Chris Bourque

Lore & Background

Bourque grew up in Topsfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Cushing Academy in 2004, where he was close friends with Keith Yandle. He played one season of NCAA hockey for Boston University in 2004–05 before being drafted by the Capitals. After developing in the AHL with the Portland Pirates and Hershey Bears, he made his NHL debut in November 2007. Bourque scored his first NHL goal on December 30, 2008, against the Buffalo Sabres. He was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins in September 2009, recorded his first NHL assist on October 28, 2009, and was later re-claimed by Washington in December 2009. In 2010, he led the AHL playoffs in scoring with 27 points, winning the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as Calder Cup Playoff MVP while helping the Bears capture their second consecutive Calder Cup. Bourque also played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for Atlant Moscow Oblast and Ak Bars Kazan, and in Switzerland for HC Lugano and EHC Biel. He returned to the Capitals on a one-year contract in 2011 and led the AHL in scoring with 93 points in 73 games during the 2011–12 season. In May 2012, he was traded to the Boston Bruins for forward Zach Hamill. He scored his first goal as a Bruin in a 1–0 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on February 2, 2013. After further stints in the KHL and Switzerland, he signed with the New York Rangers in 2014 and led their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, in scoring. He returned to the Capitals in 2015 and was named AHL Most Valuable Player for the 2015–16 season after leading the Bears in scoring with 80 points. Bourque continued with Hershey on an optional two-year deal in 2017, then played for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in 2018–19. He finished his career with three seasons in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) for EHC München and ERC Ingolstadt, retiring in April 2022 after 17 professional seasons. The Hershey Bears retired his #17 jersey on January 14, 2023.

Reader's Guide

Chris Bourque's career is defined by his extraordinary success in the American Hockey League, where he became the league's active career leading scorer and won the Calder Cup twice with the Hershey Bears. His 27-point postseason in 2010 earned him the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP, and he was named AHL Most Valuable Player for the 2015–16 season. Despite playing only 51 NHL games across three teams, Bourque's consistent scoring at the AHL level—leading his team in points multiple seasons and earning three AHL first All-Star team selections—cemented his legacy as one of the league's top forwards. He also represented the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics, registering two assists in five games. Off the ice, Bourque is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque and is actively involved with the family's Bourque Foundation. His number 17 was retired by the Hershey Bears in 2023, honoring his nine seasons with the club. After retiring, he transitioned to a scouting role with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Did You Know?

• Chris Bourque was drafted 33rd overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2004 NHL entry draft.
• He won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as Calder Cup Playoff MVP in 2010 after leading the AHL playoffs with 27 points.
• Bourque was selected to play for the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
• His father, Ray Bourque, is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.