Biography: Wild Viking Wolves

[Gaikoku-hito 1,642]

A biography of Pierre Emile Bouchard

 

 

Pierre Emile Bouchard (born March 6, 2022) is a Canadian Ice hockey defenseman with the Vancouver Wolves.  He was selected in the first round of the VHL Entry draft, 5^th overall by the New York Americans; in a draft where he was rumored to possible be selected first overall but that honor would fall to future Hall of fame goaltender, Art Vandelay; by the LA Stars. Over the course of joining the VHL league system; he has played for Saskatoon Wild (VHLM), Stockholm Vikings (VHLE), New York Americans & Vancouver Wolves; winning a Founder`s Cup and placing top three in award voting for Christian Stolzschweiger Trophy; awarded to the Top Rookie and was named to the All-VHL Rookie Team.

 

 

 

 

Prague, Czech Republic

 

Early Life & Career:

Bouchard was born in Prague, Czech Republic (if it is still called that) and grew up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada. He graduated from Aubrun Drive High School in 2022. As a child he took figure skating lessons before eventually deciding to play defence in Ice Hockey. Because his father was Robert Bouchard of the Prague Phantoms; he did live and spent some time in Prague also played minor hockey in Sedpo Eagles, Prague Trojans and Cole Harbour Wings systems.

 

 

Bouchard spent his Junior career playing with the Halifax Olands Exports, where he would spend two full seasons with Exports before signing as waiver claim to play in the VHLM with the Saskatoon Wild; who he would win the Founder`s Cup, the VHLM championship.

 

 

After winning the Founder`s cup the young Canadian was still not eligible to be drafted in the VHL so had to make a tough choice of staying another season in the VHLM and declaring for the VHLM draft or select skipping the VHLM draft making himself a free agent in the VHLE. He would choice the later and would sign as free agent to play of Stockholm Vikings.

 

 

Stockholm Vikings was where Bouchard really started to make a name for himself despite being ranked only as high as 8^th in the pre-draft rankings for the upcoming VHL draft. He would lead Stockholm on and off the ice by wearing a letter on his jersey for the first time in his career; while putting up a point per game as true rookie in the VHLE against much older players. Finish the season with twenty-one goals, fifty-one assist (7^th in league) for seventy-two points (8^th amongst defenders). He wasn`t even consider for any of the VHLE awards.

 

 

 

Draft day rumors:

Despite his draft ranking having him ranked as high as 8^th in the up coming S84 VHL draft, rumors started to swirl that the young Bouchard might be selected by the LA Stars first overall after solid play-offs in the VHLM with the Saskatoon Wild and a point per game pace in the VHLE with Stockholm as a true Rookie. In the end they were only rumors and the Canadian would be selected 5^th overall by the New York Americans; right where the final draft ranking projected him to be drafted by the Americans.

 

 

 

 VHL Career:

After being selected fifth overall by the New York Americans, it was considered a great selection at the time but the question remained would the Americans give Bouchard a chance to break the roster in his first season or send him back down to the VHLE and Stockholm Viking; who had also just drafted his rights in the S84 VHLE draft. In the end Bouchard would make the New York American opening night roster, where playing second line pairing minutes would put up an impressive point per game pace to lead all rookies in scoring with thirty-three points in thirty-three games. He was considered the heavy favorite for Christian Stolzscheweiger trophy but that would soon take a nose dive when he was trade mid-season after his GM manager decided to step away from the team after completing a series of bad trades that were questioned by the public openly.

 

 

Bouchard was traded to the Vancouver Wolves along with William Futch for Ryan, S85 NYA 1^st & S85 Van 2^nd; with both picks being swapped later for the S85 4^th Overall selection Daniel Weaver; later flipped to Riga Reign with S87 NYA 2^nd

 

 

Interest swirled around this trade due to a public letter by Bouchards agency stating that they might have also been putting pressure on the current New York manager to improve the team. In the end these rumors might have been unfounded but only the manager can state for certain if he was feeling the pressure from newly drafted Bouchard to make changes. In the end the trade would hurt Bouchards bid for the Christian Stolzscheweiger trophy as he would struggle after being traded to the lowly Vancouver Wolves, while still respectable numbers with nine goals, twenty-two assists for thirty-one points after the trade for seventeen goals, forty-seven assists and sixty-four points in seventy-four games. Good enough for second most points by a rookie in S84 but in the end he was beaten out for the Award by his former team mate and goaltender, a second-year rookie; Augustus Kennedy.

 

 

Bouchard second season was a much different from his first as flurry of off-season trades by the Vancouver Wolves seen the team go from selecting first overall to being contenders for the Continental Cup in a span of weeks but this also meant less ice time for the sophomore as he would play on the second pairing with veteran Wattson Power. Once again, the young Canadian would put up respectable numbers with eleven goals, forty-four assist and fifty-five points.

 

 

Season 86 and the third season for the Wolves defender has seen his share of struggles with seven goals and thirteen assists in twenty games but most of those points coming after a block buster trade that seen Wattson Power traded to Malmo Nighthawks for Donny Carter. As the Vancouver Wolves continue to struggle the general manager has made a bunch of quick trades trying to help right the ship. Only time will if these changes will help.

 

 

 

Future:

Once consider a possible future HOF defender, Bouchard play hasn`t taken that next step in his third season and one might argue that it has actually taken a step back. His future projection seems to be one similar to his Father a long-time player with the Prague Phantoms of being a beloved player in that organization but rather leaving a lot left to be desired league wide. He is projecting to be a good defender for the Vancouver Wolves but not the All Star or HOF player they expected when trading for the player in S84.  

 

 

 

Personal Life:

Bouchard is the grandson of Pierre Bouchard a former Montreal Canadiens from the 1970-1980`s; who is the son of famous Defence man Emile (Butch) Bouchard. Son of Robert Bouchard former player for the Prague Phantoms. He is married to Laura and has two sons; Cole & Nova.  

 

 

Edited December 2, 2022 by Gaikoku-hito