Canucks' Bourdon killed in motorcycle crash

Rookie defenseman was 21

The Associated Press

3:27 PM EDT, May 29, 2008

Vancouver Canucks hockey player Luc Bourdon celebrates after scoring against the Minnesota Wild. Bourdon was killed in a motorcycle accident near his hometown of Shippagan, New Brunswick on May 29, 2008. He was 21. (AP photo / November 16, 2007)

SHIPPAGAN, New Brunswick - Luc Bourdon, a promising rookie defenseman with the Vancouver Canucks, was killed Thursday when his motorcycle struck a tractor-trailer in a crash near his hometown. He was 21.

His death was confirmed by sister Eve Bourdon and stepmother Maryse Godin. Both declined further comment when reached at the family's home in Shippagan.

"Luc was a winner; he was a competitor," said Kent Hughes, his agent. "There was no quit in him. He persevered through a lot. He was a great guy and a great teammate."

Police in Shippagan wouldn't confirm the identity of the victim but said a motorcyclist was killed in the early afternoon on a road between Shippagan and Lemeque.

Bourdon was the first-round draft pick of the Canucks in 2005, selected 10th overall. He split time this season with the Canucks and the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League. In 27 games with the Canucks, he scored twice and had no assists.

He played on the Canadian team that won the gold medal at the 2007 world junior hockey championship in Vancouver and made the tournament's all-star team. He helped Canada win another gold at the 2007 tournament in Sweden.

Bourdon played for Val d'Or, Moncton and Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before turning pro.