Luc Bourdon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article is about a person who has recently died.
Some information, such as that pertaining to the circumstances of the person's death and surrounding events, may change rapidly as more facts become known. In the event that this article is disruptively edited following the death of the subject, please request administrator intervention on this page.
Position Defence
Shot Left
Height
Weight		 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
211 lb (96 kg/15 st 1 lb)
Pro clubs Vancouver Canucks
Nationality Flag of Canada Canada
Born February 16, 1987(1987-02-16),
Shippagan, NB, CAN
Died May 29, 2008 (aged 21),
Lamèque, NB, CAN
NHL Draft 10th overall, 2005
Vancouver Canucks
Pro career 2006 – 2008

Luc Bourdon (February 16, 1987 – May 29, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played interchangeably for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.

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.

Bourdon died at age 21 near his hometown of Shippagan, New Brunswick when his motorcycle collided with a tractor trailer.

Contents

[edit] 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 minor hockey with local bantam and midget teams, the Peninsule Acadien Lynx and the Miramichi Rivermen. After being taken third overall in the 2003 QMJHL draft, Bourdon left home when he was sixteen, returning home in the off-season to live with his mother.[1] After turning pro, Bourdon anonymously donated $10,000 to the local minor hockey association for families who could not afford equipment.[2]

[edit] 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.

In his first training camp with Vancouver, Bourdon almost made the team as an 18-year-old,[4] but instead played 2005-06 in the QMJHL. Beginning the season with Val-d'Or, Bourdon was traded mid-season to Moncton. Playing with the 2006 Memorial Cup hosts, Bourdon helped the Wildcats to the CHL final, but was defeated by the Quebec Remparts 6-2.

In 2006–07, Bourdon saw his first stint with the Vancouver Canucks. He played his first NHL game on October 10, 2006, against the Minnesota Wild, however, after playing nine games, he was returned to the QMJHL for development. Midway through 2006-07, Bourdon was traded for the second consecutive season, this time to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. As a Screaming Eagle, Bourdon made a run for another Memorial Cup appearance, but lost the QMJHL semi-final to his former team, Val-d'Or. Upon Cape Breton's elimination, the Canucks sent Bourdon to play five games for the Manitoba Moose, who were also in the middle of a playoff run in the AHL. When counting his participation in the 2007 World Junior Championships, Bourdon claimed the unique distinction of playing 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, due to a series of injuries on the Canucks' blueline 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.[5] Bourdon finished the season with two goals and a plus/minus rating of +7 in 27 games. His other goal came against Johan Holmqvist of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

[edit] Death

A view of the items at the Luc Bourdon memorial outside General Motors Place in Vancouver.
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,[6] 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.[7][8] 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.[9]

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".[10] Maryse Bourdon, Luc's step-mother, said he had purchased the motorcycle about three weeks before.[8] Letang, Bourdon's close friend and former roommate from junior hockey, planned to buy a motorcycle after Bourdon told him about his; since the crash, he has decided against it. 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.

[edit] Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
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 – – – – –

[edit] International play

Medal record
Competitor for Flag of Canada Canada
Men's Ice Hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold 2007 Sweden
Gold 2006 British Columbia
World Junior U18 Championships
Silver 2005 Czech Republic

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

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

The next year, at the 2007 World Juniors in Sweden, Bourdon again helped Team Canada to a gold medal. En route to meeting Russia in the final for the second consecutive year, Bourdon scored the game-tying goal in the third period of a 2-1 shootout win over the U.S. in the semi-final. In total, Bourdon picked up two goals and two assists in six games.

International stastistics

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

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Life and times of Bourdon. The Province (2008-05-30). Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
  2. ^ a b c Botchford, Jason (2008-05-30). Not forgotten in hometown. The Province. Retrieved on 2008-06-02.
  3. ^ Luc Bourdon - Moncton Wildcats. Moncton Wildcats. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  4. ^ Willes, Ed. For Bourdon it's ready, steady, grow. Vancouver Province. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.
  5. ^ Canucks bust out against Wild at home. TSN. Retrieved on 2007-11-17.
  6. ^ Botchford, Jason (2008-05-29). Family 'crushed' by Bourdon's death. Canwest News Services. Retrieved on 2008-05-29.
  7. ^ "Canucks rookie Bourdon, 21, killed in motorcycle crash", Associated Press, 2008-05-29. Retrieved on 2008-05-29. 
  8. ^ a b "Bourdon's death saddens hometown fans, family", Vancouver Sun, 2008-05-29. Retrieved on 2008-05-29. 
  9. ^ "Penguins' Letang Loses Best Friend In Bourdon", TSN, 2008-05-30. Retrieved on 2008-05-30. 
  10. ^ "Canucks blueliner Bourdon killed in motorcycle crash", TSN.ca, 2008-05-29. Retrieved on 2008-05-29. 


v • d • e
Vancouver Canucks first-round draft picks
Tallon • Guevremont • Lever • Ververgaert • Dailey • Blight • Gillis • Derlago • Vaive • Lanz • Butcher • Petit • Neely • Daigneault • Sandlak • Woodley • Linden • Herter • Nedved • Antoski • Stojanov • Polasek • Wilson • Ohlund • Holden • Ference • Allen • D. Sedin • H. Sedin • Smith • Umberger • Kesler • Schneider • Bourdon • Grabner • White


Persondata
NAME Bourdon, Luc
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Professional ice hockey player
DATE OF BIRTH February 16, 1987
PLACE OF BIRTH Shippagan, New Brunswick, Canada
DATE OF DEATH May 29, 2008
PLACE OF DEATH Shippagan, New Brunswick, Canada