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Luc Bourdon

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Luc Bourdon
Born (1987-02-16)February 16, 1987
Shippagan, NB, CAN
Died May 29, 2008(2008-05-29) (aged 21)
Lamèque, NB, CAN
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position Defence
Played for Vancouver Canucks
NHL draft 10th overall, 2005
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2006–2008

Luc Bourdon (February 16, 1987 – May 29, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. He died at age 21 near his hometown of Shippagan, New Brunswick when his motorcycle collided with a tractor trailer.

After overcoming juvenile arthritis, he was selected third overall in the 2003 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft and played for the Val-d'Or Foreurs, Moncton Wildcats, and Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. The Canucks drafted Bourdon with their first pick, tenth overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He represented Canada internationally, winning two gold medals and a silver medal at the IIHF World U20 Championship and IIHF World U18 Championship, respectively.

Early life

An only child,[1] Bourdon was raised by his mother, Suzanne Boucher, in the small francophone community of Shippagan, New Brunswick. At nine years old, he was confined to a wheelchair after being diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, which he later overcame.[1] As a teenager, he attended Ecole Marie-Esther Secondary where family members report he was a straight-A student.[2] Growing up in a fishing town, he worked summers on his uncle's crab fishing boat.[1]

He played bantam with the Peninsule Acadien Lynx and midget with the Miramichi Rivermen, both local minor hockey teams. After being taken third overall in the 2003 QMJHL draft, Bourdon left home when he was 16, returning in the off-season to live with his mother.[1] Upon turning professional, he anonymously donated $10,000 to the local minor hockey association for families who could not afford equipment. His donation was posthumously revealed by his former bantam hockey coach, Gilles Cormier, who now manages the local arena.[2]

Playing career

Bourdon played major junior in the QMJHL for the Val-d'Or Foreurs, the Moncton Wildcats, and the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He was ranked sixth among North American skaters according to the NHL's Central Scouting Service,[3] and was drafted in the first round, tenth overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Bourdon was scouted as a good two-way defenceman with significant offensive skills.[4] He was the second Shippagan-born hockey player to be drafted in the NHL, after goaltender Yanick Degrace was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1991.[2]

In his first training camp with Vancouver, Bourdon almost made the team as an 18-year-old,[5] but instead was returned to the QMJHL. He began the 2005–06 season with the Foreurs and was traded mid-season to the Wildcats, who were hosting the 2006 Memorial Cup, in exchange for Ian Mathieu-Girard, Jean-Sébastien Adam, a fourth round pick in 2007 and a first round selection in 2008.[6] Shortly after the trade, Bourdon injured his ankle, suffering a fractured fibula, high and low sprains, and a second degree ligament tear. Although he returned to join Moncton in the playoffs, doctors told him that it would take two years to fully recover.[5] He managed a full recovery after one year, but his turning ability and backwards skating sometimes appeared weaker.[7] Competing in the Memorial Cup, he reached the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) final with the Wildcats, who lost 6–2 to the Quebec Remparts.

Bourdon warming up before a game on November 16, 2008. He scored his first NHL goal that night.

After signing a three-year contract with the Canucks on May 4, 2006,[8] Bourdon earned a spot on the team's 2006–07 opening roster. He played his first NHL game on October 10, 2006 against the Minnesota Wild,[9] but after playing nine games, he was sent to the QMJHL for further development.[10] Midway through 2006–07, he was traded in the QMJHL again, this time from Moncton to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. As a Screaming Eagle, Bourdon lost in the QMJHL semi-final against his former team, Val-d'Or. When the Canucks did not qualify for the playoffs, they sent Bourdon to play five games for the Manitoba Moose, who were in the middle of the AHL playoffs.[11] When counting his participation in the 2007 World Junior Championships, Bourdon played for five different teams in one season.

Initially failing to make the Canucks starting roster out of training camp, Bourdon began the 2007–08 season with the Manitoba Moose. However, because of a series of injuries among the Canucks' defencemen throughout the season, Bourdon was called up on several occasions. Bourdon scored his first goal on November 16, 2007 against goaltender Niklas Bäckström in a 6–2 win over the Minnesota Wild.[12] Bourdon finished the season with two goals and a plus/minus rating of +7 in 27 games. His other goal came on January 31 against Karri Ramo of the Tampa Bay Lightning.[9]

As a young and promising player, Bourdon was regularly mentioned in rumours of trades for more offense at the forward positions.[13] Most significantly, he was speculated to be part of a package in exchange for Lightning forward Brad Richards.[14] Although Bourdon had a powerful shot, he did not play defense responsibly enough to earn a regular spot on the roster.[15] He began to show signs of improvement and maturity as the Canucks used him more in the 2007–08 season.[5]

International play

Luc Bourdon
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's Ice Hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2007 Sweden
Gold medal – first place 2006 British Columbia
World Junior U18 Championships
Silver medal – second place 2005 Czech Republic

Bourdon made his international debut representing Team Canada in the 2005 World Under-18 Championships, earning one assist in a silver-medal effort.

In 2006, Bourdon competed in his first of two World Junior Championships in British Columbia. Although he had not yet played a game for the Canucks, he received significant support from the hometown crowds in Vancouver. He led all defencemen in scoring with six points in six games and was named to the tournament's all-star team.[9] Upon winning gold, Bourdon returned to Shippagan and showcased his medal at a local arena to crowds of supporters.[2]

At the 2007 World Juniors in Sweden, Bourdon scored the game-tying goal in the third period of a 2–1 shootout win over the U.S. in the semi-final.[16] In total, Bourdon picked up two goals and two assists in six games as Canada won another gold medal.

