Luc Bourdon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Luc Bourdon
Bourdon with Canada in 2005
Born	(1987-02-16)February 16, 1987 Shippagan, New Brunswick, Canada
Died	May 29, 2008(2008-05-29) (aged 21) Lamèque, New Brunswick, Canada
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	211 lb (96 kg; 15 st 1 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Left
Played for	Vancouver Canucks
NHL Draft	10th overall, 2005 Vancouver Canucks
Playing career	2006–2008

Luc Bourdon (born February 16, 1987 – died May 29, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was a defenceman who played for the Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League (NHL). Luc played from 2006 until his passing in 2008.

Luc overcame childhood arthritis when he was young. He was chosen third overall in the 2003 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft. He played four seasons in the QMJHL for teams like the Val-d'Or Foreurs, Moncton Wildcats, and Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

The Canucks picked Bourdon 10th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He split his professional career between the Canucks and their minor league team, the Manitoba Moose. Luc was known as a strong defenceman who could also help score goals. He played for Team Canada in three big tournaments. He won two gold medals at the IIHF World Junior Championship and a silver medal at the IIHF World U18 Championship.

Luc Bourdon passed away at age 21 in a motorcycle accident near his hometown in New Brunswick.

Early Life and Childhood

Luc Bourdon was born on February 16, 1987. He grew up in Shippagan, New Brunswick, a small French-speaking town. He was the only child raised by his mother, Suzanne Boucher.

When Luc was nine years old, he was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis. This condition made him need a wheelchair for a while. But he worked hard and got better, overcoming the arthritis.

As a teenager, Luc was a great student at Marie-Esther Secondary. He earned top grades. Since he grew up in a fishing town, he spent his summers working on his uncle's crab fishing boat.

Luc loved hockey from a young age. He played in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament three times. After being drafted into the QMJHL at 16, he left home to play. He would return home to his mother during the off-season.

After signing his first professional contract, Luc showed his generous spirit. He secretly gave C$10,000 to his local minor hockey group. This money helped families who couldn't afford hockey equipment. His former coach shared this story after Luc's passing.

Playing Career Highlights

Luc Bourdon joined the Val-d'Or Foreurs for the 2003–04 season. He scored 8 points in 64 regular season games. The next season, 2004–05, he played all 70 games. He scored 13 goals and 19 assists. He also played in the CHL Top Prospects Game, which is for players who might be drafted.

In June 2005, the Vancouver Canucks picked Luc 10th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Experts thought he was a strong, two-way defenceman. They noted his good offensive skills and powerful shot. He was also an excellent skater. Luc was the second player from Shippagan to be drafted into the NHL.

Bourdon warming up before a game on November 16, 2007. He scored his first NHL goal that night.

Luc was invited to the Canucks' training camp. He almost made the team as an 18-year-old. But he was sent back to the QMJHL to develop more. He started the 2005–06 season with Val-d'Or. He had 20 points in 20 games.

He was then traded to the Moncton Wildcats. Soon after, he hurt his ankle badly. Doctors said it would take two years to heal fully. But Luc recovered in one year. He still played in the 2006 Memorial Cup with the Wildcats. His team reached the final but lost.

Luc signed a three-year contract with the Canucks in May 2006. He earned a spot on the team for the 2006–07 season. He played his first NHL game on October 10, 2006. After nine games, he was sent back to the QMJHL.

In January 2007, Luc was traded again in the QMJHL. He went to the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. He finished the 2006–07 QMJHL season with 20 points in 36 games. After his QMJHL season, the Canucks sent him to play five games for the Manitoba Moose in the AHL playoffs. Luc played for five different teams during the 2006–07 season.

Luc started the 2007–08 season with the Manitoba Moose. But the Canucks had many injured defencemen. So, Luc was called up to the NHL team several times. He scored his first NHL goal on November 16, 2007. It was against Niklas Bäckström in a 6–2 win over the Minnesota Wild.

Luc finished the season with the Canucks. He played 27 games for them, scoring two goals. He also scored 14 points in 41 games with the Moose. Luc was a promising young player. He was often mentioned in trade talks. He was improving his defensive play and becoming more mature.

International Hockey Success

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold	2007	Sweden
Gold	2006	Canada
World Junior U18 Championships
Silver	2005	Czech Republic

Luc Bourdon first played for Team Canada in the 2005 IIHF World U18 Championships. This tournament was held in the Czech Republic. Canada won a silver medal, and Luc had one assist.

He then played in his first World Junior Championship in 2006. This event was held in British Columbia. Luc was named player of the game in one match against Norway. He scored a goal and an assist in a 4–0 win. He led all defencemen in scoring with six points in six games. He was also named to the tournament's all-star team. After winning gold, Luc brought his medal home to Shippagan. He showed it to many excited fans at the local arena.

Luc played in the 2007 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Sweden. He was again named player of the game in the first match against Sweden. He scored the winning goal in a 2–0 victory. Later, he scored the tying goal in the semi-final against the United States. Canada won that game in a shootout. Luc had two goals and two assists in six games. He helped Canada win its second gold medal in a row.

Remembering Luc Bourdon

A view of the items at the Luc Bourdon memorial outside General Motors Place in Vancouver

Luc Bourdon passed away on May 29, 2008. He was killed in a motorcycle accident near his hometown in New Brunswick. He was 21 years old. The accident happened when his motorcycle hit a tractor-trailer.

Luc's agent, Kent Hughes, did not know Luc had started riding motorcycles. Luc's stepmother said he had bought the motorcycle about three weeks before. His close friend, Kris Letang, had planned to buy a motorcycle too. But after Luc's accident, he decided not to.

Many hockey teams and organizations remembered Luc. The American Hockey League held a moment of silence for him. This was before a playoff game just hours after the accident. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings also had a moment of silence. This happened before game four of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final.

During the 2008 NHL Draft, the Canucks' team management wore guitar pins. This was to remember Luc, who loved playing the guitar.

At the Canucks' first home game of the 2008–09 season, they honored Luc. His family received his last game-worn jersey. The band Tom Cochrane and Red Rider played "Big League" during a video tribute. Fans received special pins. The Canucks players wore "LB" on their helmets all season. A special "Luc Bourdon Wall of Dreams" was created at the arena.

The Manitoba Moose also honored Luc. They had a video tribute before their first home game. Moose players wore #4 Bourdon jerseys during warmups. They wore "#4 LB" patches on their jerseys all season. A senior hockey team in New Brunswick also wore a "28 Bourdon" patch.

At the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, Team Canada honored Luc. They wore "LB" stickers in their first game. No Canadian player wore jersey number 6, which was Luc's number with the national team. The QMJHL Moncton Wildcats, one of Luc's former teams, also paid tribute. They played a song and showed a video. They gave Luc's family his Wildcats jersey. The team wore an "LB" patch on their uniforms that season.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

See also

In Spanish: Luc Bourdon para niños

• List of ice hockey players who died during their playing careers