Philippe Boucher
Encyclopedia
Philippe Boucher is a retired French Canadian
professional
ice hockey
defenceman
who played in the National Hockey League
. He is currently the General Manager of the Rimouski Oceanic
of the QMJHL.
's Granby Bisons
in 1990. Boucher enjoyed immense success in his first season, producing at a nearly point-per-game average and winning the QMJHL Rookie of the Year award. He was also named a second-team QMJHL All-Star. His second season came with just as much success, as Boucher notched 77 points in 65 games with Granby and the Laval Titan
, once again being named a second-team All-Star. Boucher spent one more seasons in the QMJHL, splitting time between Granby, Laval, and later two professional teams.
drafted Boucher in the first round, 13th overall, in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
. A year later, Boucher would begin his professional career, starting the 1992–1993 season as a defenceman for the Sabres. Despite some solid outings, and even a game where Boucher posted a +5 plus/minus rating, Boucher ended the season with the Rochester Americans
of the American Hockey League
. After three somewhat disappointing seasons with the Sabres, Boucher was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings
during the 1994–1995 season.
In Los Angeles, Boucher produced better numbers, but still proved unreliable to finish a complete 80+ game season in the NHL. Criticisms aimed at Boucher also claimed he was not as defensively reliable or physical as other professional defencemen his size. Even so, Boucher was a consistent blueliner for the Kings for eight seasons, and played a career-high 80 games in the 2001–2002 season.
In 2002, Boucher signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars
, reuniting with the former special teams coach of the Kings, Dave Tippett
.
On November 28, 2003, late in the third period of a game against the New Jersey Devils
, an errant puck hit Boucher on the left side of his face, breaking his left orbital bone. Boucher had surgery on December 1 to repair the bone, putting him on the injured list for weeks. Since the injury, Boucher has worn a visor.
In the 2006–07 NHL season, Boucher had a breakout year, tying the Stars' franchise record for most goals by a defenceman in a regular season, with 19 goals. Boucher was selected by the NHL to play in the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game
in Dallas on January 24, 2007. Since Scott Niedermayer
, one of two defensemen on the starting lineup chosen by the fans, was injured at the time, Western All-Star coach Barry Trotz
named Boucher on the starting lineup as Niedermayer's replacement.
During the 2008-09 season on November 16, 2008, Boucher was traded by the Stars to the Pittsburgh Penguins
in return for Darryl Sydor
. Philippe helped the Penguins capture the Stanley Cup
, his first, before announcing his retirement from the NHL on September 3, 2009.
Boucher resides with his wife Lucie and their two kids, Matthew and Vanessa in Quebec City during the summer.
The Philippe-Boucher Foundation, in existence since 1997, was the brainchild of Philippe Boucher and his wife, Lucie. They wanted the profits from the annual golf tournament to be used to help underprivileged children in the Lotbinière region.
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
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...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played 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...
. He is currently the General Manager of the Rimouski Oceanic
Rimouski Océanic
The Rimouski Océanic are a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League . The franchise was granted for the 1969–70 season...
of the QMJHL.
Amateur
Philippe Boucher began his high-level hockey career with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueQuebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
's Granby Bisons
Granby Bisons
The Granby Bisons were a junior ice hockey team founded in 1981 after the team moved from Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, where they had previously been known as the Sorel Éperviers. The Bisons played at Arena Leonard Grondin in Granby, Quebec. In 1995 they were renamed the Granby Prédateurs. Today they are...
in 1990. Boucher enjoyed immense success in his first season, producing at a nearly point-per-game average and winning the QMJHL Rookie of the Year award. He was also named a second-team QMJHL All-Star. His second season came with just as much success, as Boucher notched 77 points in 65 games with Granby and the Laval Titan
Laval Titan
The Laval Titan was one of the names used by a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League franchise that played in Laval, Quebec, between 1971 and 1998.-History:...
, once again being named a second-team All-Star. Boucher spent one more seasons in the QMJHL, splitting time between Granby, Laval, and later two professional teams.
Professional
The Buffalo SabresBuffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
drafted Boucher in the first round, 13th overall, in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
1991 NHL Entry Draft
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
. A year later, Boucher would begin his professional career, starting the 1992–1993 season as a defenceman for the Sabres. Despite some solid outings, and even a game where Boucher posted a +5 plus/minus rating, Boucher ended the season with the Rochester Americans
Rochester Americans
The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
of the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. After three somewhat disappointing seasons with the Sabres, Boucher was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
during the 1994–1995 season.
In Los Angeles, Boucher produced better numbers, but still proved unreliable to finish a complete 80+ game season in the NHL. Criticisms aimed at Boucher also claimed he was not as defensively reliable or physical as other professional defencemen his size. Even so, Boucher was a consistent blueliner for the Kings for eight seasons, and played a career-high 80 games in the 2001–2002 season.
In 2002, Boucher signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
, reuniting with the former special teams coach of the Kings, Dave Tippett
Dave Tippett
David G. Tippett is a National Hockey League head coach, currently of the Phoenix Coyotes. He is the 6th person to be the head coach of the Coyotes, and the 21st coach in the Phoenix Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets franchise. He is the former head coach of the Dallas Stars...
.
On November 28, 2003, late in the third period of a game against the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, an errant puck hit Boucher on the left side of his face, breaking his left orbital bone. Boucher had surgery on December 1 to repair the bone, putting him on the injured list for weeks. Since the injury, Boucher has worn a visor.
