Despite serious conviction, Reid Boucher signs deal to continue pro hockey career
Reid Boucher, who pleaded guilty to sexual assault of a minor earlier this year and was let go from the KHL's Lokomotiv Yaroslav because of it, has reportedly signed a new deal for the 2022-23 season.
According to Sport.ru, Boucher has signed on with Avangard Omsk of the KHL, the team he played for before going to Yaroslav.
"The decision regarding Boucher was not an easy one," said Avangard GM Volkov. "We understand the pressure that was put on him at the end of last season, both here in Russia and his homeland. After long conversations and consultations, Boucher announced his desire to play for Avangard."
"We understand Boucher made a mistake," Volkov continued. "Plus, he was underage at the time. It is very important what conclusions a person draws from his mistakes, how he changed. Reid fully realized his guilt. A lot of time has passed since then, and the club decided to give Reid a second chance. Everyone deserves a second chance."
Back in January of this year, Boucher pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his billet sister back in 2011. She was 12 at the time, he was 17. Boucher was sentenced to four months probation and a suspended sentence of one year in jail, provided he successfully completes the probation.
Boucher had signed a two-year deal with Yaroslav in 2021, but was let go before he had completed one season. While the KHL is known to be much more forgiving than the NHL when it comes to a player' past, this seems low even for them. Boucher has never spoken publicly about his conviction or the circumstances that led to it.
Boucher, 28, was drafted in the fourth round by the New Jersey Devils in 2011. He played a total of 133 NHL games with the Devils, Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks before leaving North America in 2020.
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