Canucks & Beyond
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Perspective on a Nice Kid
by Alanah McGinley on 05/29/08 at 05:12 PM ET
Comments (16)
A warning in advance—this post is more personal than hockey-ish. But that seems appropriate today.
When the news came in about Luc Bourdon’s death this morning, I had been idly writing a post I’d been pondering over the last few days. I’d been thinking on the subject of how hockey fans might sometimes benefit from a perspective served by less “analysis” and more “passion.”
I think that hockey fans—while blessed with a remarkable depth of media coverage (particularly online) of their favorite sport—also lose something with all that exposure. That after a point, perhaps the endless analysis and critique makes us cold to the emotional connection and passion we once had for the game.
And so hockey becomes something which is no longer about our childhood heroes and their beautiful, skillful plays. Instead we become preoccupied with the most finite statistics and breakdowns, and occasionally mean-spirited (rather than useful) criticism.
As a result, so many fans seem to be having less fun with their favorite sport, since everything is subject to a mental ‘video replay’ and nothing is left of the game to just be enjoyed and experienced for what it is—a passionate sport with passionate people. Both the players and the fans.
Which brings me back to Luc Bourdon. I didn’t know him at all and am in no position to eulogize his loss, but by all accounts he was a nice young man. Yet for most of us, our acquaintance with him was simply as a talented hockey player with a great future.
But today I think it’s important to remember that he was both things—the nice young man and the talented hockey player.
A member of CDC named 70Blue shared the vignette I’ve reprinted below, a short memory of Luc Bourdon. It’s not a big, dramatic story, but I think it puts his loss into perspective perfectly for all of us who only knew the hockey player, and not the man.
Let’s remember that inside that jersey, inside the world of men, Luc was just a boy. Think of what you were doing at that age (which for me meant College and acting every bit the ass that being young affords you) and remember just how unprepared you were for the world.
I am especially saddened because I have a very personal, very selfish memory that, at the time, would serve as comic relief when recounting my daughter’s precociousness and love of all things Vancouver.
We have lived for some time in Houston, Texas and every year we infest the Toyota Centre to see Houston’s AHL club play the Moose. My daughter, who is now 4 loves to paint her face, wear her Team Canada jersey and sing the national anthem. She has a more than passing knowledge of The Canucks and she had taken quite a shine to both Luc and Mike Keane.
I took her to the glass so that she could see Keane and Luc warm up and she loved to stand on the outside dasher and bang the glass as they would skate by. This time around, she caught Luc’s eye and he came up and banged the glass for her with his stick and they shared a tangible moment. He smiled at her and put his glove on the glass so that she could put her tiny hand out and they could connect between the glass.
Before the game we were able to meet Luc and he gave my daughter a puck and was ever so thoughtful to give her a high five before going (late) to the dressing room. For weeks after she referred to Luc as her best friend and even brought the puck to her Montessori school for show and tell. In Houston, a puck has the same awed reverence that a moon rock or sasquatch would have.
So, that’s it. Just a nice kid who did a nice thing.
I imagine Luc gave many others memories like this.
My original post this morning was to finish with that standby cliché, “it’s just a game, it’s not life and death.” But as Bourdon’s death illustrates so vividly, it’s not a cliché at all… it’s something every one of us should remember.
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: hockey+fans, luc+bourdon, manitoba+moose, vancouver+canucks,
Comments
Perfect.
Posted by Amy from Colorado on 05/29/08 at 05:34 PM ET
thank you for sharing 70blue’s wonderful story about Luc with us. He is really going to be missed.
Posted by celticfire99 from Vancouver on 05/29/08 at 05:46 PM ET
I hope there’ll be a place for fans to send his family memories like this. I’m sure it would at least momentarily bring a happy thought to them at this time of great grief.
Posted by Karina on 05/29/08 at 05:48 PM ET
Wonderful story.
It sounds like Bourdon was a great kid.
What a sad day it is for anyone who loves hockey.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 05/29/08 at 05:52 PM ET
Thank you.
We as a society get wrapped up in silly things all to often. You just grounded me back to earth after a particulary trying day.
We are blessed in knowing that we will one day die - but how often do we think about that in our daily interaction with the rest of humanaty around us? Not enough…or the world would be a little bit better, for all of us.
