Dec 05 The Canadiens Honour Bouchard and Lach, Retire Jerseys - Emile

ÉMILE BOUCHARD

A physically imposing defenseman with excellent passing skills, Émile Bouchard was born in Montreal on September 4, 1919. The youngest of four children, he attended Saint-François-Xaxier and Saint-Louis de Gonzague schools where he and his classmates would play some shinny.

Bouchard was 16 when he first laced up hockey skates he would rent from friends. Later he borrowed $35 from his brother Marcel to buy a complete set of hockey equipment, including his own pair of skates. Bouchard’s progression was nothing short of amazing and with a mere four years of experience on skates he earned a try-out at the Canadiens’ training camp held in St-Hyacinthe.

At 6’2’’ and 205 lbs, Bouchard was a giant who appeared to be chiselled out of stone. The sturdy defenseman would soon be known as the “Rock of Gibraltar”. In 1941 Bouchard began what would become a 15-year career with the Canadiens winning four Stanley Cups and making it

to the finals nine times. For the most part a reliable stay-at-home defenseman, Bouchard had the skills to contribute offensively and in 1942-43 he racked up 18 points to lead all Canadiens defensemen. A dominant figure on the blue line Bouchard proved to be a key component to his Canadiens amazing 1944-45 season when the team enjoyed its best season in franchise history losing only five games, none on home ice, and setting a new league record with 83 points.

Bouchard had a career season that year with 34 points, including 11 goals, and was the top scoring defenseman on the Canadiens. Bouchard was an outstanding tutor and together with Doug Harvey they formed one of the top defensive pairing in the league. Admired and respected by his teammates, Émile Bouchard was unanimously voted team captain and proudly assumed his role for eight seasons, from 1948 to 1956.

In the fifties, Bouchard would etch his name on the Holy Grail on two more occasions, in 1953 and 1956. In his 15 seasons in the NHL, all with the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge, he played in 785 games raking up 193 points, including 49 goals. In an era where the playoffs were a two-series affair, he skated in 113 games recording 32 points, 11 of which were goals. Bouchard ranks 8th on the list of all-time Canadiens’ defensemen with 785 games and, fifth with regards to penalty minutes with 863.

A tower of strength on the blue line and an all-around defenseman, Bouchard’s leadership and character was recognized by teammates and opponents alike. A four-time NHL All-Star, he played in the annual classic six times between 1948 and 1954. Following his illustrious career, he remained active in the world of sports. He was part of the management team of the Montreal Royals Triple-A baseball club in 1956 before assuming the presidency in 1957.

Throughout his career, Émile Bouchard was a model of courage and a source of inspiration for the French-speaking population in Québec. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966 and thirty years later he was enshrined in the Panthéon des sports du Québec for his contribution to the sport and the community. The National Order of Quebec was presented to him by the government of Québec in 2008 and a trophy awarded annually to the top defenseman in the QMJHL was named after him. As a tribute to Émile Bouchard’s career and involvement in the community, the City of Longueuil bestowed another honour on him by naming a hockey arena after him.