Bruce Boudreau Hockey

Bruce Boudreau, hockey coach for the Washington Capitals, started his career in sports playing hockey for the minor leagues. Although not a spectacular player, he was consistent, and racked up one of the highest records for minor league scoring. Out of all minor league players only seven people have scored more points than Bruce Boudreau.

After his impressive minor league playing career, Bruce turned to coaching. Minor league teams that have received his leadership include the Muskegon Fury from Muskegon, Michigan; the Mississippi Sea Wolves from Biloxi, Mississippi; the Lowell Lock Monsters from Lowell, Massachussetts; the Manchester Monarchs from Manchester, New Hampshire; and and the Hershey Bears of Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Proving his success as a minor league coach after taking the Bears to victory, Boudreau was given a post as coach of the Washington Capitals after the former coach, Glen Hanlon, was fired. This development had happened on Thanksgiving of 2007 after a particularly painful loss to the Atlanta Thrashers. As interim coach, Boudreau set his sights on the Stanley Cup. Since new coaches are often guilty of raising the bar unrealistically high, no one really took him seriously until the Capitals made it to the playoffs. Although the team still has not won the Cup, Boudreau has made it clear that this is within their grasp. Boudreau's knowledge of the game, and leadership skills have proven invaluable, and he shows remarkable insight. He is known to treat players well and defend them to critics. For example, when Capitals Mike Green was hit in the back by David Koci, Boudreau came to his defense, saying he "hopes they throw the book at him."