Émile Joseph (Butch) Bouchard (born September 11, 1920) is a former Quebec ice hockey player who played defense with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1941 to 1956. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, and currently lives in Saint-Lambert, Quebec.
Far from an outstanding skater Bouchard became a star with the Montreal Canadiens because of his size, strength and determination. At 6'2" and 205 pounds he was considered a giant compared to players of the 1940s and since he also practiced heavy weight training in an era before NHL players were concerned about upper body strength[1] he became a formidable force. He also learned to compensate for his lack of skating expertise by playing better positional hockey and becoming a skilled passer. Bouchard was integral in rejuvinating a Montreal club which had not won the championship for 10 years. Bouchard won the Stanley Cup four times: 1944, 1946, 1953 and 1956, the last two as the first Quebec born captain of the Canadiens.[2] He was selected to the NHL All-Star team for four consecutive seasons from 1943-47 the last three to the 1st team.
Bouchard was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966. The QMJHL's Defenceman of the Year Trophy (Emile Bouchard Trophy) is named in his honour.
On October 15 2008 the Montreal Canadiens celebrated their 100th season by unveiling the Ring of Honour, an exhibit along the wall of the upper deck of the Bell Centre, paying tribute to their 44 players and 10 builders who are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Bouchard along with Elmer Lach, the two oldest surviving members, were on hand to drop the ceremonial puck at centre ice.[3][4]
He is the father of former NHL defenceman Pierre Bouchard.
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