Henry Boucha Almost Didn't Play In The Olympics

Warroad hockey legend Henry Boucha joined the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team in 1972, helping the team win a silver medal at the Winter Olympics in Japan.
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[@KMK7355]

The HS Classes of 1967-73 were the first group of US Players to produce top 6F and top 4 Dmen in some quantity. It also produced other NHL Players 1967 - McElmury, Sheehan, Sarner 1968 - Watt, Patrick 1969 - Boucha, Anderson, McManama, Hynes, Joe Noris, Antonovich, Butters 1970 - Milbury, Nyrop, Ftorek, Ahern, Williams, Palmer, Fotiu 1971 - Hangsleben, Talafous, Younghans, O'Neil, Bolduc 1972 - Chartraw, Sargent, Walker, Howe, Alley, 1973 - O'Connell, Norwich, Brownschidle, Anderson, Wilson, Lamby, Holmgren, Burns, Fontas, Howe, Morrison, Carlson Notable milestone players were Rick Chartraw who was first US player picked in 1st Round if NHL Draft. Robbie Ftorek who was 1st US Player to win an MVP Award in a Major Pro Hockey League.

[@KMK7355]

My older brother graduated from HS in Mass in 1969, same year as Boucha. My brother was recruited by NU Coach Jim Bell and played against Boucha's Olympic teammate Robbie Ftorek in 1969-69 season HS season. Williamson was correct about how young that team was. The 3 youngest forwards were 16 year old Mark Howe of Michigan (HS Class of 1973), 20 year old Robbie Ftorek of Needham, Mass (HS Class of 1970) and 20 year old Henry Boucha of Warroad, Minn (HS Class of 1969). They upset Czechoslovakia 5-1, which got them Silver as somehow Sweden who beat the US lost to USSR and either Czechoslovakia or Finland. 20 year old Robbie Ftorek