Hall of Fame Profile: Chris Boucher

When Chris Boucher arrives on your doorstep, you should probably let him in. Fresh from the Minnesota Wild training camp in 2001, Chris Boucher walked through the door into a Garnet and Grey uniform and brought his tough and steady defence to a historic four-season career in Garnet and Grey.    

Chris Boucher is one of four inductees who will be celebrated as the 2024 Gee-Gees Men's Hockey Hall of Fame Class. The event will take place on September 7, and marks the third induction celebration for the program. 

"I would like to say the Gee-Gees spent lots of time and effort recruiting me, but I showed up on their doorstep after the first semester had started," recalls Boucher, who had some footsteps to follow up to the Garnet and Grey doorstep. His brother Brock had joined the uOttawa squad in 2000 after a four-year OHL career plus one season with the Hull Olympiques, and the duo would play two university seasons together.

In addition to that brotherly connection, the younger Boucher found a group of talented and seasoned hockey players on the team that year, and he fit right in.

"Coming from an NHL tryout and Major Junior environment to CIS hockey is a bit of change," explains Boucher. "The veteran group of players who were mainly ex-major junior hockey players – Brock, Yves Bellerose and Wayne Hall to name a few – they showed me the ropes and made me feel comfortable. There were also a few ex-Major Junior players – Brad Roehrig for example – who were in their first years and going through the same adjustment. Really all my teammates made the first year a success and enjoyable experience."

Boucher won his first of four consecutive OUA East First Team All-Star awards in 2001-02, establishing himself as a key member of the defensive core which set a Gee-Gees record for fewest goals allowed per game. 

"There was also pretty good goaltending that year, with Jordan Watt and Derek McKulsky, which is a defenceman's best friend," quips Boucher. 

The success of his rookie campaign would continue; during Boucher's career, the Gee-Gees regular season record was 58-28-10 (.604) – one of the best four years combined during Gee-Gees history. Boucher's four conference All-Star awards has only been matched once in Gee-Gees history, by fellow Hall of Fame defenceman Gaetan Pelissier.

Boucher was a member of two teams which led the regular season standings, 2001-02 and 2003-04. He was named Team Captain in 2003-04, which he calls an honour. "I think I was always a team first player on my teams… I think that only continued as captain of the Gee-Gees."

That 2003-04 squad would make history as the second uOttawa team to qualify for the national championship tournament.

"That team had success because it was filled with good hockey players, but more importantly great people who were playing for each other. There was also great camaraderie and friendship amongst the players, so we were really just having fun while competing."

With a regular season record of 17-3-3-1, tying the program record for most wins at the time, the Gee-Gees earned a first round bye in the OUA playoffs and met four-time defending OUA champions from UQTR in the best-of-three OUA East Semifinal.

The series went the distance. Ottawa won Game Two by an improbable 8-1 score in Trois-Rivieres, and then sent the crowd at the recently constructed uOttawa Sports Complex into a frenzy with a come-from behind 4-3 victory in Game Three. 

From there, it was a trip to London for the OUA Final Four, starting with a one-game semifinal against Toronto which Ottawa won 4-2. Boucher scored a goal in the effort, and head coach Dave Leger noted the team's strong defensive play as one of its pillars of success. That win sent Ottawa to the Queen's Cup against York, which the Lions won 3-2, and also earned the nationals berth. 

"Playing in the Nationals was a great experience and a great time for the program," remembers Boucher.

Following the 2004-05 season which saw the Gee-Gees advance to the OUA East Semifinals, Boucher collected the final award of his uOttawa career: he was named the President's Award winner for outstanding dedication to sport, school, and community. In fact, it was this dedication which first brought Boucher to uOttawa, seeking a career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

"I knew I wanted to pursue a career with the RCMP after hockey and I wanted a university degree. My time with the Gee-Gees was a very rewarding time in my life, that helped build time management and leadership skills essential for my eventual profession."

"Having a life-long love for hockey makes it easy. The most important thing was the relationships with my teammates and coaches who made every day at the rink fun and rewarding. Some have been life-long friends."

Those life-long friends, and family, will get to celebrate together on September 7 as Boucher enters the doors to Gee-Gees Hall of Fame.