Jesse Boulerice

Jesse James Boulerice (born August 10, 1978) is an American former professional ice hockey forward. Primarily playing in an enforcing role, Boulerice played the majority of his National Hockey League (NHL) career for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Background

Boulerice was born in Rouses Point, New York, located in the northeasternmost corner of the state, on the Canadian border.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> In addition to working on his family's farm, young Boulerice loved playing hockey, leading to his father building a rink in their backyard.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> He played in the World Juniors with Team USA, winning a silver medal in 1997.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> As a junior, he also spent three years playing with Detroit and Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

Playing career

Boulerice was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, 133rd overall. He has played for the Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues and Flyers. He was charged with assault in 1998 while playing with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) after a violent stick-swinging incident with Guelph Storm forward Andrew Long.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Boulerice is known for being the victim of an Aaron Downey left hook on February 11, 2003, after failing to land the first punch, which left Boulerice with a broken jaw and a concussion. Boulerice spent the night in the hospital as his Carolina Hurricanes lost in overtime to the Dallas Stars, 2–1.

Boulerice's role as an enforcer was reduced later in his career due to the NHL's stricter penalties for instigating a fight, by a $10,000 fine to the coach if it occurs in the final five minutes of a game.

On October 10, 2007, Boulerice delivered a cross-check to the face of Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler, with his team up 7–2 in the third period. Boulerice received a 25-game suspension as disciplinary action from the league, which is tied for the fourth-longest suspension for an on-ice incident in modern NHL history.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Boulerice started the 2008–09 season with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL). On November 11, 2008, he signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche and while being reassigned to the Monsters, was claimed off waivers by the Edmonton Oilers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore </ref> After playing only two games with the Oilers, Boulerice was placed on waivers again, and was re-claimed by the Avalanche on November 21, 2008.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Boulerice was invited to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins training camp for the 2009–10 season. He made his presence felt and remained to sign a one-year contract with the Penguins on October 3, 2009. In 54 games with Wilkes-Barre, Boulerice tied his AHL career high with four goals and led the team with 124 penalty minutes. On July 29, 2010, he re-signed with the Penguins to another one-year deal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On January 7, 2011, Boulerice was suspended for 10 games for deliberately running over an AHL referee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

After retiring from professional hockey in 2011, Boulerice became a financial advisor with Merrill-Lynch's office in Raleigh, NC. He is also a part-time coach for the Junior Hurricanes of North Carolina.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> He lives in Raleigh with his wife Cailin and three children.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> He coaches youth hockey and serves on the board of the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1994–95	Hawkesbury Hawks	CJHL		46	1	8	9	160		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Detroit Whalers	OHL		64	2	5	7	150		16	0	0	0	12
1996–97	Detroit Whalers	OHL		33	10	14	24	209		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Plymouth Whalers	OHL		53	20	23	43	170		13	2	4	6	35
1998–99	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		24	1	2	3	82		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	New Orleans Brass	ECHL		12	0	1	1	38		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Trenton Titans	ECHL		25	8	8	16	90		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		40	3	4	7	85		4	0	2	2	4
2000–01	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		60	3	4	7	256		10	1	1	2	28
2001–02	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		3	0	0	0	5		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		41	2	5	7	204		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		15	2	4	6	80		5	0	2	2	6
2002–03	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		48	2	1	3	108		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		76	6	1	7	127		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Carolina Hurricanes	NHL		26	0	0	0	51		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	Lowell Lock Monsters	AHL		1	0	2	2	0		—	—	—	—	—
2005–06	St. Louis Blues	NHL		12	0	0	0	13		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Albany River Rats	AHL		16	4	3	7	36		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		5	0	0	0	29		—	—	—	—	—
2007–08	Philadelphia Phantoms	AHL		36	2	4	6	101		7	0	0	0	2
2008–09	Lake Erie Monsters	AHL		41	4	3	7	97		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		2	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		54	4	3	7	124		4	0	0	0	6
2010–11	Wilkes–Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		67	4	7	11	147		7	0	0	0	11
AHL totals				395	29	41	70	1212		37	1	5	6	57
NHL totals				172	8	2	10	333		—	—	—	—	—

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1997	United States	WJC	Template:Silver2		6	0	1	1	4
1998	United States	WJC	5th		7	2	0	2	10
Junior totals					13	2	1	3	14

External links

• Template:Ice hockey stats