Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Boughner Lending Helping Hand to Best Friend

Boughner and Bob Jones met playing junior together

Published

11 months ago

May 19, 2023

Bob Duff

Red Wings assistant coach Bob Boughner and Ottawa assistant coach Bob Jones are longtime friends.

When they first met all those years ago, it was Bob Jones who was lending a hand to Bob Boughner. Jones was a veteran defenseman with the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Boughner was the hot-shot rookie rearguard, the Soo’s first-round pick.

The two became a tandem on the Greyhounds defense. They’ve remained a tandem ever since.

They car pooled to games together. Spent endless hours talking hockey over coffee. Coached together in the junior ranks, leading the Windsor Spitfires to multiple Memorial Cup titles. Stood up in each other’s wedding party.

All in 4 ALS comes to Windsor Saturday August 12th. For more information please visit https://t.co/XQgMocwuRu ❤️ Thank you for supporting Bob. @Senators @DetroitRedWings @hockeynight @spittinchiclets @NHL @OHLHockey @Sunnybrook pic.twitter.com/FOfAmuzmRv

— Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) May 17, 2023

Now, in Jones’ time of need, it’s Boughner who is stepping in with the helping hand. In December, Jones, an assistant coach with the Ottawa Senators, revealed that he was suffering from ALS. To help his longtime buddy, Boughner, associate coach with the Detroit Red Wings, is putting together a charity game this summer in Windsor, Ontario to serve as a fundraiser for Jones and the cause of defeating ALS.

On Saturday, August 12, the All-In For ALS Fundraiser will see two teams of NHL players contest a charity exhibiiton game at Windsor’s WFCU Center.

Boughner, Jones Were Both Red Wings Draft Picks

Both Boughner (32nd overall) and Jones (179th overall) were part of the legendary Red Wings draft class of 1989. Jones never made it to the NHL as a player. Boughner did, but not with Detroit.

Several of their former Spitfires players who’ve gone on to starring roles in the NHL will be returning for this charity event. The list includes Taylor Hall (Boston Bruins), Adam Henrique and Cam Fowler (Anaheim Ducks), Gabe Vilardi (Los Angeles Kings), Zack Kassian (Arizona Coyotes) and Mikhail Sergachev (Tampa Bay Lightning). Current Senators and Red Wings players are also expected to participate.

Tickets for the game will go on sale May 20.They can be purchased online at wfcu-centre.com or in person at the WFCU Centre box office.

The entire proceeds from the event will benefit the ALS clinic at Sunnybrook Foundation in Toronto, which supports research and treatment for the disease.