Henry Boucha was a center in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings and the Minnesota North Stars.
- Died: September 18, 2023 (Who else died on September 18?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 72.
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Henry Boucha’s legacy
Boucha had a celebrated amateur career before he joined the NHL. An Ojibwa Native American, he grew up in northern Minnesota, on the border of Canada. He played hockey at Warroad High School, becoming one of the top high school hockey players in state history. Boucha went on to serve in the U.S. Army while also playing on the U.S. national team. He played in the 1971 World Championships and the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, where Team USA won silver.
Boucha was chosen by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the 1971 NHL draft, and he was voted the team’s rookie of the year. As a professional, he became known for wearing a headband in the years before helmets were required for NHL players. Boucha was traded to the Minnesota North Stars in 1974 and played a single season for them. His NHL career came to an early end when he was injured by Dave Forbes of the Boston Bruins, who hit him in the eye with his stick. The news-making incident permanently damaged Boucha’s eyesight. Though he attempted a comeback in 1975, he officially retired the next year. In later years, Boucha worked in real estate and was an advocate for Native American issues. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.
Notable quote
“After hockey, I found myself in my culture, my traditions, my spirituality. I want young Native Americans to find this strength that we all have been given but don’t always recognize.” —from a 2020 interview for the Circle
Tributes to Henry Boucha
Full obituary: MPR News
