Rene Bourque

Lore & Background

Bourque grew up in Edmonton and Lac La Biche, Alberta, of Métis heritage. His father worked in the oil patch and his mother was a social worker. He attended the Athol Murray College of Notre Dame and was an honours student. Rather than play major junior hockey, he chose to preserve his NCAA eligibility, playing one season with the St. Albert Saints of the AJHL before spending four years at the University of Wisconsin, where he served as a co-captain and earned a degree in Consumer Behaviour and Business. He went undrafted by any NHL team.

After college, Bourque signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and was assigned to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL, where he set a franchise record with 33 goals and won the AHL rookie of the year award. He made his NHL debut in 2005–06, scoring his first goal in his first game. His time in Chicago was marked by several injuries, including a deep neck cut from a skate blade and a cracked ankle bone. He was traded to the Calgary Flames in 2008, where he had his most productive seasons, including a career-high 27 goals and 58 points in 2009–10. He signed a six-year contract extension with Calgary in February 2010.

Bourque was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in January 2012 as part of a multi-player deal. He later played for the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche. He represented Canada at the 2010 IIHF World Championship and the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Reader's Guide

Bourque's significance lies in his path from an undrafted college player to a productive NHL forward, and in his off-ice impact. He demonstrated that a player could forgo major junior hockey to pursue a university education and still reach the NHL. His AHL rookie of the year season and subsequent NHL career, which included multiple 20-goal seasons, validated that route. His Métis heritage and his charitable initiatives aimed at encouraging Indigenous children and helping rural Northern Alberta youth afford hockey costs have led to a major increase in sport participation among Indigenous children. His career also illustrates the physical toll of professional hockey: he suffered a serious neck laceration, a cracked ankle bone, a broken thumb, a high ankle sprain, and multiple other injuries that sidelined him for extended periods. His time in Calgary included both on-ice success and controversy, including two suspensions for illegal hits within a month in 2011–12, which preceded his trade to Montreal.

Did You Know?

• Bourque won the AHL's Dudley 'Red' Garrett Memorial Award as rookie of the year in 2004–05.
• He scored his first NHL goal in his first game, against goaltender Jean-Sébastien Giguère.
• He is of Métis heritage and his first cousin, Wayne Bourque, is a three-time North American native boxing champion.
• Bourque earned a degree in Consumer Behaviour and Business from the University of Wisconsin.