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posted 05/14/2009 RYAN BOUCHER COMMITS TO SOUTHERN MAINE
The New York Bobcats are very happy to announce that standout defenseman, Ryan Boucher, has committed to the Huskies of Southern Maine for the 2009/2010 season. Southern Maine is a member of the very competitive ECAC East League in Division III college hockey.
Ryan was a late season acquisition from the Portland Pirates of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League. After having developed and played in the strong and prestigious Pirate program for the past three seasons, Ryan joined the Bobcats in February with the hope of helping them earn an AJHL league championship and berth in the Tier III Junior “A” Nationals. While the Bobcats fell short of winning their third league championship, having lost to the Northern Mass Cyclones in a hard fought final championship series, Ryan’s contributions were instrumental in helping the Bobcats earn that coveted National Championship berth. A gifted offensive defenseman, Ryan solidified the point on the Bobcats’ powerplay and easily slid into a mentoring role for many of the team’s younger defensemen. His puck handling skills and vision on the ice resulted in a 1-8-9 line in just 19 games, while his maturity and experience added another layer of character to the Bobcats locker room. His combined point totals of 13-16-29 in 44 games were good enough for third in the AJHL among defensemen.
By way of background, Ryan participated in the U-14, U-15, U-16 and U-17 U.S. National Camps…a rare feat for any youth hockey player. He was a member of the Sea Coast Spartan team that finished as the New England Regional Bantam Finalist in the 03/04 season. In addition to being one of the top players for a Portland Pirate team that finished as Regular Season Runner Ups during the 07/08 season, Ryan earned a spot in the AJHL All-Star game all three season he played in the league. He was also a player on the AJHL Select Team that traveled to Blaine, Minnesota in 2006. Those appearances culminated in him being named the MVP for the Northern Conference in this year’s All-Star game.
Aside from his terrific ability on the ice, it should be noted that Ryan has been a true-student athlete. A strong student with excellent SATs, Ryan earned a 3.87 GPA while taking selected post-graduate courses at Southern Maine during the three years he played for the Pirates. Ryan exemplifies the true student-athlete and those attributes have created the foundation and potential for great success at the collegiate level.
The Bobcats would like to extend their sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Ryan, the entire Boucher family and the Portland Pirate organization, and wishes him the very best as he heads to the University of Southern Maine to embark on his academic and college hockey career.
