The tribute reserved for Maurice Richard at the closing of the Montreal Forum will never be forgotten. However, if all retain the ovation of some seven minutes, Pat Laprade, he also noted a detail.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
“During the ovation, Butch arrives next to Maurice and he plays in his hair. Not everyone can do this! Butch and Maurice, it was a long story of friendship. When Maurice had fire in his eyes, Butch was one of the few who could calm him down. »
This dynamic between two of the pillars of the Canadiens of the 1940s and 1950s is one of the themes addressed by Laprade in Émile Butch Bouchard: the rock of Gibraltar of the Montreal Canadienswhich will be published Wednesday by Libre Expression, with a preface by the colleague of the Montreal Journal Rejean Tremblay.
Shadow workers rarely get all the credit they deserve. In Bouchard’s case, the Hockey Hall of Fame admitted him in 1966, but it took longer with the Canadiens. It wasn’t until 2009 that his jersey was retired.
This is probably also why it took until today, 66 years after his retirement, for his life to finally be put on paper.
PHOTO BERNARD BRAULT, PRESS ARCHIVES
Émile Bouchard and his son Jean
“We often know players through statistics. But with Butch, it’s not the numbers that speak, emphasizes Laprade. It will be the testimonies of others. He was a cog in the Canadiens in the years when it was not yet a legendary club. When he won his first Cup, in 1944, it had been 13 years since the Canadian had won. It wasn’t a 30-team league! It was the longest food shortage before the one we are currently experiencing. »
From our eyes today, it is easy to say that Bouchard’s career (1941-1956) took place in the shadow of that of Richard (1942-1960). An interpretation that the author qualifies.
“In the 1940s, Butch and Maurice are almost equals. Maurice then took over, because he was the offensive star. But when there were social events, it was rare that Butch was not also invited. At the very first telethon, Butch was there. »
Nationalist
The news of the last few months has given a few nods to the career of Émile Bouchard.
The appointment of Nick Suzuki as captain of the Canadiens is one; the controversy over his ability to speak French is another. Moreover, the French fact at the Habs remains a recurring debate among the more nationalist supporters of the team.
The game of May 10, 2021, in which no Quebecers were in uniform for the Canadiens, is another. “I said to myself: there were three in 1941, and there, it is as if we had gone back in time, deplores Laprade. That said, Suzuki seems to want to learn French and it seems important to him. I don’t want to speak for Butch, but that’s just what the guys at the time wanted, that there was respect for French Canadians. »
Moreover, when it comes to Bouchard’s leadership, the nationalist aspect is closely linked to it.
“Butch was a nationalist at heart,” says Laprade. He made sure that francophones were well served. For example, he helped Maurice translate his contracts, because Maurice had trouble in English. But he loved everyone, he was close to Elmer Lach, to Dickie Moore, an Anglo-Quebecer.
“But when he arrived at the club, there were three French-speaking Quebecers. When the Canadian won his five Cups, there were ten of them. It is the fruit of the work of Butch and Maurice. »
In the archive
It is a skilfully documented work that awaits the reader, which will also lead us to know the fascinating life of Bouchard outside of hockey. The man has dabbled in everything from beekeeping to catering to baseball. The amount of historical detail will appeal to those who believe it’s better to have too much than not enough. The history of Quebec is also intertwined with the story.
Author in particular of the biographies of Géant Ferré and Maurice Mad Dog Vachon, descriptor of WWE wrestling on TVA Sports, Laprade was mainly associated with wrestling until now.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Pat Laprade
Laprade’s experience with the biographies of missing persons convinced Pierre Bouchard to collaborate on the project.
“Butch had thought about doing his biography, but he had stopped, he had moved on and so had we,” says Pierre Bouchard. I said to Pat: “Me, that doesn’t interest me. Everyone who knew him is dead.” But Pat says: “I have the archives, I did that with Mad Dog and the Giant Ferré.” I have reached chapter 10-12, it is very interesting. He talks about the players I knew when I was young. But he is the instigator.
“I thought it would be interesting to leave that to our children, our grandchildren, so that they could see who their grandfather, their great-grandfather was. »
Émile Butch Bouchard: the rock of Gibraltar of the Montreal Canadiens
Pat Laprade
Free expression
360 pages