Quick Facts
SagittariusBiography
Justin Bourne (born December 12, 1982) is an American sportswriter. Formerly a professional ice hockey player, he has additionally coached professionally, most recently as an assistant coach for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.
Playing career
Bourne played collegiate hockey for University of Alaska Anchorage before ending the 2006-07 season with the ECHL's Alaska Aces. He was signed the following year by the Utah Grizzlies, going on to score 10 goals and 10 assists in a 17-game stretch, and playing in the 2008 ECHL All-Star game.
Writing career
Bourne's writing career began after a serious jaw injury forced him into retirement. In his first year as a columnist for USA Today, his piece on stopping the use of gay slurs in sports encouraged Brendan Burke to tell his story. Alongside USA Today, his articles have been featured across brands including Greg Wyshynski's Puck Daddy, The Hockey News, Hockey Primetime, as well as various other newspapers and websites.
Bourne eventually joined The Score as a featured writer and stats analyst, as well as an editor for The Score's hockey blog Backhand Shelf.
He is currently a senior hockey columnist for The Athletic.
Coaching career
On November 25, 2015, Bourne left his position at The Score to become an assistant coach for the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, working with the team's video coaching for two seasons.
Personal
Bourne's father Bob Bourne won the Stanley Cup four times as a centre for the New York Islanders. Bourne is currently married to Brianna, daughter of former NHL all-star Clark Gillies.
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2001–02 | Vernon Vipers | BCHL | 60 | 26 | 29 | 55 | 31 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Vernon Vipers | BCHL | 60 | 32 | 44 | 76 | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | University of Alaska Anchorage | WCHA | 40 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | University of Alaska Anchorage | WCHA | 37 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | University of Alaska Anchorage | WCHA | 35 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | University of Alaska Anchorage | WCHA | 37 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Alaska Aces | ECHL | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 2007–08 | Utah Grizzlies | ECHL | 50 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2007–08 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 16 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Reading Royals | ECHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Idaho Steelheads | ECHL | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| AHL totals | 16 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
Awards and honors
| Honours | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| ECHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2008 | |