Henry Boucha
Encyclopedia
Henry Charles Boucha is a retired American
professional
ice hockey
centerman who played 247 games over 6 seasons in the National Hockey League
for the Detroit Red Wings
, Minnesota North Stars
, Kansas City Scouts
and Colorado Rockies
whose career was cut short by eye injury. His cousin Gary Sargent
also played in the NHL.
(Chippewa) native American
, Boucha played high school hockey
for Warroad High School leading his team to the 1969 state tournament where he was injured during a 5–4 overtime loss to Edina
. He is considered to be one of the best players to ever play Minnesota high school hockey
.http://www.mnpuck.com/henry_boucha.htm
While serving in the US Army, Boucha joined the United States national ice hockey team on a full time basis in 1970 as the US won the "Pool B" qualification tournament. He participated in the 1971 Ice Hockey World Championships
in Bern, Switzerland
where he scored seven goals in ten games for Team USA. Boucha was also one of the biggest stars of the 1972 United States Olympic hockey team
that received the silver medal.
in the 1971 NHL Entry Draft (he was also drafted first overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints
of the rival World Hockey Association
but chose not to defect to the WHA). Boucha scored a goal in his first NHL game after the Olympics and was voted Detroit rookie of the year in his first full NHL season. The Red Wings sent him to the Minnesota North Stars
in exchange for Danny Grant
in 1974. Boucha was enjoying a solid year in his home state when he was involved in a highly publicized stick incident with Dave Forbes
of the Boston Bruins
in 1975 which left him with a cracked bone around his eye and blurred vision. The incident resulted in a court case as the State of Minnesota attempted to charge the Boston player with assault.
Boucha never really recovered from the injury. He attempted a comeback with the Minnesota Fighting Saints
of the WHA
in 1975–76 and then returned to the NHL as a free agent with the Colorado Rockies
in later 1976 where he retired from professional hockey after only nine games.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
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...
centerman who played 247 games over 6 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...
for the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
, Kansas City Scouts
Kansas City Scouts
The Kansas City Scouts was a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1974–76. In 1976, the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies...
and Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
The Colorado Rockies were an American professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team. The franchise moved to East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1982 and was...
whose career was cut short by eye injury. His cousin Gary Sargent
Gary Sargent
Gary Alan Sargent is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 402 games in the National Hockey League between 1975–1983...
also played in the NHL.
Amateur career
A full-blooded OjibwaOjibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
(Chippewa) native American
Native American name controversy
The Native American name controversy is a dispute about the acceptable terminology for the indigenous peoples of the Americas and broad subsets of these peoples, such as those sharing certain cultures and languages by which more discrete groups identify themselves .Many English exonyms have been...
, Boucha played high school hockey
Minnesota high school boys hockey
The Minnesota High School Boys Hockey program is a high school ice hockey program in the State of Minnesota. Based on tournament attendance, ice hockey is the most popular high school sport in the state...
for Warroad High School leading his team to the 1969 state tournament where he was injured during a 5–4 overtime loss to Edina
Edina High School
Edina High School is a three-year public high school located in Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The school was founded in 1949 and is the main high school in the Edina School District....
. He is considered to be one of the best players to ever play Minnesota high school hockey
Minnesota high school boys hockey
The Minnesota High School Boys Hockey program is a high school ice hockey program in the State of Minnesota. Based on tournament attendance, ice hockey is the most popular high school sport in the state...
.http://www.mnpuck.com/henry_boucha.htm
While serving in the US Army, Boucha joined the United States national ice hockey team on a full time basis in 1970 as the US won the "Pool B" qualification tournament. He participated in the 1971 Ice Hockey World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
in Bern, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
where he scored seven goals in ten games for Team USA. Boucha was also one of the biggest stars of the 1972 United States Olympic hockey team
Ice hockey at the 1972 Winter Olympics
At the 1972 Winter Olympics held in Sapporo, Japan, one ice hockey event was held: men's ice hockey. Games were held at the Makomanai Ice Arena and at the Tsukisamu Indoor Skating Rink.-Team USA:...
that received the silver medal.
Professional career
Boucha was drafted in the 2nd Round, 16th overall by the Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in the 1971 NHL Entry Draft (he was also drafted first overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints
Minnesota Fighting Saints
The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and...
of the rival World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
but chose not to defect to the WHA). Boucha scored a goal in his first NHL game after the Olympics and was voted Detroit rookie of the year in his first full NHL season. The Red Wings sent him to the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
in exchange for Danny Grant
Danny Grant
Daniel Frederick Grant is a retired Canadian ice hockey right winger, who played in the National Hockey League for parts of fourteen seasons, most notably for the Minnesota North Stars....
in 1974. Boucha was enjoying a solid year in his home state when he was involved in a highly publicized stick incident with Dave Forbes
Dave Forbes
David Stephen Forbes is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.Signed as a free agent in 1973 by the Boston Bruins, Forbes made an impact as a defensive-minded forward as he helped guide the Bruins to the finals in 1974 during his rookie season, and to the finals in 1977...
of the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
in 1975 which left him with a cracked bone around his eye and blurred vision. The incident resulted in a court case as the State of Minnesota attempted to charge the Boston player with assault.
Boucha never really recovered from the injury. He attempted a comeback with the Minnesota Fighting Saints
Minnesota Fighting Saints
The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and...
of the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
in 1975–76 and then returned to the NHL as a free agent with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in later 1976 where he retired from professional hockey after only nine games.
Awards & achievements
- Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
rookieRookieRookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
of the year, 1972–73 - Inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of FameUnited States Hockey Hall of FameThe United States Hockey Hall of Fame was established in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of the game in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams....
in 1995.
International play
- Ice hockey world championships, Pool B, 1970 (first, won promotion to Pool A)
- Ice hockey world championships, Pool A, 1971 (sixth place)
- Olympic tournament, 1972 (second place)
Trademark
Boucha (in the days before mandatory helmets) wore a headband. His nickname was "the Chief".See also
- Profile at Hockeydraftcentral.com
- 1971 NHL Amateur Draft1971 NHL Amateur DraftThe 1971 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 10, 1971 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
- List of members of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame