Sports Stories


Bourne's sons show support

By Jayme Blaschke

ALBUQUERQUE -- Central Texas head coach Bob Bourne has more playoff experience
than anyone else in the Western Professional Hockey League, having won four 
consecutive Stanley Cup championships with the New York Islanders during his 
NHL playing days.

Even so, the Stampede is taking no chances. Reenforcements have been brought 
in--Bourne's sons, Jeff, 17, and Justin, 14. If one Bourne was enough to get 
the team into the playoffs, imagine what three can do.

"This is the sixth game we've seen," said Justin Bournes, a Kelowna, British 
Columbia native who, along with his brother, are visiting this week on spring 
break. "We came down earlier, in January, and we caught a few games then. We're 
back down until Sunday.

"I haven't seen New Mexico play yet," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing 
them play in this series."

Although his father retired from the NHL when Jeff Bourne was eight, Jeff said 
he still has vivid memories of the famous Stanley Cup victories. When his father 
left hockey after retiring, there was obviously something missing, he said.

"I think it's good for him. That's where his heart is," Jeff Bourne said. "He's 
really going to do something with this team in the future. I'm just glad to see 
him back in hockey.

"I think he makes a good coach because the players on the team look up to him," 
he said. "That's what my brother and I like to see--him leading."

Seeing Central Texas play New Mexico in the first round wasn't something the 
family had planned on originally. When travel arrangements were made, it looked 
like Austin would be Central Texas' first-round opponent, which would've given 
Bob Bourne nearly a week to spend on leisure activities with his sons. Jeff 
wanted to see how the bass were biting at Lake Belton and Stillhouse Hollow, 
while Justin is an avid golfer.

"It feels great to have them here. Of course, our original plans were a little 
different," Bob Bourne said. "We were going to spend all week in Temple if we 
played Austin, so Justin could get in some golf and Jeff could get some fishing 
done. It's a great experience for them to be here in New Mexico, though. These 
two have been all around North America in their lives, but New Mexico is a new 
experience for them."

Apart from golf, Justin Bourne plays for Westside in the Bantam Rep hockey league 
back in Canada. Playing right wing, like his father, he would one day like to try 
his hand in the NHL--or the PGA tour. His two favorite hockey teams are, of course, 
the Stampede and the Islanders, but he stops short of picking one over the other.

"It's kind of tough to compare the two--the Stampede is my favorite minor-league 
team, that's for sure," Justin Bourne said. "I think they're awesome. It's just a 
great group of guys, and they have good character."

Jeff Bourne expects to see a tough, physical series with New Mexico, but said the 
Stampede is capable of taking it to the next round.

"This team has a lot of character," he said. "They may have a dumb penalty here 
and there, but they're going to do something here--they're a real good team.

"I think it's going to be a bump-and-grind series, no doubt. We've just got to 
stay out of the penalty box, even though we hate these guys," Jeff Bourne said. 
"Our players have got to keep their cool. If they do, we'll take them in six."

While Bob Bourne the coach wouldn't look kindly upon it if any of his players 
made such a bold prediction, Bob Bourne the father doesn't mind his sons' 
confidence quite as much. Both are huge hockey fans, and having them rinkside 
for an extra pair of playoff games is just an added bonus.

"It's been great for me, because I don't get to see them much during the winter," 
Bob Bourne said. "Both of them love hockey and like to see what I'm doing.

"Growing up, they got used to being around hockey. Both of them spent a lot of 
time around my teams and in the locker room," he said. "Both of them got to sit 
in the Stanley Cup. Both of them want to see me happy. This is where I should've 
been the last seven years."

--The Temple Daily Telegram, March 19, 1996