NHL First Team (the most in history) and six Second Team All-Star squads, second in total in league history only to Gordie Howe and most amongst defencemen. He won the Norris Trophy as the top defenceman in the league five times, fourth all-time after Bobby Orr, Doug Harvey and Nicklas Lidström. Among his numerous other records and honors are the following:

Career

  • 11th all-time (4th among defencemen) in career games played with 1,612.
  • 4th all-time in career assists with 1,169; a record for defencemen.
  • 11th all-time in career points scored (1,579).
  • 1st in career points scored by a defenceman (1,579).
  • 1st in career goals scored by a defenceman (410).
  • Career leader in shots on goal by a defenceman(6,206).
  • Is third in career plus-minus with 528, behind Larry Robinson and Orr.
  • Bruins' all-time career leader in games played (1,518), assists (1,111) and points (1,506), also ranking fourth in goals and first in assists with a single team (any position).
  • 3rd all-time in playoff assists and 10th all-time in playoff points.
  • In 1998, three years before the end of his career, he was ranked number 14 on The Hockey News' list of the one hundred greatest hockey players of all time. He was the highest-ranking player who had not yet won a Stanley Cup, the next highest being No. 38-ranked Marcel Dionne.
  • In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players.

NHL records

  • Holds the NHL record for most shots on goal in one game with 19 (Mar. 21, 1991)

Trophies and leaders

NHL All-Star teams

NHL All-Star Game

  • Named to play in the All-Star Game for the 19th consecutive season, 2001; Bourque also appeared in the All-Star Game in every season that it was held during his career (there was no game in 1987 or 1995).
  • Most Valuable Player of the All-Star Game in 1996.
  • Won the NHL All-star Game Shooting Accuracy Competition in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1976–77 Trois-Rivières Draveurs QMJHL 39 3 20 23 27 — — — — —
1976–77 Sorel Black Hawks QMJHL 30 9 16 25 29 — — — — —
1977–78 Verdun Black Hawks QMJHL 72 22 57 79 90 4 2 1 3 0
1978–79 Verdun Black Hawks QMJHL 63 22 71 93 44 11 3 16 19 18
1979–80 Boston Bruins NHL 80 17 48 65 73 10 2 9 11 2
1980–81 Boston Bruins NHL 67 27 29 56 96 3 0 1 1 2
1981–82 Boston Bruins NHL 65 17 49 66 5 9 1 5 6 16
1982–83 Boston Bruins NHL 65 22 51 73 20 17 8 15 23 10
1983–84 Boston Bruins NHL 78 31 65 96 57 3 0 2 2 0
1984–85 Boston Bruins NHL 73 20 66 86 53 5 0 3 3 4
1985–86 Boston Bruins NHL 74 19 58 77 6 3 0 0 0 0
1986–87 Boston Bruins NHL 78 23 72 95 36 4 1 2 3 0
1987–88 Boston Bruins NHL 78 17 64 81 7 23 3 18 21 26
1988–89 Boston Bruins NHL 60 18 43 61 52 10 0 4 4 6
1989–90 Boston Bruins NHL 76 19 65 84 50 17 5 12 17 16
1990–91 Boston Bruins NHL 76 21 73 94 75 19 7 18 25 12
1991–92 Boston Bruins NHL 80 21 60 81 56 12 3 6 9 12
1992–93 Boston Bruins NHL 78 19 63 82 40 4 1 0 1 2
1993–94 Boston Bruins NHL 72 20 71 91 58 13 2 8 10 0
1994–95 Boston Bruins NHL 46 12 31 43 20 5 0 3 3 0
1995–96 Boston Bruins NHL 80 20 62 82 58 5 1 6 7 2
1996–97 Boston Bruins NHL 62 19 31 50 18 — — — — —
1997–98 Boston Bruins NHL 82 13 35 48 80 6 1 4 5 2
1998–99 Boston Bruins NHL 81 10 47 57 34 12 1 9 10 14
1999–00 Boston Bruins NHL 65 10 28 38 20 — — — — —
1999–00 Colorado Avalanche NHL 14 8 6 14 6 13 1 8 9 8
2000–01 Colorado Avalanche NHL 80 7 52 59 48 21 4 6 10 12
NHL totals 1,612 410 1,169 1,579 1,141 214 41 139 180 171

