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(Hamilton head coach Guy Boucher directs traffic at the Bell Centre from the left side of the bench, while assistant coach Martin Raymond is pictured on the right and team captain Mathieu Darche (#21) is sitting on the left. PHOTO BY ANDREW DOBROWOLSKYJ)

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By Kevin Mio

(reprinted in part courtesy of The Gazette)

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MONTREAL – When Guy Boucher was named head coach of the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs this summer, it caught some people by surprise, including Boucher. He was coming off a successful season as head coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs, who won their first Quebec Major Junior Hockey League title in 28 years, and he had just signed a new five-year deal with the team. Through 15 games this season, the Bulldogs are 9-2-1-3 under Boucher. The Gazette recently spoke to the 38-year-old from Notre Dame du Lac.

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A few excerpts of that interview are posted below.

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Assistant coach Martin Raymond and yourself both played hockey at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, with Raymond coaching the Redmen as well. Does the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ experience influence you at all in the way you approach coaching?

Well, it certainly does. First of all, some of our degrees are the same. We both have a masters in sports psychology, so obviously we are at the same level in that respect. Being at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, we developed a relationship when we were there. I knew him before going to ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ and I played with him at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ on his line when I was a rookie and it was his last year. He was an incredible leader. Then we coached together at ±«ÓãÖ±²¥, and over the years we not only stayed in contact, but he is one of my best friends. The thing with Marty is he is extremely hard-working and very intelligent guy and has a lot of ideas. He is probably the best devil's advocate that I know, so I need that, I need people that are going to challenge me and bring new ideas.

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Do you have a ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ necktie like Mike Babcock of the Red Wings?

I used to have one and lost it, so I guess as some point somebody is going to send me one. But up to now, I am still waiting for it. (Boucher received a tie when the Bulldogs played here on Nov. 6.)

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The Boucher File

Age: 38

Home town: Notre Dame du Lac.

Family: Boucher and his wife, Marsha, are the parents of three children: son Vincent and twin daughters Mila and Naomi.

Playing career: Was with the ±«ÓãÖ±²¥ Redmen from 1991-95, recording 51 goals and 121 points while earning arts and engineering degrees from the university followed by a master's degree in sports psychology from Université de Montréal. Spent the 1995-96 season playing professionally in France with the Viry-Essonne club.

Coaching history: Was an assistant coach with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Rouyn-Noranda Huskies from 1997-2000, before becoming head coach of Midget Triple-A Lac St. Louis Lions from 2000-02.

Rejoined the QMJHL as an assistant coach with the Rimouski Océanic from 2003-06, winning the President's Cup and a berth in the Memorial Cup in 2005.

Was head coach of the Drummondville Voltigeurs from 2006-09, winning the President's Cup and a berth in the Memorial Cup in 2009. Was also an assistant coach with Team Canada's gold-medal squad at the 2009 world junior championship and was awarded the Paul Dumont Trophy as the QMJHL's Personality of the Year after the 2008-09 season.

On June 29, 2009, was named the eighth coach in the history of the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs.

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