Phil Bourque
Phil Bourque (born June 8, 1962) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman and winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and later became a longtime radio color analyst for the team.[1][2] Born in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Bourque honed his skills in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Kingston Canadians from 1980 to 1982, where he recorded 59 points in 114 games.[1] Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Penguins in 1982, he debuted in the NHL during the 1983–84 season after spending time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Baltimore Skipjacks, amassing 116 points in 325 games there.[3][2] Over his NHL career, spanning the Penguins (1983–1992), New York Rangers (1992–1994), and Ottawa Senators (1993–1996), Bourque appeared in 477 regular-season games, scoring 88 goals and 111 assists for 199 points while accumulating 516 penalty minutes; he also contributed to the Penguins' Stanley Cup victories in 1991 and 1992.[1] During his NHL tenure, he also played in the International Hockey League (IHL), including with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in 1987–88, where he earned the IHL Governors' Trophy. After leaving the NHL following the 1995–96 season, he played one more IHL season with the Chicago Wolves in 1996–97 before concluding his professional career in Europe with clubs such as the Rosenheim Star Bulls in Germany's DEL and the Hamburg Crocodiles until his retirement in 2000.[1] Transitioning to broadcasting, Bourque joined the Pittsburgh Penguins' radio network in 2003 as a color analyst, partnering with play-by-play voice Mike Lange starting in the 2006–07 season to call three additional Stanley Cup championships (2009, 2016, 2017).[4] He has co-hosted pre- and post-game shows, contributed to television coverage, and participated in alumni events, entering his 23rd season with the broadcast team as of 2025; Bourque also serves on the Penguins' Hall of Fame voting committee.[2][5] Known for his gritty style and nickname "The Ol' 29-er" from his Penguins days wearing jersey number 29, Bourque remains a prominent figure in Pittsburgh hockey circles.[4]Early life
Childhood and family background
Phillip Richard Bourque was born on June 8, 1962, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, a town located about 30 miles northwest of Boston.[6] He grew up in a working-class family in the greater Boston area, where hockey was a central part of local culture, particularly during the Boston Bruins' successful era in the late 1960s and early 1970s.[7] His early exposure to the sport came at age three, when a family friend took him to a public skating session in Chelmsford; equipped with double-runner skates, Bourque immediately took to the ice, later recalling, "I took to it like a duck to water."[8] This outing prompted the family friend to encourage Bourque's father to enroll him in youth hockey, igniting his passion despite a strained paternal relationship marked by verbal and physical criticism tied to his performance on the ice.[8] Known locally by the nickname "Berkey"—a phonetic twist on his last name, which locals pronounced like "Burke"—young Bourque idolized the Boston Bruins and was profoundly influenced by defenseman Bobby Orr's arrival in 1966, just after his own birth.[7] Orr's dynamic style and the team's Stanley Cup victories in 1970 and 1972 fueled Bourque's dreams of playing professionally, shaping his relentless drive amid the competitive youth hockey scene in Massachusetts.[7] The local environment, with its frozen ponds, rinks, and fervent Bruins fandom, further embedded hockey in his daily life, though formal education details from his youth remain sparse, with Bourque opting against college after high school to pursue the sport full-time.[8]Junior hockey career
Bourque's junior hockey career took place in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he played as a defenseman for the Kingston Canadians from 1980 to 1982, having moved from his hometown in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to pursue competitive opportunities in Canada with family support.[3] In his rookie 1980–81 season with the team (then in the OMJHL, the OHL's predecessor), he appeared in 47 regular-season games, scoring 4 goals and 4 assists for 8 points while accumulating 46 penalty minutes, reflecting his physical, aggressive style on the blue line.[6] During the playoffs that year, Bourque played 6 games without recording a point but added 10 penalty minutes.[6] Bourque showed marked improvement in the 1981–82 season, transitioning fully into the OHL structure and establishing himself as an offensive-minded defenseman who enjoyed rushing the puck.[9] He suited up for 67 regular-season games, notching 11 goals, 40 assists, and 51 points alongside 111 penalty minutes, which highlighted his combative presence amid a developing two-way game.[6] In the playoffs, he contributed in 4 games without points or penalties, as the Canadians were eliminated early.[6] Over his two OHL seasons, Bourque totaled 114 games, 15 goals, 44 assists, 59 points, and 157 penalty minutes, building a reputation for toughness forged from backyard hockey in Massachusetts.[6] Despite his progress, Bourque went undrafted in the NHL Entry Draft, remaining a free agent prospect due to his late birthday (June 8, 1962) and the competitive depth of defensemen at the time, though his physicality and improving production drew interest.[3] He received invitations to training camps from the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins following his junior tenure, ultimately attending the Penguins' camp in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which paved the way for his professional transition.[9] No major individual awards marked his junior years, but his development as a hard-nosed blueliner positioned him for minor-league opportunities.[1]Professional playing career
Pittsburgh Penguins era
