Paul Boutilier
Encyclopedia
Paul André Boutilier is a retired professional ice hockey
defenceman. He was a member of the Stanley Cup
champion New York Islanders
in 1983.
in the early 1980s. In 1982, he helped the team reach the Memorial Cup
finals, however his team lost to the Kitchener Rangers
. He was named to the tournament all-star team, and was voted a first team all-star by the QMJHL. Chosen 21st overall by the New York Islanders in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft
(ahead of such future NHL stars as Chris Chelios
and John Vanbiesbrouck
), Boutilier split his first full pro season between the Islanders and the CHL's Indianapolis Checkers
. He did, however, have his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup in 1983 after appearing in two playoff games for the champion Isles. He also attended McGill University
during off-seasons.
Boutilier became a regular on the Islanders' blueline in 1984–85 and recorded a career-best 35 points. He scored 34 points the next year and showed a willingness to play rough in his own zone. Over the next four years his play was less consistent. He moved around the league with the Boston Bruins
, Minnesota North Stars
, New York Rangers
, Winnipeg Jets, and three different minor pro clubs. He retired in 1990 after spending most of the year in Switzerland
with SC Bern
.
(AUAA
) assistant coach prior to the 1991-92 season and remained in that position through 1992-93. He was promoted to head coach prior to 1993-94 season and remained in that position through 1996-97.
circuit, serving as head of the World Curling Tour
and World Curling Players' Association.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman. He was a member of the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
champion New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 1983.
Playing career
Boutilier starred in the QMJHL with the Sherbrooke CastorsSherbrooke Castors
The Sherbrooke Castors or Sherbrooke Beavers was the name of two different junior ice hockey teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Both franchises played at the Palais des Sports in Sherbrooke, Quebec.-Original Castors:...
in the early 1980s. In 1982, he helped the team reach the Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
finals, however his team lost to the Kitchener Rangers
Kitchener Rangers
The Kitchener Rangers are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League that have called Kitchener, Ontario, Canada their home since 1963. The Rangers are a publicly owned hockey team, governed by a 40-person Board of Directors made up of season ticket subscribers. The Rangers hosted...
. He was named to the tournament all-star team, and was voted a first team all-star by the QMJHL. Chosen 21st overall by the New York Islanders in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft
1981 NHL Entry Draft
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 211 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1980–81 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
(ahead of such future NHL stars as Chris Chelios
Chris Chelios
Christos Kostas Tselios is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman. He is currently the Executive Advisor to Ken Holland, the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, a role that Steve Yzerman held before leaving to become general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning.Chelios played...
and John Vanbiesbrouck
John Vanbiesbrouck
John "Beezer" Vanbiesbrouck is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender, who was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. He played in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils...
), Boutilier split his first full pro season between the Islanders and the CHL's Indianapolis Checkers
Indianapolis Checkers
The Indianapolis Checkers were a minor league professional ice hockey team from Indianapolis, Indiana. The Checkers' home arena was the Pepsi Coliseum. The team originated in the Central Hockey League where they played from 1979 to 1984. The Checkers filled a void left by the departed Indianapolis...
. He did, however, have his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup in 1983 after appearing in two playoff games for the champion Isles. He also attended McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
during off-seasons.
Boutilier became a regular on the Islanders' blueline in 1984–85 and recorded a career-best 35 points. He scored 34 points the next year and showed a willingness to play rough in his own zone. Over the next four years his play was less consistent. He moved around the league with the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
, Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
, New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
, Winnipeg Jets, and three different minor pro clubs. He retired in 1990 after spending most of the year in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
with SC Bern
SC Bern
Schlittschuh Club Bern is an ice hockey team based in Bern, Switzerland. The club was the most attended team in Europe for the 2010-11 season, averaging 15,856 spectators....
.
Coaching
Boutilier was named St. Mary'sSaint Mary's University (Halifax)
Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. The school is best known for having nationally lead programs in Business, Astronomy and International Development Studies as well, one of the best football and Men's hockey programs in Canada .The campus is situated in Halifax's...
(AUAA
Atlantic University Sport
Atlantic University Sport is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public and...
) assistant coach prior to the 1991-92 season and remained in that position through 1992-93. He was promoted to head coach prior to 1993-94 season and remained in that position through 1996-97.
Post-hockey
After retiring from hockey, Boutilier became a regular on the Canadian curlingCurling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
circuit, serving as head of the World Curling Tour
World Curling Tour
The Asham World Curling Tour is a group of curling bonspiels featuring the best male curlers in the world. A Women's World Curling Tour also exists....
and World Curling Players' Association.
Awards & honors
- QMJHL First All-Star Team (19821981–82 QMJHL seasonThe 1981–82 QMJHL season was the 13th season in the history of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The defending Memorial Cup and league champions, the Cornwall Royals leave the QMJHL in the offseason, transferring to the Ontario Hockey League....
) - QMJHL Bouchard Trophy (Defenseman of Year) 1981-82
- Memorial CupMemorial CupThe Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
Tournament All-Star Team (1982) - AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
First All-Star Team (19891988–89 AHL seasonThe 1988–89 AHL season was the 53rd season of the American Hockey League. Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league abandoned awarding points for an overtime loss. The Sherbrooke Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season...
) - Inducted to Nova ScotiaNova ScotiaNova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
Sports Hall of Fame, 1994