Henry Boucha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henry Boucha |
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| Born | June 1, 1951 Warroad, Minnesota, U.S. |
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| Died | September 18, 2023 (aged 72) | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||
| Position | Center | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Detroit Red Wings Minnesota North Stars Minnesota Fighting Saints Kansas City Scouts Colorado Rockies |
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| National team |  United States |
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| NHL Draft | 16th overall, 1971 Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1971–1977 | ||
Henry Charles Boucha (pronounced BOO-shay; June 1, 1951 – September 18, 2023) was a talented Native American ice hockey player. He played as a center in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). His career lasted from 1971 to 1977.
In the NHL, Henry played for the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, Kansas City Scouts, and Colorado Rockies. He also played for the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the WHA. Sadly, his career ended early because of an eye injury. Henry also proudly represented the U.S. national team. He played in two World Championships and won a silver medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics.
Henry was a full-blooded Chippewa Ojibwa person. His distant cousin Gary Sargent and second cousin T. J. Oshie also became NHL players.
Contents
Henry Boucha's Early Hockey Days
Henry Boucha played high school hockey for Warroad High School in Warroad, Minnesota. In 1969, he led his team to the state tournament. During a close game, he got injured. Many people think he was one of the best players in Minnesota high school hockey history.
In 1970, while serving in the U.S. Army, Henry joined the U.S. national ice hockey team. The U.S. team won a special "Pool B" tournament that year. He then played in the 1971 Ice Hockey World Championships in Bern, Switzerland. There, he scored seven goals in ten games for Team USA. Henry was also a big star on the 1972 United States Olympic hockey team, which earned a silver medal.
Henry Boucha's Professional Career
The Detroit Red Wings picked Henry Boucha in the second round of the 1971 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 16th player chosen overall. He also had the chance to join the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the rival WHA, but he chose the NHL.
Henry scored a goal in his very first NHL game after the Olympics. In his first full NHL season, he was voted Detroit's rookie of the year. In 1974, the Red Wings traded him to the Minnesota North Stars. He was playing well in his home state. However, on January 4, 1975, he was badly injured during a game. Dave Forbes of the Boston Bruins hit him with a stick. This attack caused a cracked bone near Henry's eye and blurry vision.
Henry never fully recovered from this injury. He tried to play again with the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the WHA during the 1975–76 season. Later that season, he returned to the NHL as a free agent with the Kansas City Scouts. In 1976, the Scouts team moved to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies. Henry played only nine games for them before retiring from professional hockey.
Before the NHL made helmets mandatory, Henry Boucha was known for wearing a headband while playing. His nickname was "the Chief."
Life After Hockey
Henry Boucha faced challenges after his hockey career ended early. He later found his way and became active in his native community. He worked to support various Native American causes.
Henry Boucha passed away on September 18, 2023, at the age of 72.
Career Statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1965–66 | Warroad High School | HS-MN | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1966–67 | Warroad High School | HS-MN | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1967–68 | Warroad High School | HS-MN | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1968–69 | Warroad High School | HS-MN | 25 | 60 | 35 | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1969–70 | Winnipeg Jets | WCHL | 51 | 27 | 26 | 53 | 37 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 37 | ||
| 1971–72 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 73 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | Virginia Wings | AHL | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 70 | 19 | 12 | 31 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 51 | 15 | 14 | 29 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975–76 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | WHA | 36 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975–76 | Kansas City Scouts | NHL | 28 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1976–77 | Colorado Rockies | NHL | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| WHA totals | 36 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 247 | 53 | 49 | 102 | 157 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | United States | WC-B | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | |
| 1971 | United States | WC | 10 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 2 | |
| 1972 | United States | Oly | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | |
| Senior totals | 23 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 12 | |||
Awards and Achievements
- Henry was named the Detroit Red Wings rookie of the year for the 1972–73 season.
- He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995, which is a great honor for hockey players.
International Play and Medals
Henry Boucha proudly represented the United States in several international hockey tournaments.
| Olympic medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's ice hockey | ||
Representing  United States |
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| Olympic Games | ||
| Silver | 1972 Sapporo | Team |
- He played in the Ice Hockey World Championships, Pool B, in 1970. His team won first place and moved up to Pool A.
- In the Ice Hockey World Championships, Pool A, in 1971, his team finished in sixth place.
- At the 1972 Olympic tournament, his team won a silver medal, finishing in second place.
See Also
In Spanish: Henry Boucha para niños