Phil Bourque signed as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1982, following a tryout at the team's training camp in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.[3][10] He was then assigned to the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate, the Baltimore Skipjacks, for the 1982–83 season, where he recorded 1 goal and 15 assists for 16 points in 65 games.[3][1] Bourque made his NHL debut with the Penguins during the 1983–84 season, appearing in five games as a defenseman and registering one assist.[3] His early years involved shuttling between the NHL and minors, with limited appearances in 1985–86 (four games) and 1986–87 (22 games), before transitioning to a more permanent forward role.[3] By the 1988–89 season, he had established himself on the full-time roster, playing all 80 games and contributing 17 goals and 26 assists, marking his emergence as a reliable depth player known for his gritty, two-way play.[3] Bourque played a key supporting role in the Penguins' back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, appearing in 45 playoff games across those runs and tallying nine goals and 11 assists as a versatile forward who provided energy and physicality on the third and fourth lines.[3] Over his Penguins playoff tenure, including the 1989 postseason, he accumulated 13 goals and 12 assists in 56 games, often stepping up in high-pressure situations, such as scoring an overtime goal against Philadelphia in the 1989 division semifinals.[3] Wearing jersey number 29—earning him the nickname "Ol' Two-Niner" among fans and teammates—Bourque became a fan favorite for his hard-nosed style and postseason contributions.[4] During the 1991 Stanley Cup Final celebration, Bourque delivered a memorable quote while hoisting the Cup, exclaiming, "What do you say we take this thing out on the river and party all summer!"—capturing the team's exuberant spirit after defeating the Minnesota North Stars.[11] Following the 1992 championship, Bourque left the Penguins as a free agent, signing with the New York Rangers on September 1, 1992.[3][12]Later NHL teams
After leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins following their 1992 Stanley Cup victory, Phil Bourque signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers on September 1, 1992.[3] In the 1992–93 season, he appeared in 55 games for the Rangers, recording 6 goals and 14 assists for 20 points while accumulating 39 penalty minutes, primarily serving as a versatile left winger and occasional defenseman on a team transitioning after a challenging prior year.[3][1] Bourque's time with the Rangers continued into the 1993–94 season, where he played 16 games and contributed 1 assist before being traded to the Ottawa Senators on March 21, 1994, in exchange for future considerations.[13] With Ottawa, he finished the 1993–94 season in 11 games, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points.[3] In the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season, Bourque solidified his role on the expansion Senators, playing 38 games and tallying 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points, providing physical presence and depth scoring to a young roster.[3][1] During the 1995–96 season, Bourque appeared in 13 games for Ottawa, registering 1 goal and 1 assist for 2 points and 14 penalty minutes, before his NHL tenure concluded amid limited opportunities on the team.[3] Throughout his stints with the Rangers and Senators, Bourque functioned as a veteran utility player, offering leadership and stability during multiple team transitions, drawing on his prior championship experience to mentor younger players.[14] In 1994, Bourque represented Team USA at the IIHF Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in Bolzano and Milan, Italy, where he played 8 games, recording 1 assist and 6 penalty minutes while posting a minus-2 rating, as the American squad finished seventh in the tournament.[15][16] Over his later NHL years with the Rangers and Senators from 1992 to 1996, Bourque contributed to 133 games, including 13 goals and 22 assists, helping build toward his career totals of 477 games played, 88 goals, and 122 assists across all teams.[3]European leagues and retirement
Following his time in the International Hockey League with the Chicago Wolves during the 1996–97 season, Bourque relocated to Germany ahead of the 1997–98 campaign, joining the Star Bulls Rosenheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).[1] In 40 regular-season games with Rosenheim, he recorded 4 goals and 7 assists for 11 points, while accumulating 60 penalty minutes.[6] After Rosenheim's relegation from the DEL, Bourque signed with the Crocodiles Hamburg of the 2. Bundesliga (Germany2) for the 1998–99 season. There, he played 22 regular-season games, notching 5 goals and 12 assists for 17 points, and contributed further in the playoffs with 3 goals and 7 assists over 13 games.[6] The following year, 1999–2000, marked Bourque's final professional season back with Hamburg; in 35 regular-season appearances, he tallied 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points, along with 57 penalty minutes, before playing one playoff game.[1] Bourque retired from professional hockey at age 37 after the conclusion of the 1999–2000 season with Hamburg.[6]Career statistics
NHL regular season and playoffs
Phil Bourque played 477 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) over 12 seasons from 1983 to 1996, recording 88 goals, 111 assists, and 199 points while accumulating 516 penalty minutes.[3] His career-high performance came in the 1988–89 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he appeared in 80 games, scoring 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points.[3] The following table summarizes Bourque's NHL regular season statistics by season:| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–84 | PIT | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 1985–86 | PIT | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1986–87 | PIT | 22 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 32 |
| 1987–88 | PIT | 21 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 20 |
| 1988–89 | PIT | 80 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 97 |
| 1989–90 | PIT | 76 | 22 | 17 | 39 | 108 |
| 1990–91 | PIT | 78 | 20 | 14 | 34 | 106 |
| 1991–92 | PIT | 58 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 58 |
| 1992–93 | NYR | 55 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 39 |
| 1993–94 | 2 TM | 27 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| 1994–95 | OTT | 38 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| 1995–96 | OTT | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 |