In the 2006–07 NHL season, Boucher had a breakout year, tying the Stars' franchise record for most goals by a defenceman in a regular season, with 19 goals. Boucher was selected by the NHL to play in the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game
55th National Hockey League All-Star Game
The 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in Dallas, Texas, on January 24, 2007. The Western Conference was victorious, defeating the Eastern Conference 12–9...
in Dallas on January 24, 2007. Since Scott Niedermayer
Scott Niedermayer
Scott Niedermayer is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for two teams: the New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks. Niedermayer was known for his skating stride, and ability for leading or joining the offensive rush...
, one of two defensemen on the starting lineup chosen by the fans, was injured at the time, Western All-Star coach Barry Trotz
Barry Trotz
Barry Trotz is the head coach of the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators. He was previously the coach of the American Hockey League's Baltimore Skipjacks and Portland Pirates, with whom he won an AHL championship in 1994. That same year, he won the Louis A.R...
named Boucher on the starting lineup as Niedermayer's replacement.
During the 2008-09 season on November 16, 2008, Boucher was traded by the Stars to the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
in return for Darryl Sydor
Darryl Sydor
Darryl Marion Sydor is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He has won two Stanley Cups during his career; with the Dallas Stars in 1999 and with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004...
. Philippe helped the Penguins capture the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
, his first, before announcing his retirement from the NHL on September 3, 2009.
Boucher resides with his wife Lucie and their two kids, Matthew and Vanessa in Quebec City during the summer.
The Philippe-Boucher Foundation, in existence since 1997, was the brainchild of Philippe Boucher and his wife, Lucie. They wanted the profits from the annual golf tournament to be used to help underprivileged children in the Lotbinière region.
Awards
- RDS CupRDS CupThe RDS Cup is awarded annually by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the overall Rookie of the Year. The Cup was known as the Molson Cup from 1991 to 1994, and the New Face Cup from 1994 to 1996, but is now sponsored by the French-language sports network Réseau des sports .-Winners:-External...
(QMJHLQuebec Major Junior Hockey LeagueThe Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League...
Rookie of the Year) - 1990–911990–91 QMJHL seasonThe 1990–91 QMJHL season was the 22nd season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates the St-Clair Group Plaque, awarded to the "Marketing Director of the Year." Dilio and Lebel divisions are restored as the league adds an expansion franchise in Beauport,... - OMJHL Second-Team All-Star - 1990–91 and 1991–921991–92 QMJHL seasonThe 1991–92 QMJHL season was the 23rd season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates the Molson Cup, awarded to the overall "Rookie of the Year," in addition to the existing Michel Bergeron Trophy and Raymond Lagacé Trophy.The top three scorers in the league,...
- Played in NHL All-Star Game - 2007
- Stanley Cup - 2009Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1990–91 1990–91 QMJHL season The 1990–91 QMJHL season was the 22nd season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates the St-Clair Group Plaque, awarded to the "Marketing Director of the Year." Dilio and Lebel divisions are restored as the league adds an expansion franchise in Beauport,... | Granby Bisons Granby Bisons The Granby Bisons were a junior ice hockey team founded in 1981 after the team moved from Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, where they had previously been known as the Sorel Éperviers. The Bisons played at Arena Leonard Grondin in Granby, Quebec. In 1995 they were renamed the Granby Prédateurs. Today they are... | QMJHL Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League... | 69 | 21 | 46 | 67 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 1991–92 QMJHL season The 1991–92 QMJHL season was the 23rd season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates the Molson Cup, awarded to the overall "Rookie of the Year," in addition to the existing Michel Bergeron Trophy and Raymond Lagacé Trophy.The top three scorers in the league,... | Granby Bisons | QMJHL | 49 | 22 | 37 | 59 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Laval Titan Laval Titan The Laval Titan was one of the names used by a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League franchise that played in Laval, Quebec, between 1971 and 1998.-History:... |
QMJHL | 16 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 1992–93 QMJHL season The 1992–93 QMJHL season was the 24th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The league inaugurates the Ron Lapointe Trophy, for the "Coach of the Year," and the QMJHL Humanitarian of the Year award. Twelve teams played 70 games each in the schedule. The Sherbrooke Faucons... | Laval Titan | QMJHL | 16 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 1992–93 AHL season The 1992–93 AHL season was the 57th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Rangers finished first overall in the regular season with 124 points, a which holds to this day... | Rochester Americans Rochester Americans The Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial... | AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 1992–93 | Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... | NHL 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... | 18 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 1993–94 AHL season The 1993–94 AHL season was the 58th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The St. John's Maple Leafs finished first overall in the regular season... | Rochester Americans | AHL | 31 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1993–94 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 38 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 29 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 1994–95 1994–95 AHL season The 1994–95 AHL season was the 59th season of the American Hockey League. The All-Star Game is revived, with All-Stars grouped into "Team Canada" and "Team USA." Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule... | Rochester Americans | AHL | 43 | 14 | 27 | 41 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Phoenix Roadrunners Phoenix Roadrunners (IHL) The Phoenix Roadrunners were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League. The team was housed at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The team played in the IHL from 1989 to 1997. The IHL Roadrunners were named for a World Hockey Association team of the same name... | IHL | 10 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 53 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 60 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | IHL | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 45 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 45 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | Long Beach Ice Dogs | IHL | 14 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 8 | ||
| 1999–00 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Manitoba Moose Manitoba Moose The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St... | IHL | 45 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 22 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 20 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2001–02 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 80 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 94 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2002–03 | Dallas Stars Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The... | NHL | 80 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 94 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | ||
| 2003–04 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 70 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 64 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2005–06 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 66 | 16 | 27 | 43 | 77 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 76 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 104 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | Dallas Stars | NHL | 38 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... | Dallas Stars | NHL | 16 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... | NHL | 25 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 748 | 94 | 206 | 300 | 702 | 65 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 39 | ||||