7-4-2004
Boutin Signs to Play in Weiden, Germany

         The following is a translated press release from the Blue Devils Fanpage. Any errors in the translation are partly my fault, I used the Babel Fish Translation on AltaVista and then cleaned it up.The original release on the Fanpage also has pictures. Thanks to Jens Maschke for the prompt information. I was actually told before it was official.

The Blue Devils announced today the obligation of the 27-year-old French Canadian J.F. Boutin!
(jens m./Sunday, 04.07.2004) the powerful winger comes from the Elmira Jackals of the UHL and before played successfully in the ECHL and the AHL. With his friend Sam St. Pierre he will provide the necessary goals for the Blue Devils!
        The 2004/2005 Blue Devils are complete. With today's fan table reserved for regulars Juergen Lehner communicated the obligation of J.F. Boutin. The 28 year old French Canadian already played two times with the present Blue Devils player Samuel St. Pierre in Johnstown, a very dangerous duo.
        The person J.F. Boutin. From Fleurimont (Quebec) in the French speaking part of Canada born 17.11.1976, the left winger weighs in at 85 kg, 1.83m tall. Boutin's career began in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), which is considered a large source of talent in North America. Between 1993 and 1997 he scored 176 points between different clubs of this league and altogether played 211 games in the QMJHL with 72 goals and 104 assists. A stately value, if one considers the strength of this league, in which players such as Mario Lemieux, Guy Carbonneau or also Luc Robitaille collected their first experiences.
        Boutin is considered fast as an arrow and terribly puck-safe player, who can maintain ground physically very well in addition. His model within the playing style is by the way "Russian Rocket" Pavel Bure, which prefers a similar play way as well known. His straight "working ethic" is emphasized by Boutin's friends. He trains hard and tries to constantly improve everything around himself and is very ambitious. This hard work gives Boutin and also the North American Minor Leagues a good name.
        Began his professional career in the 1996/1997 season with the Wheeling Nailers in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). There he trained very well under current Carolina the Hurricanes Peter Laviolette and the Nailers, which started as total outsiders, advanced to the Playoff semifinals, where they failed scarcely because of the Hampton Roads Admirals. Boutin made his first goals, assists, his first hat trick and became selected more than once the "Game Most Valueable Player". Altogether Boutin had a mad beginning into his professional career and at the end stood 27 goals and 36 assists in 79 games on its account, at 185 penalty minutes, which shows Boutin is no child afraid to fight. At the end of his first professional season J.F. became selected "Rookie of the Year" of the Wheeling Nailers. Boutin also made some private experiences in Wheeling learning relatively fast English with the help of its guest family, which had accepted him at that time as a young player. Until today Boutin still has contact with this family.
        After the season Boutin was transferred to the Peoria Rivermen, where he came into the ECHL with 65 games on 29 goals and 36 assists. In the preseason Boutin participated in the Kansas City Blades in the IHL, but to begin the season Kansas City had sufficient strong wingers and he went back to the ECHL, where Boutin needed first some acclimatizing time. In November, however, the knot burst enormously. In the match against the Dayton Bombers Boutin arrived recording five hits and an assist. This is still today a record with the Rivermen. Twice Boutin was allowed to play at the higher leagues. First with the Worcester Icecats in the AHL, where he obtained his first AHL goal in two games and also with the Orlando Solar Bears in the IHL. The Rivermen terminated the season in second in their Conference, but into the Playoffs first round then already was finished. By the end to the season then Boutin was the #2 rank team top scorer, only nine points behind the top scorer Joe Rybar, which played exactly nine games more however due to the employments of Boutin in AHL and IHL.
        In the following 1999/2000 season then the events estimated themselves. First Boutin completed again a training camp at the IHL club Utah Grizzlies and returned then to begin the season again in Peoria. With the Grizzlies the coach, who stood behind the gang and the bench of the 2003 Krefeld Penguins, liked Boutin's very good achievements. However, since he got only a two-way contract offered, he went back to Peoria.
