Chris Bourque

Born:Jan 29, 1986Draft: 2004 Capitals, 33rd Overall
Hometown:Boston, MassachusettsPosition:Left Wing
Known For:3x AHL Calder Cup ChampionShoots:Left
National Team:United StatesCurrent Team:ERC Ingolstadt (DEL)

Chris Bourque (born January 29, 1986) is a former American ice hockey player, having played his final year in the NHL with the Boston Bruins during the 2012-13 season. Drafted 33rd overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Bourque had a remarkable second year in the United States High School (USHS-Prep) with Cushing Academy, recording 37 goals and 90 points in 31 games as the team’s captain. After two full seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hershey Bears, and one international appearance where he recorded seven goals in seven games, Bourque made his NHL debut. In his two final seasons with the Capitals, he appeared in just 12 NHL games, recording one goal.

In the 2009-10 season, Bourque played a career high 20 games, registering three assists and a minus-4 rating. He was placed on waivers and quickly claimed by his former Capitals team, who then assigned him to Hershey where he would help the team capture its second Calder Cup. After departing to Europe for one season, splitting the year in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and the Swiss National League, he returned for one more season with Hershey before ultimately being traded to the Bruins for centre Zach Hamill.

Chris Bourque - Islanders
Chris Bourque, New York Islanders, September 17, 2018 (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Bourque got 18 games with the Bruins and recorded a career high of four points, and nearly put up a point-per-game pace with the Providence Bruins. He returned to Europe for another brief stint before re-joining the AHL for five seasons with the Bruins, Hartford Wolf Pack, and Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Despite being a prolific AHL contributor, Bourque signed in the Deutsch Eishockey League (DEL), playing two seasons with EHC Munchen and finishing the 2021-22 season with ERC Ingolstadt.

Chris Bourque Statistics

Deeper Dive

Achievements

  • 3x AHL Calder Cup Champion (2006, 2009, 2010)
  • U20 WJC Most Goals (7) (2006)
  • AHL Team MVP of Hershey Bears (2008)
  • 6x AHL All-Star Game (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
  • AHL Playoffs MVP (Jack A. Butterfield Trophy) (2010)
  • 3x AHL First All-Star Team (2012, 2015, 2016)
  • AHL Most Assists (66) (2012)
  • 2x AHL Most Points (John B. Sollenberger Trophy) (2012, 2016)
  • AHL Most Valuable Player (Les Cunningham Award) (2016)
  • DEL Best Plus/Minus (+26) (2020)

Sources