Canucks & Beyond
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Report: Luc Bourdon has Died
by Alanah McGinley on 05/29/08 at 01:54 PM ET
Comments (41)
Reported in French at Corus Sports, translated by Google:
The young defender Vancouver Canucks Luc Bourdon died after a motorcycle accident in north-east of NB nearly Shipagan.
The circumstances of the accident have not yet been revealed.
Oh my goodness. Such awful news. More soon.
Update 10:56am PT: Other Vancouver-based media members are telling me they’ve received the same information and believe the report to be true.
Update 11:18am PT: There is plenty of confirmation on this story now. In French at RDS and a small blurb at The Province. And more from the Canadian Press and TSN.
I’m so very, very sorry to Luc’s family and friends. I can’t even put it properly into words. I expect hockey fans everywhere feel the same way.
Update 11:36am PT: via the Globe & Mail --
Bourdon’s sister, Eve Bourdon, confirmed the death but declined further comment when reached at the family’s home in Shippagan.
“Luc was a winner, he was a competitor,” said Kent Hughes, his agent. “There was no quit in him. He persevered through a lot. He was a great guy and a great teammate.”
Update 11:55am PT: Check in with TEAM 1040 at Noon. They’ll be reporting more, from Tommy Larscheid and others.
Update 12:25pm PT: A statement from Canucks GM Mike Gillis --
“We are deeply saddened by today’s news and on behalf of the entire Vancouver Canucks organization, I would like to extend my sincere sympathies to Luc’s family. Luc was an extremely talented player with a bright future. He brought great passion to the game and was a valued team member on and off the ice. He will be greatly missed.”
Update 1:25pm PT: According to TEAM 1040 reports, Bourdon only acquired the motorcycle two days ago. Predictably, this is sidetracking the conversation from Bourdon to issues of pro-athletes being restricted from motorcycles, etc. (Personally, I think this is a non-issue, today of all days. Besides, accidents happen all the time. He could have died in any number of ‘acceptable’ ways and it would still be the tragedy it is.)
Note: The NHLPA released their own statement, plus some background on Bourdon’s career. Earlier, Gary Bettman also expressed his condolences publicly on the NHL Hour on XM Radio.
_______________
Note: All times noted on this post are in PT. I’d accidentally noted them as ET initially, but now fixed.
Related: “Perspective on a Nice Kid”
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: luc+bourdon, manitoba+moose, vancouver+cancucks,
Comments
Oh no, that’s horrible news ... oh man :-( I’m speechless.
Posted by Rebecca from Vancouver on 05/29/08 at 01:00 PM ET
My thoughts go out to the family, friends, and Vancouver Canucks organization for this tragic loss. May he rest in peace.
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 05/29/08 at 01:06 PM ET
These are tragic news. My thoughts and prayers to the family too.
Posted by Raul from Vancouver, British Columbia on 05/29/08 at 01:09 PM ET
What Alan said. What a tragedy.
Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 05/29/08 at 01:09 PM ET
Too young and just too tragic. Words cannot express my thoughts right now.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 05/29/08 at 01:30 PM ET
Deepest condolences to family and friends, what a tragedy.
Posted by Hockey1919 from Montreal on 05/29/08 at 01:34 PM ET
Terrible terrible news. Deepest condolences to to Luc’s family and Canuck fans everywhere.
Posted by Marty Henwood on 05/29/08 at 01:40 PM ET
Condolences to his family. Hope we see some black armbands next season. I know its an inappropriate question, but do the Canucks get compensated?
Posted by Johan from Cambridge on 05/29/08 at 01:44 PM ET
Poor kid. His family must be lost to lose someone that young.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/29/08 at 01:48 PM ET
Deepest condolences to the family of Luc Bourdon. No words can express…
Posted by Matt Fry from Winnipeg on 05/29/08 at 01:56 PM ET
Condolences and prayers to his family and friends, as well as the Canucks and their fans.