        There he then had to fight for a long time with an inner ear infection, which held him back enormously. Although he had prepared terribly hard for the season, he failed the first third of the season completely. But Boutin gave up not, turned back and with much rage in the belly it would become the so far most successful play time of J.F. In the regular season Boutin in 42 games had 22 scores and 19 assists and then as the Playoffs arrive it began to strike the hour of J.F. Boutin. With 17 scores and 15 assists in only 18 Playoff games the French Canadien led his team nearly in the single-handed attempt to the championship. In the final round of the ECHL Kellycup, Peoria faced the Louisiana Icegators and their top star was for certain John Spoltore, which came into the Playoffs on 8 goals and 26 assists, thus thereby became the playoff top scorer of this season. The Rivermen nevertheless defeated the Icegators and Boutin was selected at that time together with his crew colleague Jason Christie as the MVP of the ECHL Playoffs and the 17 playoff goals is today still a record in the history of the ECHL.
        In the following 2000/2001 season the preseason had to offer some highlights for Boutin. By the mad playoff series J.F. came to the attention of the Detroit Red Wings and in the Camp they played Boutin in the A-formation with Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman. He was not completed enough nevertheless for the NHL, although it the Scouts from St. Louis, Boston and Detroit nevertheless further observed interest. Boutin found accomodation with the Worcester Icecats in the AHL to begin the season, but the St. Louis Blues knocked a contract with Boutin and parked him again with the Peoria Rivermen in the ECHL in the November of this season. With the Icecats he played under coach Granto, with which the season before he became master of the ECHL and for which chanced to the triumph to the Worchester Icecats.
        For J.F. the fact that he could go back to Peoria, was perhaps good, because Boutin made the 73 games still in this ECHL season and came on good with 30 goals and 37 assists. In the Playoffs the Rivermen reached again the semi-final, but the coach Granato was missing and in such a way one could not match the achievements of the championship year.
        This then also induced Boutin to break off with the Rivermen and change to the Johnstown Chiefs camp. With the Chiefs he at least went again into the 2001/2002 Playoffs, where there was also a 2nd round conclusion. In Johnstown Boutin in 60 games obtained 15 goals and 31 assists at 111 penalty minutes. This was for Boutin reliably a "transition season", which also was affected by an injury, which he had suffered negatively at the beginning of season. In the next season more success would reset itself.
        In the 2002/2003 season the Chiefs then obligated Samuel St. Pierre and with the new Weidener formed Boutin a terribly dangerous offensive duo, which let it crack correctly. Both obtained over 20 goals and complemented each other very well. Surely there would be more in it for Johnstown, but Boutin got the chance once again to play in the AHL and changed (by the way together with St. Pierre) to the AHL club St. John Flames. There Boutin (St. Pierre was used there only twice) was then denied the remainder of the season and came on 27 AHL employments with three goals and 11 assists. All three goals obtained by the way were the Game Winning Goals. In the following summer break there were some problems and uncertainties in the ECHL (therefore also many players from this league changed the last season to Germany and Europe). Boutin dared this step not yet and tried in the UHL (where also Dustin Whitecotton spent most time of his career).
        With the Jackals Boutin then again played successfully in the past season. 58 games in the normal season and 23 goals + 35 assists added to his account credit. Then into the playoffs went again very far and Boutin accumulated to high form again once in the crucial phase. Boutin in 12 games in the Playoffs had 7 goals and 9 assists. Thus he led the Jackals into the final round of the UHL championship round of the Colonial Cup. Unfortunately then however the Muskegon Fury was unbeatable and the Fury then became also without defeat in the Playoffs the UHL champs.
        In addition, during his playing profile Boutin has so far altogether 498 games played, obtained 194 goals and 272 assists, thus 466 points and cashed in 1031 penalty minutes.
        Much of the information from this report is from the private homepage of Mark D Burge, who already pursues the career of J.F. Boutin since the beginnings. By the way, Mark was also that which brought Boutin English and his "godfather uncle", with whom he has used during its first professional season.

