For more than two decades, Ray Bourque was the heartbeat of the Boston Bruins blue line. He became the highest-scoring defenceman the NHL has ever seen, and he did it while wearing one of the most famous numbers in the sport: 77.
Yet the moment most fans remember came right at the very end, when a quiet, determined veteran finally lifted the Stanley Cup in his last ever game. Browse our Boston Bruins collection.
Ray Bourque Fact File
| Full name | Raymond Jean Bourque |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 December 1960 (age 65) |
| Place of birth | Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Position | Defence (shoots left) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Teams | Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche |
| Shirt number | 7, then 77 (retired by Boston and Colorado) |
| Current status | Retired (2001); Hockey Hall of Fame inductee (2004) |
Career History
| Years | Team | GP | G | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–2000 | Boston Bruins | 1,518 | 395 | 1,111 | 1,506 |
| 2000–2001 | Colorado Avalanche | 94 | 15 | 58 | 73 |
| Total | NHL | 1,612 | 410 | 1,169 | 1,579 |
Figures are NHL regular-season games played (GP), goals (G), assists (A) and points (Pts). In the play-offs he added 41 goals and 139 assists for 180 points in 214 games.
Early Years and the 1979 Draft
Bourque grew up in the Saint-Laurent district of Montreal and developed his game in Quebec junior hockey. In 1979 the Boston Bruins took him eighth overall with a pick they had acquired from the Los Angeles Kings,. He stepped straight into the NHL as an 18-year-old and never looked back, scoring 17 goals and 65 points in 80 games as a rookie.
That debut season brought the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie and a place on the First All-Star Team. His 65 points were a rookie record at the time.
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Twenty-One Seasons in Black and Gold
Bourque wore No. 7 for his first eight seasons, then switched to 77 when the Bruins honoured Phil Esposito by retiring the old number. His best scoring year came in 1983–84 with 31 goals and 96 points, and from 1988–89 he wore the captain's "C".
The individual honours piled up: five Norris Trophies as the NHL's best defenceman (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991 and 1994), a record 13 First All-Star Team selections and the King Clancy Trophy in 1992. What eluded him in Boston was the Stanley Cup.
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Colorado and the Final Game
On 6 March 2000, with time running out on his quest for a title, Boston traded Bourque and Dave Andreychuk to the Colorado Avalanche. In 2000–01 he scored 59 points in 80 games, and the Avalanche reached the Stanley Cup Final against the New Jersey Devils.
On 9 June 2001, Colorado won Game 7 3–1 at home. Captain Joe Sakic, instead of raising the Cup himself, handed it straight to Bourque. After 22 seasons and 1,826 combined regular-season and play-off games, he lifted the trophy in the very last game he ever played.
Legacy
Bourque retired that summer as the NHL's all-time leader among defencemen in goals (410), assists (1,169) and points (1,579), records that still stand. Both Boston and Colorado retired No. 77, and he entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility.
Honours
Team
- Stanley Cup: 2001 (Colorado Avalanche)
Individual
- Norris Trophy: 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994
- Calder Memorial Trophy: 1980
- King Clancy Memorial Trophy: 1992
- Lester Patrick Trophy: 2003
- NHL First All-Star Team: 13 times; Second All-Star Team: 6 times
- NHL All-Star Game MVP: 1996
Recognition
- Hockey Hall of Fame: 2004
- No. 77 retired by Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche (2001)
Away From the Game
Bourque has stayed close to Boston, co-owning the Italian restaurant Tresca in the city's North End and working as a Bruins consultant. In 2017 he founded the Bourque Family Foundation and both of his sons, Chris and Ryan, followed him into professional hockey.
FAQs
How old is Ray Bourque?
Ray Bourque was born on 28 December 1960, so he is 65 years old.
Where was Ray Bourque born?
He was born in Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
How tall is Ray Bourque?
He stands 5 ft 11 in (180 cm).
What teams did Ray Bourque play for?
He played for the Boston Bruins from 1979 to 2000 and the Colorado Avalanche from 2000 to 2001.
Does Ray Bourque hold the NHL record for points by a defenceman?
Yes. His 410 goals, 1,169 assists and 1,579 points are all NHL records for a defenceman.
When did Ray Bourque win the Stanley Cup?
He won it with Colorado on 9 June 2001 in Game 7 against New Jersey, his final NHL game, when Joe Sakic handed him the Cup first.
Shop the Ray Bourque Collection
Wear your love for No. 77 with our Ray Bourque designs.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Bobby Orr Career Story and Wayne Gretzky Career Story.
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