Montreal Gazette

Bouillon honours Therrien as defenceman retires

- PAT HICKEY phickey@montrealga­zette.com twitter.com/zababes1

Francis Bouillon was waiting for an offer he couldn’t refuse and, when he didn’t get it, the 39-yearold defenceman announced his retirement Friday.

Frankie Boo was one of the good-news stories in the NHL, an undersized defenceman who beat the odds to play more than 800 regular-season and playoff games for the Canadiens and the Nashville Predators.

His NHL career ended in 2014 after he played 52 games for the Canadiens and then scored two goals in nine playoff games. He spent last season with Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss League.

“It was a tough year for my family,” said Bouillon.

“We were in the Italian area of Switzerlan­d and my sons went to Italian school. I had some offers to play in Europe again, but the boys are starting high school and they wanted to go to school here.”

Bouillon made his retirement formal at an emotional news conference at the Bell Centre. He was visibly moved when Michel Therrien made a surprise appearance, giving Bouillon a hug and praising his courage. Bouillon helped the Granby Prédateurs win the Memorial Cup for coach Therrien in 1999, but the team captain went undrafted because NHL teams weren’t looking for 5-foot-8 defencemen. Ten of his teammates — including Georges Laraque and Jason Doig — were drafted but none had as long or successful a career as Bouillon.

The Canadiens signed him and he followed with a good season for Wheeling of the ECHL before he was reunited with Therrien in 1998, when he joined the Fredericto­n Canadiens.

“Michel did a lot for me,” said Bouillon. “I think he believed in me more than I believed in myself. He was always working with me after practice to make me better.”

While Therrien and Bouillon have been linked throughout their careers, it was Alain Vigneault who gave Bouillon his start in the NHL in 1999, when he played 72 games.

Bouillon was known for his work ethic, which was fostered by his parents and the working-class Rosemont-Maisonneuv­e neighbourh­ood where he was raised. He came back from knee surgery in Montreal midway through his career and bounced back from a major concussion when he was in Nashville.

He said one of the highlights of his career was winning the Jean Béliveau Trophy in 2007. The award recognizes a player’s leadership and commitment to the community.

“I never won a championsh­ip in the NHL and I wasn’t a great individual player, but I worked hard for the team,” said Bouillon.

 ?? MONTREAL GAZETTE FILES
PETER McCABE/ ?? Francis Bouillon’s NHL career ended in 2014 after he played 52 games for the Canadiens. He announced his retirement Friday.
MONTREAL GAZETTE FILES PETER McCABE/ Francis Bouillon’s NHL career ended in 2014 after he played 52 games for the Canadiens. He announced his retirement Friday.

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