        NOTE FROM WEBMASTER: Just to set the record straight, it was my sister Linda who did all of the work teaching JF English

5-2-2004
Elmira Jackals Advance to the Cup Round!!

         The Elmira Jackals defeated the Port Huron Beacons today by a score of 4-1 to win the Conference Finals. Their next stop will be to meet the Muskegon Fury to play for the UHL Colonial Cup Championship. The Jackals came from a 1-2 series deficit to win three straight games to take the Conference Finals. Muskegon, on the other hand, swept their series to make it to the cup round and will have home ice advantage with their higher playoff seeding.
        The Jackals started the Conference Finals round by losing a close game 1-3. They would then beat Port Huron in overtime to knot the series before playing games #3, #4, and #5 on home ice. However, they dropped game #3 by a score of 5-8 to give home ice advantage back to the Beacons and go down in the series 1-2. They once again tied the series with a 4-2 win where tempers flared at the 3rd period buzzer resulting in 108 minutes of penalties being handed out at the 20 minute mark (mostly misconduct and game misconducts). The next night saw a lot less in penalty minutes, but Elmira once again came out on top by a 6-3 margin to take their first lead in the series. Today's game saw the Jackals drawing first blood and never relinquishing the lead to take the game 4-1 to eliminate Port Huron from the playoffs with their third straight win.

3-29-2004
JF Boutin Once Again Named Elmira Jackals Player of the Week

        Elmira Jackals Press Release.     J.F. Boutin - LW     3 GP, 3 goals, 1 assist, 4 pts, -2, 4 PIMs
        J.F. Boutin was again one of the bright lights of the Jackals' week. He had two points in a 6-2 loss in Port Huron Friday night, then after a disappointing 7-0 defeat in Richmond Saturday, Boutin helped Elmira salvage the weekend with a two goal performance Sunday in a 4-1 win over the Riverdogs. Boutin had two power play goals on Sunday, including the game winner giving him 22 goals on the season, along with 31 assists (53 points in 52 games played), which puts him second on the team in scoring.

3-4-2004
Elmira’s J.F. Boutin and Quad City’s Jeff Reynaert Earn Monthly Recognition

        United Hockey League Press Release.
         LAKE ST. LOUIS, MO---The United Hockey League (UHL) announced Thursday that Elmira Jackals left wing J.F. Boutin has been named SherWood UHL Player of the Month and Quad City Mallards goaltender Jeff Reynaert has been named UHL Goaltender of the Month for February 2004.
        Boutin completed the month of February with 22-points (12g, 10a) and a plus-11 rating in 14 games. He registered at least one point in 11 of the Jackals 14 games, including six multi-point games. The 27-year-old Fleurimont, Quebec native recorded two unassisted tallies, three multi-goal games and a 22.6 shooting percentage to finish the fourth month of the season. Boutin currently ranks fourth among Jackals scorers with 42-points (15g, 27a) in 42 games.
        Other players nominated for the Sher-Wood UHL Player of the Month include: Adirondack left wing Hugo Belanger, Flint right wing Jim Duhart, Fort Wayne center Colin Chaulk, Kalamazoo defenseman Daniel Carriere, Missouri center Chris Bell, Muskegon right wing Scott Hollis, Port Huron center Jason Firth, Quad City center Jeff Williams, Richmond right wing David Brosseau and Rockford defenseman Bob Nardella.
        Reynaert finished the month of February posting an 8-2-0 record, a 1.60 goals against average (GAA), a .940 save percentage (SPCT) and two shutouts. He successfully turned away 251 of 267 shots on goal, including five, 27-plus save performances. The 24-year-old Sterling Heights, Michigan native is currently riding a four-game winning streak and ranks second in the UHL with a .918 save percentage (SPCT).
        Other players nominated for the UHL Goaltender of the Month include: Adirondack’s Scott Dickie, Elmira’s Ryan McIntosh, Flint’s Dan McIntyre, Fort Wayne’s Kevin St. Pierre, Kalamazoo’s Chad Alban, Missouri’s Tim Knudsen, Muskegon’s Sylvain Daigle, Port Huron’s Kory Cooper, Richmond’s Ryan Aschaber and Rockford’s Ronnie Vogel.

3-1-2004
JF Boutin Named Elmira Jackals Player of the Month for February

        Elmira Jackals Press Release.     J.F. Boutin - LW     14 GP, 12 goals, 10 assists, 22 pts, +11, 14 PIMs
        After struggling early in the season with a lower abdominal injury, J.F. Boutin has started to produce as Jackals Head Coach Todd Brost had anticipated. The left wing from Fleurimont, PQ amassed 22 points in all 14 games for Elmira in the month of February. Of his 12 goals, he had one power play goals, one short-handed goal, one game winning goal, and two unassisted strikes. He also was on target, scoring on 22.6% of his shots. His month has moved him to fourth on the team in scoring (42 points) and first with a +13 rating.

