1980-81 O-Pee-Chee 140 Ray Bourque Hockey Card (Front)
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee 140 Ray Bourque Hockey Card (Back)
1980-81 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
Was Bruins first selection in the 1979 NHL Amateur Draft. An excellent puck-handler and strong skater, he shows great deal of poise for a youngster.
The Bruins set NHL mark with 83 shots in one game, 3-4-41.
Details
Ray Bourque was the eighth overall pick by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 1979 NHL Amateur Draft. He was taken out of the Verdun Black Hawks in the QMJHL. Going in the draft ahead of Bourque were Rob Ramage, Perry Turnbull, Mike Foligno, Mike Gartner, Rick Vaive, Craig Hartsburg and Keith Brown.
In his final year with Verdun, 1978-79, Ray was a First Team All-Star and was honoured with the Emile Bouchard Trophy as the league’s top defenseman. Bourque also took home the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the the QMJHL’s most sportsmanlike player.
Surprisingly, the card doesn’t mention that Ray Bourque was the recipient of the Calder Trophy in 1979-80 as the NHL’s rookie of the year. Not a hard decision after a first year defenseman puts up 65 points in 80 games.
Bourque went on to play 1,612 regular season and 214 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1979-80 and 2000-01 with the Bruins and Colorado Avalanche. He won the Norris Trophy five times as the NHL’s top defenseman. Ray was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.
Trivia Snippet
Officially, the National Hockey League only started recording shots on goal from the 1959-60 season forward. However, it is still the Boston Bruins that hold the record. On March 21, 1991, Boston took 73 shots in a 3-3 tie with the Quebec Nordiques. The game did go into overtime with still no winner. In goal for the Nordiques was Ron Tugnutt.
The 73 shots that night broke the record of 72, also set by the Boston Bruins. On December 10, 1970, the Bruins easily handled the expansion Buffalo Sabres 8-2. In goal that night for Buffalo was Joe Daley. The Sabres actually held a 2-1 lead at one point and were tied 2-2 going into the third. But, Boston exploded for six in the third. As a side note, John Bucyk had a six point night with two goals and four assists.