Francis Bouillon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francis Bouillon |
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Bouillon playing for the Montreal Canadiens in 2014
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| Born | October 17, 1975 New York City, U.S. |
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| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | ||
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens Nashville Predators Leksands IF HC Ambrì-Piotta |
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| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | Undrafted | ||
| Playing career | 1996–2015 | ||
Francis Joseph Bouillon (born October 17, 1975) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He was a defenseman, which is a player who helps protect the team's goal. Francis played for 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), which is the top ice hockey league in North America. He spent most of his career with the Montreal Canadiens and also played for the Nashville Predators. After his playing career, he became a Development Coach for the Montreal Canadiens.
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Early Life and Junior Hockey
Francis Bouillon was born in New York City, U.S. His father was from Haiti, and his mother was French Canadian. When Francis was only 3 years old, he moved to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, with his mother.
He started playing junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). This league is for talented young players who are not yet professional. He played for the Laval Titans and later for the Granby Predateurs. Francis was the captain of the Granby Predateurs when they won the 1996 Memorial Cup. The Memorial Cup is a very important championship for junior hockey teams in Canada.
Playing in the NHL
Francis Bouillon began his professional hockey journey in the 1996–97 season. He played in a league called the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers. The next season, he played in the IHL for the Quebec Rafales. In 1998, the Montreal Canadiens signed him to an NHL contract. This meant he could play in the biggest hockey league.
Playing for the Canadiens and Predators
Francis played for the Montreal Canadiens for most of his career. He was with them for 11 seasons, except for a short time with the Nashville Predators in 2002–03. Even though he was considered small for an NHL defenseman at 5 feet 8 inches tall, he was known for playing a very physical game. He was not afraid to challenge bigger players. Many people, including sports commentators, said he was one of the strongest players in the NHL.
In 2009, Francis joined the Nashville Predators again after a tryout. A tryout is when a player practices with a team to see if they fit in. He played almost every game that season, showing he was a reliable "stay-at-home defenseman." This means he focused on defending his team's goal rather than scoring. He signed a new contract to stay with the Predators for two more years.
Later Career and Retirement
On July 1, 2012, Francis Bouillon signed a one-year deal to return to the Montreal Canadiens. He played well, and the team offered him another one-year contract. After the 2013–14 season, the Canadiens decided not to offer him a new contract. He became a "free agent," meaning he could sign with any team.
In October 2014, he signed with HC Ambrì-Piotta in Switzerland. He played one season there in the National League A (NLA), which is Switzerland's top hockey league. Francis Bouillon officially announced his retirement from playing hockey on September 25, 2015.
Life Outside Hockey
Francis Bouillon is married and has two sons.
See also
- List of Black ice hockey players
