Boucher ready and focused after tough rookie season

SYDNEY — It was a hard rookie year both on and off the ice for Cape Breton Screaming Eagles forward Dillon Boucher last season, and it’s no surprise he’s ready for a fresh start in 2015-16.

Boucher earned a spot on the Screaming Eagles roster out of training camp last year, but broke his ankle three games in after scoring his first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League goal. The injury put him out until November.

“Especially that early in the season, you go in to get your first goal and you can barely stand up to celebrate with the guys,” said the 6-0, 202-pound native of Head of Chezzetcook, N.S., just outside of Halifax. “I think I battled through it pretty good. You don’t like to get injured right away, but I guess it’s better early than later.”

As bad as starting his rookie season injured was, the worst was yet to come.

Dillon learned that his father, Brad, needed surgery to treat pancreatic cancer. Complications arose, and Brad slipped into a coma.

It was tough blow for Dillon. His father was a big influence both in his life and hockey. Brad was his coach up until peewee.

“On the drives home, he put in his input and told me how the game was,” said Dillon. “He’s had a big impact in my career. He’s been there always and he’s always there to talk to.”

What friends and family called a Christmas miracle, Brad came out of his coma five days later. Dillon said the whole ordeal brought his family even closer.

“You learn to appreciate things a lot more,” he said. “You take life for granted sometimes and you have someone close to you who almost passes away. It’s a big eye opener and I think it helps builds character.”

With his father recovering, Boucher turned his attention back to the ice. A highlight to his rookie season was scoring the overtime game-winning goal in Game 6 of the team’s first-round playoff series with the Quebec Remparts.

Dillon reports that Brad is doing well, and has been to a few games both at Centre 200 in Sydney and in other stops in the Maritimes to see his son play. Brad and his wife, Collette, are originally from St. Peters, N.S., about an hour away from Sydney, so they were thrilled when their boy was picked by the Screaming Eagles in the seventh round of the 2013 QMJHL draft.

As for this season, Boucher was ready to refocus and put a tough rookie year behind him. He hasn’t set any expectations or goals, just to play hard.

So far, he’s scored a goal and added four assists in 14 games, and is already half way to reaching the 10 points he picked up in his rookie campaign.

“I just wanted to come in injury free and clear my mind,” he said. “Dad’s out of the hospital now, so he’s doing well. I just wanted to come in focused and prepared.”

Screaming Eagles head coach and general manager Marc-André Dumont called Boucher a team player and hard worker who competes and doesn’t give up.

“There are flashes of him to be a power forward,” said Dumont. “We expect him to really step it up this year at 18 and really step it up next year at 19 as well. He’s a powerful, smart, team player. Just an A1 attitude and work ethic. He’s a good role model for the younger guys, even though he’s 18 and that’s going to continue to grow when he’s 19.

“We’re very optimistic when we see Dillon and project him in the future. There’s a lot of room for him to grow as a player right now.”