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Benjamin Shingler
Telegraph-Journal

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More than a year after Luc Bourdon's tragic death, organizers are hoping a fundraiser in his honour will help his grieving hometown move forward.

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A message of condolence marks the site of a fatal crash in which budding NHL star Luc Bourdon died.

The hockey star was killed in May, 2008, when his motorcycle collided with a transport truck near his Shippagan home. More than 2,000 people attended the funeral, held at the local arena where Bourdon first laced up his skates.

Proceeds from a golf tournament this Saturday in Pokemouche will go toward the Luc Bourdon Foundation, a charity devoted to helping sick children and supporting academic and sports programs for youth.

"It's been a really difficult year for everyone," said Dave Cowan, a friend of Bourdon and president of the golf tournament's organizing committee. "What we're trying to do is help the village in the way Luc would have, and did, while he was alive."

The pride of Shippagan, Bourdon was a top draft pick for the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks and was a dominant force in junior hockey, helping Canada win two World Junior Championships.

He was on his way to becoming a regular defenceman with the Canucks, after a rookie season that saw him split time between the Canucks and their AHL farm team, the Manitoba Moose.

The rising NHL star died instantly in the crash. He was 21.

More than 200 people are expected to participate in the tournament and a banquet Friday night, including Kristopher Letang, a close friend of Bourdon's who won the Stanley Cup this year with the Pittsburgh Penguins. So, too, are Vancouver Canuck Alex Burrows and several of Bourdon's former junior hockey teammates.

It's not the first event to be organized in Bourdon's honour.

Last weekend, Luc Bourdon's former junior team, the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, held a golf tournament in Memramcook and raised $8,100 for his foundation.

Suzanne Boucher, Bourdon's mother, and Charlene Ward, Bourdon's girlfriend at the time of the tragedy, both attended the tournament.

"Obviously, it's really great for so many former Wildcats to come back here and put on this event in Luc's memory,'' Ward said at the tournament.

"Suzanne and I are really happy about this. Luc would be so proud of all his former teammates that they're here for him and to raise money in his name for his foundation."

- with files from Canadaeast News Service