First of all there was confusing over just who he was. While his name was Frederick George Bourgdinon, he was often known as Fred Bergdinon. It seems to be a case of misinterpretation.
Then there was confusion over where he was from. A lot of early resources insisted he was born Minnesota in 1906. But his family corrected the hockey world many years after he exited the hockey scene, He was actually born in Parry Sound, Ontario.
His exact birthdate was a long time mystery even. It was not until the internet age with digitized birth records that researchers determined he was born on June 22nd, 1906.
The fact that hockey researchers looked into him at all is a small miracle, as for quite some time there was confusion if ever played in the NHL at all. Again, it wasn't until digitized newspaper records came along that researchers confirmed that Bourgdinon actually did play two games with the Boston Bruins in 1925-26. Most original hockey records somehow omitted him, but he is now properly included.
Interestingly, there seems to be little to prove that Bourgdinon ever played before arriving in Boston. There seems to be some evidence that he played on a junior team in Parry Sound, but no statistical evidence exists of him playing anywhere else.
Bourgdinon never played anywhere after his two games with the Boston Bruins. Why is that? The story is his career ended in game two after a thunderous bodycheck delivered by Nels Stewart, breaking all the ribs on one side.
Bourgdinon settled in Windsor, Ontario and took on many jobs, including truck driver and at a Ford factory. He also worked on the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit.
On March 18th, 1955, Fred, 89, and his son John, 50, were killed in an automobile accident.
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