3-1-2004
JF Boutin Named Elmira Jackals Player of the Week (3^rd Time in Past 4 Weeks)

        Elmira Jackals Press Release.     J.F. Boutin - LW     4 GP, 4 goals, 1 assist, 5 pts, -1, 4 PIMs
        J.F. Boutin continues to score at a consistent level for the Jackals. He started the week with a goal and an assist against Flint, then scored Friday night in Moline. On Sunday the left-winger helped Elmira come back from a 3-0 deficit with two goals, one of which on the power play. His five points on the week have him up to 15 goals and 27 assists on the season. The 42 points is good for 4th on the Jackals and he leads the team with a +13 rating.

2-16-2004
JF Boutin Named Second Consecutive Elmira Jackals Player of the Week

        Elmira Jackals Press Release.     J.F. Boutin - LW     3 GP, 2 goal, 5 assists, 7 pts, +6
        Left wing J.F. Boutin took a 5-point effort last week and expanded on his production by two. He had a goal and three assists and was a colossal +4 in a 6-5 loss to Adirondack Wednesday night. In his lowest output of the week Boutin had just one assist in a key 3-1 victory over Flint.
       Boutin finished off the week with a goal and an assist against Port Huron on Valentine’s Day, giving the left wing his second straight Jackals Player of the Week honor.

2-9-2004
JF Boutin Named Elmira Jackals Player of the Week

        Elmira Jackals Press Release.     J.F. Boutin - LW     4 GP, 3 goal, 2 assists, 5 pts, +3
        Left wing J.F. Boutin barely edged Don Smith and Mike Thompson for the Jackals Player of the Week honors. Boutin’s five points led the team through a strenuous 4 games-in-five-days week, which saw the Jackals spread the wealth throughout the team, rather than banking the goals on one player. Boutin’s goal sent Elmira to a shoot-out Friday night against Richmond and the 27-year old scored two goals in the 8-1 romp over Port Huron Saturday night.

2-7-2004
Boutin Tallies 4 Points in 400^th Game

        Saturday night was the 7^th of February. The number 7 has always been a good number for JF Boutin. But this night in JF's 7^th season of professional hockey the number 4 would also have a little meaning for the left winger from Quebec. The home game against Port Huron on the 7^th was also Boutin's 400^th professional regular season hockey game. So it just makes sense that he would also get 4 points in this game. With all of this numerology going on, maybe JF should be wearing number 47 on his jersey this year rather than 17?
        This also brings Boutin into a tie for 4^th in team scoring. There's that number again! JF started the season playing with a nagging injury he got in an AHL training camp. It keep him from playing up to his potential and also resulted in some missed games. So the first week in December was when JF got back into the lineup for good and was only 20^th in team scoring. His been slowing climbing up through the ranks ever since, making it to 8^th by the end of January.
        Even though JF had a four point night, he would only get the #3 star for the night. This is because it was a big game for the entire Jackals team with them dominating the game, winning 8-1 over Port Huron. JF started his scoring by getting an assist on Elmira's 2nd goal in the first period. They lead the game 4-0 after the first period and the second period went scoreless for both teams. During the third period already leading 6-1 and having 2 assists on the night, JF Boutin scored twice within 3 and a half minutes. The second goal was unassisted with the radio announcer raving about the move JF made to score the goal.

12-15-2003
JF Boutin Named Elmira Jackals Player of the Week

        Elmira Jackals Press Release.     J.F. Boutin - LW     3 GP, 1 goal, 6 assists, 7 pts, +7, 17 PIMs
        J.F. Boutin suffered a lower abdominal strain early in the season, which sidelined him for almost five weeks. In just his second week back, Boutin has started to show signs of his immense offensive talent. J.F. had two assists in each of the three games this week, as well as scoring his first goal of the season on Saturday vs. Flint.
        Boutin had 7 points (1 G, 6 A), had with a team high +7 in the week, and amassed 17 penalty minutes, being involved in one fighting major where he earned an undeniable decision against Flint’s Ryan Rome. Boutin has also established himself as a key member of both the Jackals’ power play and penalty killing units.
        Honorable Mention: Goes to Peter Aubry, for earning Jackals Goaltender of the Week. 3 GP, 3-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .945 SV%, 103 saves. Congratulations are also due to Randy Murphy, who scored the Jackals first Shorthanded goal of the year on Saturday against Flint, the eventual game winner.
 
