Andre Boudrias obit

André Boudrias, Vancouver Canucks' first star, dead at 75

The former team captain and scoring champ died Tuesday in Whistler.

 He was not on the list.

André Boudrias, who led the Vancouver Canucks in scoring during the franchise’s inaugural season, has died at the age of 75.

The Montreal native was a seasoned pro when he joined the Canucks for the 1970-71 campaign, having already had NHL stops with the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues.

But it was with the expansion Canucks that Boudrias left his mark and found his stride as a productive NHLer.

The 5-8, 165-pound Boudrias averaged 70 points over his first five years with the Canucks and served as team captain during the 1975–76 campaign.

In a statement, the Vancouver Canucks offered condolences to those close to the gifted playmaker.

“Boudrias led Vancouver offensively from the inaugural season of the franchise in 1970-71 to 1975-76 as one of the Canucks’ first true stars,” the team said. “Boudrias was an active member of the Canucks’ alumni and will be fondly remembered by family, friends and his many peers throughout the NHL community.”

During the 1974-75 season, Boudrias registered 62 assists, which remained the club’s single-season record until 2006-07 when Henrik Sedin eclipsed the mark with 71 helpers. (The Swedish centre raised the bar three seasons later when he recorded 83 assists.)

“For me, it was always in my mind to set up my wingers,” Boudrias said in 2007. “I felt an assist was as good as a goal and I played that way all my life. We had a good group of guys on those Canucks teams and we still keep in contact, which is a nice thing.”

Along with leading the Canucks in scoring for four of the team’s first five years, Boudrias also earned the nickname “Super Pest,” for his abrasive play that flustered opposing players.

“He was one of the best centres the Canucks ever had,” former broadcaster Jim Robson told TSN 1040. “He wasn’t big — he was about 5-8 — and he wasn’t fast, but he was a tenacious checker.”

Robson said those lucky enough to play wing alongside Boudrias benefited from his prodigious playmaking ability.

“All his wingers scored a lot of goals,” said Robson.

Paiement, with 34 goals in 1970-71, and Bobby Schmautz, with 38 in 1972-73, were two NHL veterans who both had career years riding shotgun next to Boudrias.

He was twice named the club’s most exciting player, as voted by Canucks fans.

The early Canucks didn’t win a lot of games but with a lineup that included bruisers like Pat Quinn, Orland Kurtenbach, Gary Doak and Rosie Paiement, they didn’t lose too many in the alley.

“We had a lot of tough customers on that team,” Boudrias recalled in 1989. “They gave us a lot of protection and it really helped the smaller guys like myself.”

Overall, Boudrias racked up 491 points (151 goals, 340 assists) in 662 NHL games.

After finishing his playing career with the WHA’s Quebec Nordiques, Boudrias returned to Montreal, where he worked as the Canadiens’ assistant general manager, playing a key role in the club’s Stanley Cup championships in 1986 and 1993.

Boudrias later earned three more Stanley Cup rings — in 1995, 2000 and 2003 — as a scout with the New Jersey Devils.

The Canadiens announced that Boudrias died Tuesday in Whistler. No cause of death was given.

“André Boudrias will be remembered and missed by all who knew him. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Ginette, and family members,” the Canadiens said in a release.

 

                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----

Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM

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1961-62  Montreal Junior Canadiens   OHA    50   34   63   97    0

1961-62  North Bay Trappers          EPHL    2    0    3    3    2  --  --  --  --  --

1961-62  Hull-Ottawa Canadiens       EPHL   --   --   --   --   --   1   0   0   0   0

1962-63  Montreal Junior Canadiens   OHA    50   12   43   55    0

1962-63  Hull-Ottawa Canadiens       EPHL    3    0    1    1    0  --  --  --  --  --

1963-64  Montreal Junior Canadiens   OHA    55   38   97  135    0

1963-64  Montreal Canadiens          NHL     4    1    4    5    2  --  --  --  --  --

1964-65  Quebec Aces                 AHL    14    4    9   13    4  --  --  --  --  --

1964-65  Omaha Knights               CPHL   52   15   49   64   10   6   1   7   8   2

1964-65  Montreal Canadiens          NHL     1    0    0    0    2  --  --  --  --  --

1965-66  Quebec Aces                 AHL     1    2    0    2    0  --  --  --  --  --

1965-66  Houston Apollos             CPHL   70   27   46   73   53  --  --  --  --  --

1966-67  Montreal Canadiens          NHL     2    0    1    1    0  --  --  --  --  --

1966-67  Houston Apollos             CPHL   67   16   48   64   58   6   1   2   3   6

1967-68  Minnesota North Stars       NHL    74   18   35   53   42  14   3   6   9   8

1968-69  Minnesota North Stars       NHL    53    4    9   13    6  --  --  --  --  --

1968-69  Chicago Blackhawks          NHL    20    4   10   14    4  --  --  --  --  --

1969-70  Kansas City Blues           CHL    19    7   16   23   16  --  --  --  --  --

1969-70  St. Louis Blues             NHL    50    3   14   17   20  14   2   4   6   4

1970-71  Vancouver Canucks           NHL    77   25   41   66   16  --  --  --  --  --

1971-72  Vancouver Canucks           NHL    78   27   34   61   26  --  --  --  --  --

1972-73  Vancouver Canucks           NHL    77   30   40   70   24  --  --  --  --  --

1973-74  Vancouver Canucks           NHL    78   16   59   75   18  --  --  --  --  --

1974-75  Vancouver Canucks           NHL    77   16   62   78   46   5   1   0   1   0

1975-76  Vancouver Canucks           NHL    71    7   31   38   10   1   0   0   0   0

1976-77  Quebec Nordiques            WHA    74   12   31   43   12  17   3  12  15   6

1977-78  Quebec Nordiques            WHA    66   10   17   27   22  11   0   2   2   4

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         WHA Totals                        140   22   48   70   34  28   3  14  17  10

         NHL Totals                        662  151  340  491  216  34   6  10  16  12