Bob Boughner is a retired NHL player who won two Memorial Cups as Head Coach of the Windsor Spitfires.

Boughner was born on March 8, 1971 in Windsor.

A product of Windsor Minor Hockey, Boughner played three seasons for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League under by the former NHL player and coach Ted Nolan. The Detroit Red Wings drafted Boughner in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.

After spending four years in the Red Wings’ farm system, Boughner signed with the Florida Panthers as a free agent. While he played well for the Panthers’ International Hockey League and American Hockey League affiliates, he never appeared for the NHL club.

Boughner was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres in early 1996 and immediately promoted to the NHL. In Buffalo, he protected Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hasek for three seasons. After leaving Buffalo in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft, Boughner went on to spend two years each with the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Calgary Flames, where he was so highly respected that he was named team captain. Boughner then played one year with the Carolina Hurricanes before spending the last two years of his career with the Colorado Avalanche.

Boughner retired as a player in 2006. In 630 career NHL games, he scored 15 goals and added 57 assists for 72 total points. He accumulated 1382 penalty minutes. He added 12 assists and 67 penalty minutes in 65 career postseason games. During his playing career, Boughner was actively involved with the NHL Players’ Association.

Although he is inducted here as an athlete, Boughner’s coaching resume is impressive. He is currently the majority owner of the Windsor Spitfires, where he serves as Head Coach, President, and CEO. Boughner won two consecutive Memorial Cups with the Spits. He spent the 2010-11 season as an assistant coach with the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets before returning to his role with the Spitfires.

Under Boughner, the Spitfires won the 2009 and ’10 Memorial Cups. He was twice named both OHL and CHL Coach of the Year.