On Thursday September 10th, the Rapid City Rush announced the signing of Canadian defensemen Shawn Boutin. The two sides agreed to terms on a standard player contract for the upcoming season. After spending the last four seasons in Europe, Boutin makes the trip to South Dakota, adding both experience and intelligence to the blue line.
The Rush will be the third ECHL team that Boutin has played for since joining the league. The 2020-21 season will be Boutin’s ninth playing hockey at the pro level.
Before he made the jump to pro, Boutin spent five seasons playing with the Val-d’Or Foreurs in the QMJHL. He was an assistant captain there for three seasons and graduated to captain in his overage season. Boutin also played one season for the Arizona Sundogs in the Central Hockey League. This was before signing with the Stockton Thunder.
Boutin then began his pro hockey career, signing his first contract in the ECHL. He made his debut with the Thunder before later joining the Idaho Steelheads. During his rookie season, the righty logged 13 assists while adding another eight as the Thunder reached the playoffs. Compiling a total of 21, he helped guide the team to the Kelly Cup Final.
After another season and a half in Stockton, the 30-year-old was traded, being shipped out north to the Idaho Steelheads. The defensemen played 99 games for Idaho while also serving as assistant captain. During that span with the team, he added a Plus/Minus rating of +24.
The following season, Boutin began his European tour by signing with Coventry Blaze in the UK’s EIHL. There, he recorded five goals along with seven assists for a total of 12 points. He did so in 62 games.
The year after, he played for Dresdner in Germany’s DEL2 league before returning to the UK. He’d play there for the next two seasons on the Dundee Stars as an assistant captain. During the 2019-20 postseason, Boutin recorded six assists in seven games played before the playoffs were cancelled. This of course the case due to COVID-19 which halted play internationally.
In total, Boutin has played 585 games of professional hockey. This includes 258 of which he’s spent in the ECHL. Along the way, he has served as a leader in several countries for numerous teams. He will look to bring that leadership to the Rapid City Rush in 2020-21. Boutin will also provide a steady presence on the hockey club’s backend.
Boutin joins Gabe Chabot, Peter Quennville, Joey Sides and Bo Brauer as recent signings made. The 2020-21 season is scheduled to begin on the fourth of December.