Canuck dies in motorcycle crash
May 29, 2008 17:25:36 GMT -5
Post by Mr. Hockey on May 29, 2008 17:25:36 GMT -5
Luc Bourdon, a Vancouver Canuck defenceman described as a passionate young player striving to reach his potential in the NHL, was killed Thursday in a motorcycle accident near his hometown of Shippagan, N.B.
Bourdon, 21, died when his motorcycle struck a tractor-trailer near the largely French-speaking community in northern New Brunswick.
Bourdon's sister, Eve Bourdon, and his stepmother Maryse Godin both confirmed the death but declined further comment.
News of Bourdon's sudden death was greeted by shock and sadness.
"You don't know how passionate a young man he really was," Steve Tambellini, the Canucks assistant general manager, said in an interview. "That's the thing that stands out for me, how extremely passionate, who much he cared for what he did."
Kent Hughes, Bourdon's agent, took long pauses when talking about the player he first met as a 15-year-old.
"There was no quit in him," said Hughes. "He persevered through a lot. He was a great guy and a great teammate."
Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said the organization was "deeply saddened" by the loss and extended his sympathies to Bourdon's family.
"Luc was an extremely talented player with a bright future," Gillis said in a statement. "He brought great passion to the game and was a valued team member on and off the ice.
"He will be greatly missed."
RCMP in Shippagan wouldn't confirm the identity of the victim but said the driver of a motorcycle was killed at about 12:30 p.m. AT in crash on a road between Shippagan and Lemeque, N.B.
Raoul Boudreau, who lives across the street from Bourdon's father's home in Shippagan, said news of the death spread through the town of nearly 3,000 within hours of the crash and left the community in mourning.
"It's so sudden," Boudreau said in French.
Bourdon was taken 10th overall by the Canucks in the 2005 draft. He turned heads in his first Canuck camp and there was talk the six-foot-three, 211-pounder could make the team as an 18-year-old.
Bourdon was returned to junior and helped Canada win back-to-back gold medals at the world junior hockey championships. He was named the tournament all-star team at the 2006 tournament played in Vancouver. At the 2007 tournament in Sweden Bourdon scored the third-period goal that tied the game and forced overtime against the U.S. in the semifinal game.
Brent Sutter, who coached Bourdon at the 2006 world juniors, called the death tragic.
"It's surreal it's happened," said Sutter. "I feel terrible for the family."
Bourdon split last season between Vancouver and the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. He played 27 games with the Canucks, scoring two goals and collecting 20 penalty minutes.
Tambellini said Bourdon had the skills to become a star in the NHL.
"His potential was incredible," said Tambellini. "All those great attributes that got him recognized as a future NHL players were just starting to emerge."
Hughes said a devastating ankle injury during the 2005-06 season slowed Bourdon's progress. He also was saddled by the huge expectations placed on him after his first Canucks training camp.
"I think that training camp created a level of expectations perhaps," said Hughes. "I really felt this year he was starting to settle into kind of worrying about only what was in his control.
"He was trying to simplify his game and not worry about if he was in Manitoba or Vancouver. Just enjoy the sport and not the business side of it."
.Hockey officials at all levels expressed sadness over Bourdon's death.
"He was a very talented player who made a great impact on the organization in a short period of time," Craig Heisinger, the GM and vice-president of the Manitoba Moose, said in a release. "It is a big loss for the Manitoba Moose family."
The National Hockey League Players' Association extended its sympathies to Bourdon's family, teammates and friends.
"Luc had a promising life and career ahead of him and he will certainly be missed," the NHLPA said in a release.
Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada's president, said Bourbon was a "great teammate and friend."
Bourdon played for Val d'Or, Moncton and Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before turning pro.
Bourdon, 21, died when his motorcycle struck a tractor-trailer near the largely French-speaking community in northern New Brunswick.
Bourdon's sister, Eve Bourdon, and his stepmother Maryse Godin both confirmed the death but declined further comment.
News of Bourdon's sudden death was greeted by shock and sadness.
"You don't know how passionate a young man he really was," Steve Tambellini, the Canucks assistant general manager, said in an interview. "That's the thing that stands out for me, how extremely passionate, who much he cared for what he did."
Kent Hughes, Bourdon's agent, took long pauses when talking about the player he first met as a 15-year-old.
"There was no quit in him," said Hughes. "He persevered through a lot. He was a great guy and a great teammate."
Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said the organization was "deeply saddened" by the loss and extended his sympathies to Bourdon's family.
"Luc was an extremely talented player with a bright future," Gillis said in a statement. "He brought great passion to the game and was a valued team member on and off the ice.
"He will be greatly missed."
RCMP in Shippagan wouldn't confirm the identity of the victim but said the driver of a motorcycle was killed at about 12:30 p.m. AT in crash on a road between Shippagan and Lemeque, N.B.
Raoul Boudreau, who lives across the street from Bourdon's father's home in Shippagan, said news of the death spread through the town of nearly 3,000 within hours of the crash and left the community in mourning.
"It's so sudden," Boudreau said in French.
Bourdon was taken 10th overall by the Canucks in the 2005 draft. He turned heads in his first Canuck camp and there was talk the six-foot-three, 211-pounder could make the team as an 18-year-old.
Bourdon was returned to junior and helped Canada win back-to-back gold medals at the world junior hockey championships. He was named the tournament all-star team at the 2006 tournament played in Vancouver. At the 2007 tournament in Sweden Bourdon scored the third-period goal that tied the game and forced overtime against the U.S. in the semifinal game.
Brent Sutter, who coached Bourdon at the 2006 world juniors, called the death tragic.
"It's surreal it's happened," said Sutter. "I feel terrible for the family."
Bourdon split last season between Vancouver and the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. He played 27 games with the Canucks, scoring two goals and collecting 20 penalty minutes.
Tambellini said Bourdon had the skills to become a star in the NHL.
"His potential was incredible," said Tambellini. "All those great attributes that got him recognized as a future NHL players were just starting to emerge."
Hughes said a devastating ankle injury during the 2005-06 season slowed Bourdon's progress. He also was saddled by the huge expectations placed on him after his first Canucks training camp.
"I think that training camp created a level of expectations perhaps," said Hughes. "I really felt this year he was starting to settle into kind of worrying about only what was in his control.
"He was trying to simplify his game and not worry about if he was in Manitoba or Vancouver. Just enjoy the sport and not the business side of it."
.Hockey officials at all levels expressed sadness over Bourdon's death.
"He was a very talented player who made a great impact on the organization in a short period of time," Craig Heisinger, the GM and vice-president of the Manitoba Moose, said in a release. "It is a big loss for the Manitoba Moose family."
The National Hockey League Players' Association extended its sympathies to Bourdon's family, teammates and friends.
"Luc had a promising life and career ahead of him and he will certainly be missed," the NHLPA said in a release.
Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada's president, said Bourbon was a "great teammate and friend."
Bourdon played for Val d'Or, Moncton and Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before turning pro.
