Birthdate: February 16, 1987
Date of Death: May 29, 2008
Luc Bourdon had all the potential in the world to be a great hockey player, but a motorcycle accident tragically claimed his life. He was only 21 years old.
His Life
Luc's rise to NHL fame was not as easy as you might think. When he was nine years old, the New Brunswick native was forced to be in a wheelchair part time because of an arthritis condition. Luc eventually overcame that and started to excel at hockey. After spending two years playing junior hockey in the QMJHL, he was drafted 10th overall in the NHL Draft by the Vancouver Canucks. Luc spent the next three seasons shifting time between the Canucks and their minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.
At the end of the 2007-'08 season, Luc was starting to come into his own as a player. The franchise believed that Luc was on his way to becoming an elite NHL player. He had excellent speed for a defenseman and could fire the puck with incredible force and accuracy. He had all the tools to become an NHL All Star.
His Death
On the morning of May 29, 2008, Luc was riding his brand new motorcycle that he had bought just two days earlier on a road in his native Shippagan, New Brunswick, Canada. Luc lost control of his motorcycle and then slammed head on with a tractor trailer. The 21 year-old hockey star died instantly.Motorcycle Safety
Motorcycles, like all vehicles, are dangerous unless you are properly trained to ride them. Their speed and size make it hard to control, especially on curvy roads or in bad weather conditions. The fact that you don't have a seatbelt or a roof to protect you puts your life at risk that much more than a car. Motorcycle accidents have ruined the careers of two other promising athletes. In 2003, rising NBA rookie Jay Williams crashed his motorcycle into a telephone pole. Doctors almost had to amputate his leg and Williams has not played an NBA game since. Kellen Winslow Jr. tore his ACL after his motorcycle hit a curve. His career has not been the same since.Related Stories:
