If you're of a certain age, you remember exactly where you were on September 11, 2001. I was getting ready for my parents' wedding later that day and I watched on in horror as the second airplane hit the second tower. The ripple effects from that day are still woven into the fabric of our society, whether discernable or not. When viewed through a historical lens about Anaheim though, the Ducks were one wrong flight away from losing one of the most successful coaches in franchise history; Bruce Boudreau.
Bruce there it is
Before the now infamous chants in Vancouver, Bruce Boudreau was the head coach of the Anaheim Ducks for five seasons. When the Washington Capitals let Broudreau walk in the 2011-12 season, the Ducks were floundering after a 7-13-4 start under then head coach, Randy Carlyle. Ducks management and ownership were quick to act, unlike today, and replaced Carlyle with Boudreau. While the Ducks still finished last in the Pacific Division that season, they improved to 27-23-8 after the coaching change. The following season, the Ducks finished first in the Pacific Division, which was the first of five consecutive division titles. For all that success though, the Ducks were unable to capture another Stanley Cup in that timeframe and fell agonizingly short in the 2015 Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks. Rather harshly, Boudreau had to bear the stigma of being unable to coach a team to a Game 7 win. In an ironic twist, Boudreau was eventually replaced by Carlyle in 2017, but the Ducks ultimately fell short in the Western Conference Finals against the Nashville Predators, marking the end of an era. Boudreau finished his tenure in Anaheim with a .648 points percentage in the regular season, the best of any Ducks head coach. And for all the flack Boudreau got about the team's postseason performances, he had a .558 win/loss record, which is second best in franchise history.
But, that almost never happened
As recounted by Boudreau on various platforms and in an article from The Athletic in 2021, he was just one wrong flight away never coaching again. In 2001, Boudreau was the head coach of the Manchester Monarchs, who were affiliated with the Los Angeles Kings. Boudreau was scheduled for a flight back to Los Angeles to meet with the rest of the Kings coaching staff, prior to the start of the season. That flight was United Airlines Flight 175, the plane that hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center. Boudreau changed his flight to a day earlier though, to join the Kings coaching staff for a dinner on September 10th instead, escaping a horrible fate. If Boudreau had stuck to the original plan, there would not have been any "Bruce there it is" chants. No Pacific Division titles with the Ducks. All that history, erased.
Never forget
25 years later. At work today, I saw some first responders running a marathon to honor the memory of those lost on 9/11. Some were in full turnout gear; others were just in shorts and tee shirts. The first responders were escorted by fire engines, ambulances, and police cruisers. A simple act. A simple thought. Hug your loved ones. Be thankful. Never forget.
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