Former NHL Player Joel Bouchard buys and relocates QMJHL Montreal Junior Hockey Club
Former National Hockey League (NHL) defenseman, Joel Bouchard, has made his purchase and relocation of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey Leagues’ (QMJHL) Montreal Junior Hockey Club, official but has yet to announce it publicly which is expected in the upcoming
week.
"I am very happy to welcome Joel Bouchard and his group to the QMJHL. It is always a pleasure to see our former players come back to the QMJHL family and get involved, especially as club owners", said the QMJHL commissioner, Gilles Courteau, in Boucherville,
Quebec, on Wednesday.
Bouchard, who was drafted by Calgary Flames during the 1992 NHL Entry Drafts as a 129th pick overall in the sixth round, had played 13 seasons in the major league.
His career was known to be riddled with constant injuries which caused Bouchard to have ups and downs during his career as a professional hockey player.
In that duration, Bouchard played with Calgary Flames for four seasons and moved on to numerous teams after that including Nashville Predators, Dallas Stars, Phoenix Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and finally New York Islanders.
He retired from playing hockey in 2008 with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Bouchard registered a total of 75 points (22 goals and 53 assists) in the 364 games he played in the NHL.
Joel Bouchard, along with a number of other former and current players, formed a group and proposed the purchase of the club that was struggling financially.
The offer was formally accepted by the league’s commissioner and board of governors who have not released the details of the deal yet.
"Moreover, the members voted in favour of relocating the franchise to Boisbriand where the team will play its games at the Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau starting next season with renovations forthcoming to the facility to meet Quebec Major Junior Hockey
League guidelines”, added the league’s commissioner.
The team that reached the playoffs only in its first two seasons will be hopeful of making more of an impact when it is refreshed with a new management.
The deal will be officially announced by Bouchard in upcoming weeks after the paper work is finalised.
Tags: