Henry Boucha
Henry Boucha | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 June 1951 |
| Died | 18 September 2023 (aged 72) |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey player |
| Years active | 1971–1977 |
| Known for | NHL and WHA career, 1972 Winter Olympics silver medalist |
Henry Charles Boucha ( ; June 1, 1951 – September 18, 2023) was a professional ice hockey player of Native American heritage. His career spanned the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA) between 1971 and 1977. Within the NHL, Boucha skated for the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, Kansas City Scouts, and Colorado Rockies, while his WHA tenure included playing for the Minnesota Fighting Saints. His playing days were cut short due to an eye injury inflicted by Dave Forbes. On the international stage, Boucha represented the United States at two Ice Hockey World Championships and earned a silver medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics.
As a full-blooded Ojibwe, Boucha shared familial ties with NHL players Gary Sargent (a distant cousin) and T. J. Oshie (his second cousin).
Amateur career
Boucha's high school hockey journey took place at Warroad High School in Warroad, Minnesota, where he led his squad to the 1969 state tournament despite sustaining an injury during a narrow overtime defeat against Edina High School. He is widely recognized as one of Minnesota’s most outstanding high school hockey talents.
While enlisted in the U.S. Army, Boucha became a full-time member of the U.S. national ice hockey team in 1970, playing a pivotal role in securing victory in the "Pool B" qualification tournament. At the 1971 Ice Hockey World Championships held in Bern, Switzerland, he tallied seven goals across ten games. Boucha was an essential contributor to the U.S. Olympic team that captured silver in 1972.
Professional career
Selected in the second round as the 16th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings during the 1971 NHL Entry Draft—and also chosen first overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the competing WHA—Boucha opted not to join the WHA initially. He scored during his NHL debut following the Olympics and earned Detroit’s rookie of the year honors in his inaugural full season. In 1974, Detroit traded him to the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for Danny Grant. While performing strongly with Minnesota, Boucha suffered a severe injury on January 4, 1975, after being attacked by Dave Forbes of the Boston Bruins; this incident resulted in a fractured bone near his eye and impaired vision. Forbes was charged with aggravated assault, but his trial concluded with a hung jury.
Boucha was unable to fully regain his previous form. He attempted a comeback with the Minnesota Fighting Saints (WHA) during the 1975–76 season before returning to the NHL as a free agent with the Kansas City Scouts later that year. After the franchise relocated to Denver as the Colorado Rockies in 1976, Boucha retired after participating in just nine games.
Prior to helmet regulations, Boucha was known for wearing a headband and carried the nickname "the Chief."
Post-playing career
Following his untimely retirement—his agent had been negotiating a four-year contract extension with the North Stars before injury interrupted negotiations—Boucha encountered personal difficulties including divorce and struggles with substance abuse. He eventually rebuilt his life during the 1980s and became actively involved in Native American community initiatives.
Henry Boucha died on September 18, 2023, at age 72.
International competition
- 1970 Ice Hockey World Championships, Pool B (first place, advanced to Pool A)
- 1971 Ice Hockey World Championships, Pool A (finished sixth)
- 1972 Olympic Games tournament (silver medal)
Regular season and playoffs
1976–77 NHL season | Colorado Rockies | NHL |9 |0 |2 |2 |4 |— |— |— |— |—| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1965–66 | Warroad High School | HS-MN | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1966–67 | Warroad High School | HS-MN | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1967–68 | Warroad High School | HS-MN | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1968–69 | Warroad High School | HS-MN | 25 | 60 | 35 | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1969–70 | Winnipeg Jets | WCHL | 51 | 27 | 26 | 53 | 37 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 37 | ||
| 1971–72 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 73 | 14 | 14 | 28 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1972–73 | Virginia Wings | AHL | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1973–74 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 70 | 19 | 12 | 31 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1974–75 | Minnesota North Stars | NHL | 51 | 15 | 14 | 29 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975–76 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | WHA | 36 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1975–76 | Kansas City Scouts | NHL | 28 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 14 | — !— !— !— !— | ||||||
| WHA career totals | 36 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 47 | — !— !— !— !— | ||||||||
| NHL career totals | 247 | 53 | 49 | 102 | 157 | — !— !— !— !— | ||||||||
International
1970 Ice Hockey World Championships | United States | WC-B |7 |4 |1 |5 |4 1971 Ice Hockey World Championships | United States | WC |10 |7 |1 |8 |2 Ice hockey at the 1972 Winter Olympics | United States | Oly |6 |2 |4 |6 |6| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior international totals | 23 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 12 | |||
Awards and accomplishments
- Named Detroit Red Wings top rookie for the 1972–73 season
- Enshrined in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995