Emile Bouchard
Inducted:
1966
Player Stats
6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Born:
4 September 1919
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died:
14 April 2012
Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Position:
Defence
College:
NA
Émile "Butch" Bouchard was the physically imposing "Rock of Gibraltar" on the Montreal Canadiens' blue line for 15 seasons. Standing 6'2" and weighing over 200 lbs—a giant for his era—Bouchard was legendary for his immense strength, which he developed through weightlifting long before it was standard practice for hockey players. He was a defensive specialist with elite passing skills who played a "clean" but punishing style, rarely needing to fight because few dared to challenge him.
In 1948, he became the first Quebec-born captain in Canadiens history, a role he held for eight seasons while mentoring future legends like Doug Harvey and Jean Béliveau. A cornerstone of four Stanley Cup-winning teams, Bouchard is credited with helping revitalize the franchise during a period when it faced the threat of relocation. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.
Bouchard's Awards and Record:
- Number 3 Retired by the Montreal Canadiens (2009)
- Recipient of the Order of Canada (2010) and National Order of Quebec (2008)
- Was the longest-serving captain in franchise history at the time of his retirement
- First person born in the province of Quebec to be named captain of the Montreal Canadiens
- The QMJHL's Defenceman of the Year Trophy (Emile Bouchard Trophy) is named in his honour
NHL Records:
- 3x NHL First All-Star Team (1945, 1946, 1947)
- NHL Second All-Star Team (1944)
- 6x NHL All-Star Game appearance
- NHL second All-Star team: 1944
NHL Teams
Montreal Canadiens (1941-1956)
Number Worn:
3
NHL Stats
Season Played:
15 (1941-1956)
Games Played:
785
Goals:
49
Assists:
145
Points:
194
Penalty Minutes:
863
Playoff Game:
113
Playoff Points:
32
Stanley Cups:
4 (1944, 1946, 1953, 1956)