        Note from Webmaster: For those unfamiliar with JF's playing style, in the past when starting with a new team he usually starts out slow in scoring until he gets in sync with his new team mates. He will then start getting assists when he gets used to feeding passes to his line mates, and then later he will start scoring goals of his own. Also, congratulations go out to Peter Aubry for being named the UHL Goaltender of the Week.

10-7-2003
Elmira Jackals Announce Signing JF Boutin

        Elmira Jackals Press Release.     The Jackals announced today the signing of 6’0, 210 pound forward J.F. Boutin.
        Boutin spent parts of the 2002-2003 season with both Johnstown of the ECHL and Saint John of the American Hockey League. In 47 games for Johnstown, the Fleurimont, Quebec native had 20 goals and 38 assists, along with 144 penalty minutes. Boutin scored 3 goals and added 11 helpers in 27 games with Saint John in 2002-03.
        “J.F. is an incredible goal-scoring talent, and is a strong candidate for spots on both the first line and top power play unit,” said Jackals Head Coach Todd Brost. “He is a pure scorer, who should fill an offensive void that the club was missing last season.”
        Boutin was amongst the scoring leaders of this year’s Syracuse Crunch training camp. In 4 preseason games the 26 year-old left wing had 2 goals, 1 assist and 6 penalty minutes. One of his goals was on the power play, and both were game-winners.
        Over the course of his six years in professional hockey, Boutin has spent most of his ice time in the ECHL, but has also seen action with Orlando of the IHL, along with Saint John and Worcester of the AHL. His 17 playoff goals for the Peoria Rivermen in the 1999-00 season remains an ECHL record.

10-6-2003
JF Boutin Gets Included in Crunch Final Cuts

        Rather than restating the story, here is a quote from Dave's Unofficial Syracuse Crunch Page. He states things very well, so there is no sense in me butchering it.
 
        The surprise cut from Monday was long-time minor leaguer J.F. Boutin. The Quebec native played well in the preseason displaying some above average speed and also the ability to bury the puck. He was second on the Crunch with two goals in the preseason, both of which served as game-winners.
        In the off season Boutin toyed with the idea of heading overseas prior to hearing about the Crunch’s interest, but with the success he had last season in Saint John, 14 points (3g,11a) in 27 games, he decided to give it one more shot.
        “Last year is why I decided to stay,” stated Boutin. “I played the most I ever had in the AHL. I didn’t play much in the beginning, but the last ten games I played on the first line and played well.”
        Boutin may be gone for now, but don’t be surprised to see him again if the injury bug hits or if the Crunch are in need of a little speed. It can’t hurt to have a player of his caliber waiting in the wings.

10-3-2003
JF Boutin in Syracruse Crunch Training Camp

        JF Boutin is once again attending an AHL training camp. This season he is in the camp of the Syracuse Crunch who are affiliated with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets. According to Toby OBrien (JF's coach when he was with the Johnstown Chiefs), "I watched him the other night against Binghampton and he had the game winner 4-2 open net...he had 3 goals in 3 games. The uncertain labor situation here (in the ECHL) though did force him to sign in the UHL in Elmira...but I know Syracuse is taking a long look at him and I hope he gets a shot." There has yet to be an official release from the Elmira Jackals on the signing of JF.
        Boutin's status has been uncertain since the folding of the Saint John Flames at the end of last season. It had been rumored prior to the season's opening of training camps that JF was going to play in the European leagues this year, but this was mostly just something being spread around the Johnstown area. JF had talks with several AHL teams before winding up in the Syracuse camp. Since arriving in camp he has been putting on a good performance, scoring a point in each of the 3 pre-season games and the game winner in the come from behind rally mentioned earlier. An interesting picture was posted on the Crunch web site showing JF playing in a Blue Jackets uniform in a scrimmage game. This appears to be their preseaon uniform.