There's Something in Bourque's Bloodline

Hall of Famer's Son Shows Skill With Capitals In NHL Debut

ATLANTA, Nov. 7 -- It was the phone call Chris Bourque had been waiting for since he was a young boy watching his father play for the Boston Bruins. He just wasn't expecting to get it Monday at 11:30 p.m.

On the other end of the line was a Washington Capitals front-office employee, informing Bourque, the son of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, that he was being called up from the minor leagues and would make his NHL debut against the Atlanta Thrashers.

"I didn't get much sleep because I was so excited," Bourque said after playing about 12 minutes in the Capitals' 2-1 overtime loss at Philips Arena on Tuesday night. "It was what I expected and more. It's a great league, and this is where you want to be if you want to be one of the world's top hockey players."

Answering reporters' questions in the middle of a hushed visitors' locker room was bittersweet moment for the 21-year-old wing, who was among the last players cut in training camp. Because of that, it was expected he would play in Washington at some point this season. But no one expected that point would arrive so soon.

But with right wings Chris Clark (lacerated left ear) and Alexander Semin (sprained right ankle) out and the Capitals in the midst of a season-threatening tailspin -- they have lost four straight, and 10 of the past 12, entering Thursday night's game at the Eastern Conference-leading Ottawa Senators -- General Manager George McPhee felt the lineup was in need of a spark. After some careful consideration, he promoted Bourque, a high-energy player who possesses a decent amount of skill.

Bourque's day got even better upon arriving at the team hotel in Atlanta around 2 p.m. Coach Glen Hanlon told him he was going to skate the right side of a line with Alex Ovechkin and Michael Nylander. Though he normally plays left wing, Bourque wasn't about to complain.

"I was playing with two of the best players in the world," said Bourque, who is expected to be in the lineup against the Senators. "It was awesome. I was kind of thrown right into the fire. But that's what you want -- you want to play with good players. It's a little easier playing with guys like them, who have high speed and can see the ice and do anything they want."

Bourque, the Capitals' 33rd overall pick in 2004, didn't struggle to keep up. A swift skater with a slick stick, he took 17 shifts and fired two shots on goal, including one that sailed just over the crossbar on the power play in the first period.

He also took his first penalty, a hooking infraction in the second period.

Although he always is going to be one of the smallest players on the ice, listed at 5 feet 7 and 177 pounds, the Boston native has the reputation for playing significantly bigger. He wasted no time proving that against the Thrashers, throwing a handful of body checks, including a crushing blow along the corner boards that separated Thrashers defenseman Niclas Havelid from his stick.

Bourque received raves from his new teammates.

"He was fearless," Nylander said. "He played smart. He worked hard. He came into a tough situation and played the best he could."

Said Ovechkin: "He made some good hits, had a good chance on the power play in the first period. But it's his first game, so he was a little bit nervous."

But the highlight for Bourque, he said, was that his parents made it to Atlanta in time to watch from the seats.

"It was an exciting day for Mom and Dad, too," Bourque said. "Being around the NHL for so long, seeing things first hand and going to the rink with my dad all the time, that obviously helps with the adjustment. It's not so much of a shock when you walk into a dressing room with big-time players, because I've been around big-time players all my life."