Henry Boucha Obituary and Death: Minnesota Hockey Legend Cause Of Death

Henry Boucha, a legendary figure in Minnesota hockey, has passed away, and this is his obituary.

daughter Tara confirmed his death on Monday. Boucha, who was of Ojibwe heritage and a strong advocate for Native American causes, had a remarkable career in hockey, playing in the NHL, World Hockey Association, and the U.S. Olympic team, where he won a silver medal in 1972.

Boucha became a local hero during his high school years when he led Warroad to victory in the 1969 Minnesota state championship. He was known for his determination to stay on the ice throughout the game. In high school, he played as a defenseman and scored an impressive 60 goals during his senior year. Warroad faced Edina in the state championship game, which ended in a heartbreaking 5-4 overtime loss when Boucha suffered an eardrum injury while attempting to block a rebound, forcing him to leave the game. At the time, Warroad’s graduating class was a mere 38 students.

The state championship game drew an astounding crowd of 15,066 spectators at the Metro Center, setting a record for the largest attendance at a high school hockey game in Minnesota.

Despite the earlier loss to Roseau in the group finals, the Warriors made it to the state tournament by defeating Everest in overtime. They then secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Roseau in a rematch of the state semifinals.

Boucha’s talent extended beyond the ice rink; he was also an all-conference player in both ice hockey and baseball. After high school, he briefly played junior hockey in Canada before joining the U.S. Army.

In 1971, Detroit selected him in the second round of the NHL draft, and he made his debut for the Red Wings after the Olympics. He had an impressive season in 1972-73, contributing 14 goals and 14 assists.

However, his professional career took a dramatic turn when he joined the North Stars. During a game in 1975, he was struck in the eye by a stick wielded by Boston forward Dave Forbes, resulting in a severe eye injury that would significantly affect his career. Forbes faced charges of aggravated assault, and a jury eventually found him guilty. The NHL suspended Forbes for 10 games, and Boucha went on to win a $1 million settlement in a lawsuit against Forbes.

“I still have trouble backing up or driving at night,” Boucha once shared in a 2004 interview. “I will deal with this issue until the day I die.”