Emile Bouchard
| Émile Bouchard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hockey Hall of Fame, 1966 | |||
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| Born |
September 4, 1919 Montreal, QC, CAN |
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| Died | April 14, 2012 (aged 92) Longueuil, QC, CAN |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens | ||
| Playing career | 1941–1956 | ||
Joseph Émile Alcide "Butch" Bouchard, CM, CQ (September 4, 1919 – April 14, 2012) was a Canadian ice hockey player who played defence with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League from 1941 to 1956. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, won four Stanley Cups, was captain of the Canadiens for eight years and was voted to the NHL All-Star Team four times. Although having a reputation as a clean player, he was also one of the strongest players and best body-checkers of his era. He excelled as a defensive defenceman, had superior passing skills and was known for his leadership and mentoring of younger players. In his early years in the NHL, Bouchard was one of the players who made a major contribution to reinvigorating what was at the time an ailing Canadien franchise.
He was born in Montreal, Quebec, and at the time his death resided in Saint-Lambert, Quebec. In retirement Bouchard was active with several business interests and contributions to his community. In 2008, he received the National Order of Quebec. On December 4, 2009, Bouchard's No. 3 was retired by the Canadiens as part of their 100th anniversary celebrations. On December 30, 2009, Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, announced Bouchard as among the appointments to the Order of Canada.
Bouchard was born September 4, 1919, in Montreal the son of Regina Lachapelle and Calixte Bouchard. Growing up poor during the depression, Bouchard did not begin skating until he was 16 and had to learn on rented skates, before borrowing $35 from his brother for a complete set of hockey equipment which included his own pair of skates. Bouchard opted for a career in hockey over banking when he was offered $75 a week to play senior hockey and the bank paid $7. In the minors Bouchard played with the Verdun Maple Leafs, Montreal Junior Canadiens and Providence Reds. It was Verdun team-mate Bob Fillion who gave Bouchard the nickname "Butch". It originated due to the resemblance of his last name to the English word "butcher". Bouchard was determined, strong and developed enough skills to impress coach Dick Irvin in the Canadiens’ 1940–41 training camp after which he was signed as a free agent. Bouchard had arrived at training camp in peak condition, which was unusual for National Hockey League (NHL) players of the time. To attend this first training camp he rode a bike 50 miles (80 km), which also allowed him to pocket the travel expenses the Canadiens had allotted.
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