It would be nice if they have a moment of silence in his memory before Game 4 of the SCF.
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 05/29/08 at 01:57 PM ET
This is really horrible. I’m so sorry for his family.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 05/29/08 at 02:00 PM ET
The deepest of condolences to the friends and family of Luc. It’s terrible to hear news of someone dying so young. He had such a bright future.
Posted by ceez4r from philadelphia on 05/29/08 at 02:01 PM ET
I very much feel the pain and loss of the family. It is a tragedy regardless of age. Loss of a loved one and or family member is very tough.
I had a 15 year old cousin die in a 4 wheeler accident a few years ago & he was much like my little brother. Being a pawl bearer carrying him to his final resting place was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.
YzermanZetterberg, very classy idea indeed.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 05/29/08 at 02:03 PM ET
My prayers are with the family. It’s a tragedy to lose someone so young.
Posted by Ryan from Syracuse, NY on 05/29/08 at 02:04 PM ET
The moment of silence suggestion is a very good one. My condolences to his family & friends.
Posted by Sunny from Raleigh, NC on 05/29/08 at 02:43 PM ET
Thanks to everyone for the comments. It’s a story relevant to far more than Canucks fans, obviously. Not only was Luc Bourdon far too young for us to be hearing this horrible story, he was a prominent enigma in the Canucks organization. A first round draft pick that fans and media alike debated the future of throughout endless discussions and column inches. Certainly we debated his future extensively a few times on The Crazy Canucks podcast.
Regardless, it feels very personal when someone we feel we knew well (even if we don’t know him at all) suddenly vanishes like this.
As several commenters have suggested, I agree that a moment of silence on Saturday would be appropriate. I guess we’ll wait and see if the NHL (and Bourdon’s family, of course) agrees.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 05/29/08 at 02:47 PM ET
Many players who have entered the NHL since the lockout have crossed paths with Bourdon in the World Juniors and in Major Junior hockey. I think its a given that there will be a moment of silence for him.
Posted by bcrt2000 on 05/29/08 at 02:56 PM ET
Holy crap. I feel so bad for Luc and his family. Tragic and unfortunate.
Posted by Shabbadoo on 05/29/08 at 02:56 PM ET
Dear Gord. I know that he was a frustrating prospect at times, but Bourdon had such potential, and he seemed like a good kid who was just taking a little more time than some expected to find his game and find himself.
It’s a tragedy, and...anything other than, “I’m deeply and truly sorry” sounds like a cliche.
When somebody in the NHL family dies, everybody who follows the NHL loses a family member.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 05/29/08 at 03:08 PM ET
Condolences to the Bourdon family and friends of Luc.
I am in complete shock.
Posted by PuckHound61 from Speckville USA on 05/29/08 at 03:18 PM ET
I remember earlier this season, when the Canucks were up 6-1 in a game IIRC, and had Luc out on the PP, where he finally got that elusive first NHL goal.
Thought that would have been the first of many we’d see him put away.
Posted by Shabbadoo on 05/29/08 at 03:32 PM ET
im just speechless… just another blow to the canucks blue-line. i feel like i just lost a cousin. i am a huge canucks fan and this is a hard pill to swallow. i feel for his family and friends. wow. speechless. unreal. i agree that we should have a moment of silence at game 4. great idea. he had the potential to be a one of the league’s great defenseman. he was already great. oh man… speechless.
Posted by toddbertuzzi4 from British Columbia on 05/29/08 at 04:07 PM ET
my condolences go out to the bourdon family.
im in shock
Posted by scotty from medicine hat alberta on 05/29/08 at 04:09 PM ET
This is not what I wanted to wake up to, 1/2 a world away.
God Bless the Bourdon family...RIP
Posted by GZ Expat on 05/29/08 at 04:33 PM ET
What a terrible day this has been. And just a note: I also added a more personal post on the subject.