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
1981 Canada CC 7 1 4 5 6
1984 Canada CC 8 0 4 4 8
1987 Canada CC 9 2 6 8 10
1998 Canada OLY 6 1 2 3 4
Senior totals 30 5 15 20 28

See also

References

  1. Raymond J. Bourque - Obituary Frenette Funeral Home
  2. ^ Ray Bourque’s father, 79, dies Boston.com - April 1, 2009
  3. Cape Breton Post (December 9, 2015). "Habs, Bruins alumni to face off at Sydney's Centre 200". Cape Breton Post. Sydney, Nova Scotia. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  4. LaPointe, Joe (January 21, 1994). "HOCKEY; Bourque, at 33, Is Still Mr. Defense". New York Times. New York City. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  5. Frei, Terry (October 8, 2000). "Do you speak hockey?". Denver Post. Denver. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  6. Good and lucky at NHL draft
  7. ^ Harding, Thomas (June 10, 2001). "Raymond Bourque timeline". The Gazette. Colorado Springs. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  8. ^ "Ray Bourque biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
  9. ^ "NHL & WHA Career Leaders and Records for Plus/Minus". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  10. Paul Kelly (ed.). Hockey Almanac: 1993–94. Lincolnwood, IL: Publications International Ltd. p. 42. OCLC 29917276.
  11. Ralph Dinger, ed. (1990). The National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book, 1990–91. Philadelphia: Running Press. p. 151. ISBN 0-89471-870-3.
  12. "Say It Ain't So: Boston Bruins". CNN/Sports Illustrated. May 9, 2001. Archived from the original on May 1, 2001. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  13. "Bruins' Marty McSorley charged with assault". CBC News. March 8, 2000. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  14. "NHL brass promises to 're-evaluate' McSorley's career". CBC News. November 11, 2000. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  15. Marrapese-Burrell, Nancy (February 22, 2000). "Bruins Hit Bottom\ Carter, Dafoe Hurt; McSorley Head-Hunts". The Boston Globe.
  16. Falla, Jack, ed. (2001). Quest for the Cup: A History of the Stanley Cup Finals, 1893–2001. Toronto: Key Porter Books. p. 266. ISBN 978-1-55263-343-4.
  17. "Team Canada – Olympics – Nagano 1998 – Player Stats". Retrieved March 12, 2014.
  18. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ray Bourque". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016.
  19. "Boston Bruins Sweater Numbers".
  20. "L'Agenda Spring-Summer 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
  21. "Tresca Restaurant". Archived from the original on August 7, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2008.
  22. "Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque is an unashamed homer for Boston sports". ESPN. November 25, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  23. "Chris Bourque will have his number 17 retired by Hershey Bears". August 6, 2022.
  24. ^ "Kreider, Bourque make final USA cut". New York Rangers. December 22, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
  25. "Goalscoring Leaders" (PDF). IIHF. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
  26. "Player Statistics by Team: USA" (PDF). IIHF. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  27. "Boxford's Bourque an alternate captain of Team USA; squad is 1–0 at World Junior Hockey Championships". Tri-Town Transcript. December 27, 2010. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
  28. "2011 WJC Player Statistics by Team: USA" (PDF). IIHF. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  29. "About Ray". Bourque Family Foundation. April 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  30. "Alex Ovechkin passes Ray Bourque for most shots in NHL history". December 22, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  31. Dryden, Steve (1999). The Top 100 NHL Players of All-Time. McClelland & Stewart. ISBN 978-0-7710-4175-4.
  32. "NHL Al-Star Game Shooting Accuracy Competition Winners". NHL.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.

External links

Preceded byAl Secord Boston Bruins first round draft pick
1979 		Succeeded byBrad McCrimmon
Preceded byTerry O'Reilly Boston Bruins captain
1985–2000
With: Rick Middleton (1985–1988) 		Succeeded byJason Allison
Preceded byPaul Coffey
Chris Chelios
Chris Chelios 		Winner of the Norris Trophy
1987, 1988
1990, 1991
1994 		Succeeded byChris Chelios
Brian Leetch
Paul Coffey
Preceded byDave Taylor Winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy
1992 		Succeeded byDave Poulin
Preceded byBobby Smith Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy
1980 		Succeeded byPeter Šťastný
Categories: