Henry Charles Boucha ( ; born June 1, 1951) is an American former professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), center. Boucha played in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA) between 1971 and 1977. In the NHL he played for the Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies (NHL), Colorado Rockies, while he played for the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA. His career was cut short by an eye injury. Internationally Boucha played for the United States men's national ice hockey team, American national team at two ice hockey world championships, World Championships and at the 1972 Winter Olympics, where he won a silver medal. A full-blooded Chippewa Ojibwa, Boucha's distant cousin Gary Sargent and his second cousin T. J. Oshie also played in the NHL.

Amateur career

Boucha played Minnesota high school boys hockey, high school hockey for Warroad High School in Warroad, Minnesota leading his team to the 1969 state tournament where he was injured during a 5–4 overtime loss to Edina High School, Edina. He is considered to be one of the best players to ever play Minnesota high school boys hockey, Minnesota high school hockey. While serving in the US Army, Boucha joined the United States national ice hockey team on a full-time basis in 1970 as the US won the "Pool B" qualification tournament. He participated in the 1971 Ice Hockey World Championships in Bern, Switzerland where he scored seven goals in ten games for Team USA. Boucha was also one of the biggest stars of the Ice hockey at the 1972 Winter Olympics, 1972 United States Olympic hockey team that received the silver medal.

Professional career

Boucha was drafted in the second round, 16th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1971 NHL Entry Draft (he was also drafted first overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the rival World Hockey Association, WHA but chose not to defect to the WHA). Boucha scored a goal in his first NHL game after the Olympics and was voted Detroit rookie of the year in his first full NHL season. The Red Wings sent him to the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for Danny Grant in 1974. Boucha was enjoying a solid year in his home state; on January 4, 1975, he was assaulted in a highly publicized stick incident by Dave Forbes of the Boston Bruins. The attack left Boucha with a cracked bone around his eye and blurred vision. Forbes was prosecuted for aggravated assault. His trial resulted in a hung jury. Boucha never really recovered from the injury. He attempted a comeback with the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the World Hockey Association, WHA in 1975–76 and then returned to the NHL as a free agent with the Kansas City Scouts in later 1975-76. In 1976 the franchise moved to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies (NHL), Colorado Rockies, from whom he retired from professional hockey after only nine games. Before the NHL required players to wear a helmet, Boucha wore a headband. His nickname was "the Chief".

Post career

Boucha fell on hard times due to his unexpectedly early retirement from hockey (his agent was negotiating a four-year contract with the North Stars but the talks were never completed due to the injury). He went through a period of divorce, drug and alcohol abuse before straightening out his life in the 1980s. He has re-established himself in his native community and become active in various Native American causes.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and achievements

* Detroit Red Wings rookie of the year, 1972–73 * Inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.

International play

* Ice hockey world championships, Pool B, 1970 (first, won promotion to Pool A) * Ice hockey world championships, Pool A, 1971 (sixth place) * Olympic tournament, 1972 (second place)

References

External links

*
Profile at Hockeydraftcentral.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boucha, Henry 1951 births American men's ice hockey centers Colorado Rockies (NHL) players Detroit Red Wings draft picks Detroit Red Wings players Ice hockey players from Minnesota Ice hockey players at the 1972 Winter Olympics Kansas City Scouts players Living people Medalists at the 1972 Winter Olympics Warroad Lakers players Minnesota Fighting Saints players Minnesota North Stars players Native American sportspeople Native American United States military personnel Olympic silver medalists for the United States in ice hockey People from Warroad, Minnesota United States Army soldiers United States Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Virginia Wings players Winnipeg Jets (WHL) players