Posted by eyesris from Asheville, NC on 05/29/08 at 06:01 PM ET
Great post, Alanah. I certainly agree that we as hockey fans—and as people in general—get far too wrapped up in the smallest details that we forget about the most important things.
I never saw Luc play, as far as I’m aware, because I’m not a Canucks fan, but the story about him and the little girl is exactly what I like best about the sport and the people in it.
George Malik said it well in the other post: losing a member of the greater hockey family hurts us all.
Posted by Ryan from Syracuse, NY on 05/29/08 at 07:51 PM ET
This is the best Bourdon post/article anywhere on the net today. Well done Alanah and thank you.
Posted by Sean Zandberg from Smithers, BC on 05/29/08 at 09:06 PM ET
What a beautifully written post Alanah and thank you for providing updates throughout the day. May his family and friends find solace in stories such as this and may he rest in peace.
Posted by yetanotherwingtransplant from norcal on 05/29/08 at 09:19 PM ET
my condolences to the family. what a shock. i thought it was a sick joke when my boss first said it.
man…
Posted by grey wall on 05/29/08 at 10:19 PM ET
GZ Expat— It’s a kleenex-kind-of-day, I agree.
Amy— Thanks for commenting. I’m glad you felt my words were appropriate. 
celticfire99— You’re very welcome. It seems a lot of us will miss him.
karina— I think (hope) that as Luc’s family deals with this, they’ll stumble across many posts like this where they’ll read everyone’s sincere sorrow at his death. People’s comments and articles around the hockey world may not be a comfort now… but perhaps one day.
Puckhound61— Thanks for your words. A sad day, indeed.
eyesris— It really is the kind of thing to make a tough day seem less important, I know. I was thinking the same thing this morning.
Ryan— Thank you for the nice words. And I know what you mean… it’s not about fandom of Luc’s team… he’s part of the hockey family. I was thinking the same thing.
Sean Zandberg— Thank you for the lovely sentiment. I really appreciate that you said that.
yetanotherwingtransplant— And thanks to you, too. I hope his family finds comfort in all of this eventually, too. The reaction of hockey fans has been sincere and I do imagine that eventually his family will come across posts like this.
grey wall— I know the feeling. It’s very hard to grasp when young successful people die unexpectedly, I know.
___________
Everyone’s words in these comments so far, and those earlier today, mean a great deal. I expect people who knew Luc personally will read those words one day and be very touched. I know I am. Thank you so much.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 05/29/08 at 10:38 PM ET
We the people of our world should stop and think before we display anger of others actions or life styles without really knowing the truth.While the cultivation of the graces is not to be neglected,it should never be forgotten that there is something far higher and nobler to be aimed at greater then pleasure,greater than art,greater than wealth,greater than power,greater than intellect,,greater than genius,and that is purity and excellence of character.Without a solid,sterling basis of individual goodness,all the grace,elegance,and art in the world fail to save or to elevate a people.There is an old proverb,“Love me ,love my dog.“But there is more wisdom in this “Love me,love my book” The book is a truer and higher bond of union. Men can think,feel,and sympathize with each other through their favorite author.They live in him together ,and he in them.Sorry as my dreams carry me away but let me say sir you have character love your post.Treasuries of good words and golden thoughts,which,remembered and cherished,become our abiding companions and comforters.
Posted by dodacrazy on 05/29/08 at 11:47 PM ET
what a tragedy…...so young…..
my thoughts and prayers go out to his family!!!!
Posted by Jenny on 05/30/08 at 02:59 AM ET
Very well done, Alanah, from the heart. I can only imagine the emotions Canuck fans are feeling this morning.
I wrote a piece myself on Luc late last night with much the same feel. I think 70blue added some poignant thoughts to your touching piece…it’s easy to forget that Luc Bourdon was just 21 years old.
Posted by Marty Henwood on 05/30/08 at 11:32 AM ET
wow…nice post.
Posted by Devin from Victoria on 05/30/08 at 02:00 PM ET
Thank you very much, Marty. And I really enjoyed your related column on Hockey.com as well.
Devin - Thank you for saying so. Much appreciated.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 05/31/08 at 02:18 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003 (with a notable gap in time through 2010, kicking it with new baby Lucy while living knee-deep in chaos while reading “parenting for complete idiots” during every spare minute) sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen.
In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah was one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast. She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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Alright…where’s the Kleenex…
Posted by GZ Expat on 05/29/08 at 05:31 PM ET