Emile-Bouchard-Obituary

Emile Bouchard

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MONTREAL (AP) - Emile "Butch" Bouchard, a longtime Montreal Canadiens captain and four-time Stanley Cup winner, has died Saturday. He was 92.

His death was confirmed by his son, Pierre, and his friend and sports analyst Ron Fournier.

Fournier said Bouchard was surrounded by his family when he died.

Bouchard scored 49 goals in 785 games during his 15-year NHL career. The defenseman captained the Canadiens for eight years before retiring after the 1955-56 season.

The Canadiens won the Stanley Cup four times while he was with the team, twice while he was captain. Bouchard was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.

"He was one of the great captains in the history of the Canadiens," said Rejean Houle, the team's alumni president, who played with the Canadiens in the 1970s and '80s.

"It was a period where the team really became a dynasty."

Pierre Bouchard, a member of the Canadiens himself from 1970-78, said his father remained active until the end of his life.

"He was getting old, but he was in good shape," he said.

Born in Montreal on Sept. 4, 1919, Emile Bouchard wasn't planning on a career in hockey after originally wanting to work in banking or as a beekeeper. He played many sports growing up, including baseball and boxing; it was only around age 16 that he began to take hockey seriously.

After borrowing $35 from his brother to buy equipment, Bouchard began playing for the Verdun Maple Leafs of Quebec's old Provincial Senior League.

The rugged 6-foot-2, 205-pound Bouchard quickly got noticed and the Canadiens offered him his first professional contract to play with their minor league club in Providence. He played 12 games for the team in 1940-41.

Bouchard grabbed the big club's attention at training camp the following year when he made the 50-mile trip by bicycle from his home in Montreal to the training site in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec.

He earned a spot on the blue line and played the next 15 seasons with the Canadiens, establishing a reputation as one of the best hitters of the era.

"He was one of the leaders in the 1940s for a team that wasn't going anywhere, and then later, things went very well, with the arrival of Maurice (Richard) and all the others after that," Pierre Bouchard said. "Those were great years for the Canadiens' organization.

Despite his success, Emile Bouchard had to wait 43 years to have his No. 3 jersey retired. After a grassroots campaign started by his family, he was honored alongside fellow great Elmer Lach before the team's centennial game on Dec. 4, 2009.

"It gave him a great boost in the last seven, eight years of his life," Pierre Bouchard said. "It allowed him to be better known to the younger generation."


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Alors j'ai entendu une voix forte venant du trône dire : “ Voyez ! La tente de Dieu est avec les humains, et il résidera avec eux, et ils seront ses peuples. Et Dieu lui-même sera avec eux. Et il essuiera toute larme de leurs yeux, et la mort ne sera plus; ni deuil, ni cri, ni douleur ne seront plus. Les choses anciennes ont disparu. ” Révélation 21:3,4

To the BOUCHARD family sorry for your loss may GOD give you his love, peace, and strength in this time of sorrow. May he R.I.P -|-

I grew up in New York City and remember seeing your father play at the old Madison Square Garden, still with great zeal , at the end of his illustrious career. One of the best. Hockey has always been my favorite spectator sport, miles ahead of baseball and football. A real fast action event. My sympathies to your whole family. His memory will always live with hockey fans, one of the old-school greats. Ron Moss, Latham NY

Notre plus profonde sympathie et la chaleur de notre amitié.
D. Bouchard & P.L. Charron
Biarritz, Ile des Soeurs

One of the greats for Les Habitants. May your family find comfort from the fans of hockey.
My father saw him play in Providence, R.I. when they were both young men and told me of his abilities as a fine hockey player. His legacy is secure.
May God rest both their souls in peace.

May the GOD of tender mercies at ROMANS
15:4 grant you peace and comfort.

Pierre & Family,
Sincere sympathy on the loss of your father. May God grant you the strength to know his many goodnesses and great love at this difficult time.

William Dumas,
Orlando, Florida

Pierre & Family,

Please accept our condolences on the loss of your father. Just going by the praise and respect shown in the newspapers, he was very well loved & looked up to by many people.

We have fond memories of going to Emile's Restaurant after hockey games (when you played, Pierre) & meeting your Dad.

Again, our deepest sympathies to you & your family.

Wendy & Guy Riendeau

To the family: As you grieve of sadness may the "hearer of prayer" help you to endure this time of sorrow and grant you peace. My deepest condolences. (Psalms 65:2)