Greatest Scoring NHL Defenceman of All Time Headlines 2026 'Off The Leash Luncheon'

by Michael P.J. Kennedy, Ph.D.

Since 2009, the Huskie Men’s Hockey Team Alumni and their supporters have hosted “Off the Leash Luncheon” each fall to raise money for the current team. Featured speakers have come from across the spectrum of NHL players, coaches, and management. This year’s edition of the event held on 12 November at Prairieland Exhibition Centre, featured the lifetime NHL leader among defencemen in goals, assists, and points;  Ray Bourque.

A five-time winner of the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman, the St-Laurent (Montreal)-born defenceman began his professional career with the Boston Bruins in 1979-80, capturing the Calder Trophy as the top rookie that year. He soon established himself as one of the most formidable “D” men in history at both ends of the ice. Selected 13 times as a first team all-star and an additional six times as a second team player in twenty-one seasons with the Bruins, he finished his career in the last half of the 1999-2000 and the entire 2000-01 season  with Colorado and was as a member of the 2001 Stanley Cup winning contingent.

In 1,612 regular season contests (1979-2001), he ranks fifth among all defenders to play the game at the NHL level. His 410 goals, 1,169 assists, and 1,579 points are the most ever by a defenceman, exceeding numbers accumulated by both Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey. Defensively, he had a phenomenal + 527 plus/minus record.  His leadership skills were recognized by Boston, as he was the longest serving captain of the team in history from 1985-86 to 1999-2000.

Named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2004, the former Quebec Major Junior League standout, was also inducted into the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. His Junior career also saw him named QMJHL Defenceman of the Year (1979-80), first team all-star (1977-78, 1978-79), Most Sportsmanlike Player (1978-79) and inducted into the QMJHL Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2003, he received the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

Always an active member of the community while playing, he won the NHL’s King Clancy Award for his charity work in 1992. He continued to donate his time and financial support to a variety  of charitable organizations, primarily in the Boston area. Indeed, as noted in the  non-profit Bourque Family Foundation’s home page: “Prior to the start of the Bourque Family Foundation, Ray helped to contribute over $20 million to over 1,000 different organizations that vary in missions from providing after school programs to famine relief and everything in between.” The Foundation which has involved Ray, his wife Christiane, daughter Melissa, and sons Chris and Ryan continues to provide assistance to numerous charities throughout New England.

Ray Bourque has made his mark as a generous philanthropist, as a restaurateur in Boston, and for a time as an amateur hockey coach with his sons’ teams. However, it is as a hockey great and engaging speaker that “Off the Leash Luncheon” has asked Ray Bourque to be part of the 2026 programme. Master of ceremonies for the Luncheon was comedy mainstay Kelly Taylor.

Also present, were the coaches and players from the 2026-27 Huskie Men’s Hockey Team which currently leads Canada West with a sparkling 9-1 ledger. Also at the event  was the presentation of the annual Award of Recognition presented to a former Huskie and very active alumnus and benefactor Kerry Preete, a man who has supported the team in numerous ways for many years.

Season:	League:	Team :	GP	G	A	PTS.	+/-
1976-77	QMJHL	Trois-Rivieres Draveurs	39	3	20	23
1976-77	QMJHL	Sorel Black Hawks	30	9	16	25
1977-78	QMJHL	Verdun Black Hawks	72	22	57	79
1978-79	QMJHL	Verdun Black Hawks	63	22	71	93
Life Time	QMJHL		204	56	164	220
1979-80	NHL	Boston Bruins	80	17	48	65	52
1980-81	NHL	Boston Bruins	67	27	29	56	29
1981-82	NHL	Boston Bruins	65	17	49	66	22
1982-83	NHL	Boston Bruins	65	22	51	73	49
1983-84	NHL	Boston Bruins	78	31	65	96	51
1984-85	NHL	Boston Bruins	73	20	66	86	30
1985-86	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	74	19	58	77	17
1986-87	NHL	Boston Bruins	78	23	72	95	44
1987-88	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	78	17	64	81	34
1988-89	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	60	18	43	61	20
1989-90	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	76	19	65	84	31
1990-91	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	76	21	73	94	33
1991-92	NHL	Boston Bruins	80	21	60	81	11
1992-93	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	78	19	63	82	38
1993-94	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	72	20	71	91	26
1994-95	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	46	12	31	43	3
1995-96	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	82	20	62	82	31
1996-97	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	62	19	31	50	-11
1997-98	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	82	13	35	48	2
1998-99	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	81	10	47	57	7
1999-2000	NHL	Boston Bruins     captain	65	10	28	38	-11
1999-2000	NHL	Colorado Avalanche	14	8	6	14	9
2000	NHL	Colorado Avalanche	80	7	52	59	25
LIFETIME	NHL		1612	410	1169	1579	527

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                                                          SOURCES CONSULTED

“Ray Bourque.” bostonbruinsalumni.com/ray-bourque (12 September 2026) : N.p.

“Ray Bourque.” bourquefamilyfoundation.org/about (12 September 2026): N.p.

“Ray Bourque.” Hhof.com.ind04bourque (12 September 2026) : N.p.

“Ray Bourque.” hockeydb.com/indb/statsplay.php (12 September 2026): N.p.

“Ray Bourque.” nhl.com/player/ray-bourque-8445621/bio (12 September 2026): N.p.

“Ray Bourque.” Records.nhl.com (12 September 2026): N.p.

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“Off The Leash Luncheon”

Thursday, 12 November 2026, 11:30-1:00 at Prairieland Park

Tickets:

-- Online: Eventbrite.ca/e/off-the-leash-luncheon-2026-tickets-1988279643938

-- Email: ticketsOTLL@gmail.com

-- Telephone: Colby @ 1 (306) 262-2920  --Or contact any committee member for an invoice

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