The Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, will need a new captain this season as their former leader, Gabriel Bourque, announced his retirement from professional hockey on Thursday.
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The 34-year-old took an assistant coach role with Collège Lionel-Groulx Nordiques, located in Sainte-Thérèse, QC and plays in the QCHL.
Bourque, initially drafted by the Nashville Predators in the fifth round of the 2009 Draft, played 314 games in the NHL, scoring 103 points from 2011 to 2020, spending time with the Predators, Colorado Avalanche, and Winnipeg Jets.
Additionally, from 2021 to 2024, Bourque played 364 games and scored 169 points in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals, San Antonio Rampage, and Rocket.
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While skating in the QMJHL, he won a league championship and scored 19 playoff goals to win the Guy Lafleur Trophy as postseason MVP in 2009-10.
Last season with the Rocket, Bourque scored two goals and 11 points in 43 games.
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