Beyond that, I really have nothing much more to add that all of the commenters here haven’t said already. It’s an awful and shocking loss. My thoughts are with Luc’s family.
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 05/29/08 at 05:23 PM ET
When I heard the terrible news, I couldn’t believe it. I knew he was an up and coming prospect, also a great guy off the ice,too. I can only begin to imagine the pain the others who knew him personally are feeling. My love, prayers, and thoughts go out to the Bourdon family. May Luc RIP
Posted by lilly from vancouver.bc on 05/29/08 at 05:33 PM ET
I feel like anything I say will sound so trite. I actually didn’t believe it when I heard about it. I thought it was a sick joke. It’s funny how I feel so upset about someone that I didn’t really know but feel like I did. I was looking foward to watching him grow as a player and he seemed like such a nice guy. I loved watching him beat Alex Edler during Dancing with the Rookies with his “leg guitar” move. This just sucks. Big time. My deepest sympathies to his family. Luc, you will be greatly missed.
Posted by celticfire99 from Vancouver, BC on 05/29/08 at 05:56 PM ET
Luc Bourdon was a great player with such great skill and happyness. Somthing that can never be replaced. I really did think that he would be the next Gretzky but alot younger,
R.I.P Bourdon
Posted by Brad from B.C on 05/29/08 at 06:40 PM ET
Deepest condolences to the Bourdon family, and the entire Canucks Nation. This is terrible news. It sounds like he was a great hockey player, and more importantly, a wonderful young man.
Our fanbase here in Carolina has been through this before, and it sucks that it takes something like this to remind us that “it’s just a game”
RIP Luc
Posted by David Lee from Greensboro, North Carolina on 05/29/08 at 07:07 PM ET
Such sad news ... I was actually speachless when first hearing it; feels surreal. A solid and reliable player, actually one of my faves. My thoughts are with his family and the Canucks.
Posted by Fangirl from Sunshine Coast on 05/29/08 at 08:50 PM ET
We’ll miss seeing you out in the rink Luc. Rest in peace. A tribute was created in his honor. Please share you pics and memories.
http://respectance.com/Luc_Bourdon
Posted by Tony J from Netherlands on 05/30/08 at 03:03 AM ET
I was devastated to learn this...my son called me at work to tell me. We were huge fans of Luc’s...I have several pics that I took of him in 2006 that I will share with you. When I can compose myself. Can’t sleep...it’s so damn tragic.
Condolences to the Bourdon family. What a horrible loss this is.
Posted by Deb on 05/30/08 at 06:38 AM ET
To the Bourdon family, Vancouver Canucks organization, the people of Canada, and hockey fans everywhere, my heart goes out to you. This is truly a black day for hockey.
Posted by Dave from West Hills, CA on 05/30/08 at 12:19 PM ET
I’m so passionate for my Canucks and this is such an unexpected blow to the whole city of Vancouver as well as Luc’s home town. I can’t express enough how much of an impact Luc had for this team. I’ll never forget watching Canucks TV and seeing Luc in a dancing competition and he truly showed his hilarious and a completely human side. May he rest in peace and my most sincere condolances to Luc’s family and the Canucks.
Posted by Heather Moore from Vancouver, BC Canada on 05/31/08 at 03:01 AM ET
Regardless the age this is a tragedy for everybody close or not to Luc as he was known across the hockey world!!
Condolences to the Bourdon family!!
Posted by Meshell from Ottawa, On on 06/01/08 at 03:16 PM ET
All my condolence to him
I hope that his family find comfort and happiness in knowing that their beloved one has touched the lives and hearts of so many others and gave them the eternal gift of many happy memories.
Posted by condolence phrases on 06/15/08 at 06:10 AM ET
My condolences to his family. Hopefully, they will be strong enough to survive this.!
Posted by Etin on 07/28/08 at 05:05 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, 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 is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
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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Posted by Ann from California on 05/29/08 at 12:59 PM ET