Death

A view of the items at the Luc Bourdon memorial outside General Motors Place in Vancouver

Bourdon was killed instantly in a motorcycle collision in Lamèque, New Brunswick,[17] near his hometown of Shippagan, on May 29, 2008, when he hit a tractor-trailer after losing control of his bike and crossing the center line.[18][19] Environment Canada showed winds gusting to more than 50 km/h in the area at the time of the accident. The RCMP stated that Bourdon's inexperience with motorcycles may have been a factor in the crash.[20]

Bourdon's agent, Kent Hughes, stated that he never knew about his client's new hobby (motorcycles). "I had no idea," he explained to CKNW in Vancouver. "Another client of ours, Kris Letang, said Luc let him know he was riding his dad's motorcycle with some friends a week or two ago. I have since been told – though I don't know – that he actually bought a motorcycle two days ago".[21] Maryse Bourdon, Luc's step-mother, said he had purchased the motorcycle about three weeks before.[19] Letang, Bourdon's close friend and former roommate from junior hockey, planned to buy a motorcycle after Bourdon told him about his; because of the crash, he has decided against it.[22]

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings observed a moment of silence in Bourdon's honour before game four of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final.[23] During the 2008 NHL Draft, the Canucks management wore guitar pins to remember Bourdon since he was an avid guitarist. Because of the popularity of the pins, the Canucks are considering marketing them to a wider audience. Plans are in the formative stages but proceeds from the pins' sale could go towards a scholarship fund in Bourdon's honour.[24]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002-03 Miramichi Rae's Yamaha Rivermen NBMHL 20 2 12 14 106 — — — — —
2003–04 Val-d'Or Foreurs QMJHL 64 2 6 8 58 7 1 0 1 4
2004–05 Val-d'Or Foreurs QMJHL 70 13 19 32 117 — — — — —
2005–06 Val-d'Or Foreurs QMJHL 20 2 18 20 54 — — — — —
2005–06 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 10 1 7 8 8 16 0 3 3 22
2006–07 Vancouver Canucks NHL 9 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2006–07 Moncton Wildcats QMJHL 13 3 11 14 28 — — — — —
2006–07 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles QMJHL 23 1 5 6 45 16 2 11 13 28
2006–07 Manitoba Moose AHL — — — — — 5 0 0 0 2
2007–08 Vancouver Canucks NHL 27 2 0 2 20 — — — — —
2007–08 Manitoba Moose AHL 41 6 8 14 68 6 0 0 0 8
QMJHL Totals 200 22 66 88 310 39 3 14 17 54
AHL Totals 41 6 8 14 68 11 0 0 0 10
NHL Totals 36 2 0 2 24 — — — — —


International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2005 Canada U18 6 0 1 1 4
2006 Canada WJC 6 1 5 6 4
2007 Canada WJC 6 2 2 4 6
Junior Int'l Totals 18 3 8 11 14

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Life and times of Bourdon". The Province. 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  2. ^ a b c d Botchford, Jason (2008-05-30). "Not forgotten in hometown". The Province. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  3. ^ "Luc Bourdon - Moncton Wildcats". Moncton Wildcats. Retrieved 2008-05-15.
  4. ^ MacInnis, Matt. "Prospect Luc Bourdon". Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  5. ^ a b c Willes, Ed. "For Bourdon it's ready, steady, grow". Vancouver Province. Retrieved 2008-02-29. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Bourdon trade made official". 2006-01-04. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  7. ^ Botchford, Jason (2007-09-21). "Bourdon lagging behind". The Province. Retrieved 2008-07-24. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "League names finalists for MVP". Seattle Times. 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  9. ^ a b c "Remembering Luc Bourdon". NHL.com. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  10. ^ "Bourdon back to junior; Coulombe called". TSN. 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  11. ^ "Luc of the draw". CANOE. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  12. ^ "Canucks break out". Globe and Mail. 2007-11-17. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  13. ^ Hornby, Lance (2008-01-25). "Capital calamity for Leafs". CANOE. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  14. ^ "Canucks were unwilling to mortgage". Canadian Press. 2008-02-27. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  15. ^ "Bourdon puts worries behind him". CANOE. 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  16. ^ Wharnsby, Tim (2008-01-03). "Another North American showdown". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2008-07-19.
  17. ^ Botchford, Jason (2008-05-29). "Family 'crushed' by Bourdon's death". Canwest News Services. Retrieved 2008-05-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ "Canucks rookie Bourdon, 21, killed in motorcycle crash". Associated Press. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ a b "Bourdon's death saddens hometown fans, family". Vancouver Sun. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "Penguins' Letang Loses Best Friend In Bourdon". TSN. 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  21. ^ "Canucks blueliner Bourdon killed in motorcycle crash". TSN.ca. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-29. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Penguins' Letang loses best friend in Bourdon". TSN. 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  23. ^ Canadian Press (2008). "One win to go: Red Wings beat Penguins 2-1 in Game 4 of Stanley Cup". NHL.com. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
  24. ^ Willes, Ed (2008-06-22). "Guitar pin making noise in memory of Luc Bourdon". The Province. Retrieved 2008-07-18. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

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