by By Dan Ninham
Gaabi Boucha is a sophomore at Warroad High School in Warroad, MN. He is a three-sport athlete in football, hockey, and baseball.
“My Anishinabe name is Gaabimasiget and translates to The Sun Rises Each Day,” said Gaabi Boucha. “I’m Atik (Elk) Clan and an enrolled member of the Northwest Angle Band #37 in Ontario.”
“I like to compete simply for the love and enjoyment of the sports I play,” said Gaabi.
Gaabi was the running back this past football season. As with many high school athletes, he started playing at a young age. “I started playing in the fourth grade in our local youth football program,” said Gaabi. “I wait all year for football season. In the off-season I work on skills that will carry over or what I wasn’t satisfied with and can improve on.”
“I set several goals this past season. I set the goal of gaining 1000 yards rushing in the short season,” added Gaabi. He finished with 252 yards with 44 carries in four games.
“One football memory that was exciting was attending the NDSU Football Camp with hundreds of players and being awarded an Elite Camper Award,” said Gaabi.
Gaabi plays hockey for the Warroad Warriors. He is a 6-2 and 215 lb. center and enjoys playing a physical game. He is a two-time 2019 Bantam State Champion that plans to bring the experience to the high school level.
He missed the first few weeks of the season for the filming of the ‘Way of the Warriors,’ a hockey film that is being filmed in Eveleth, MN. “I have a character role as one of the 20 players on the team,” said Gaabi. “I’m super excited for the movie experience.”
“Gaabi was cast as a member of the WARRIORS team,” said movie producer John Montague. “His character, Brendan, is a high school senior. It is a major role in the film. His grandfather, Henry Boucha, will be featured as a WARRIORS legend in a cameo role.”
“The production was suspended due to COVID surge and restrictions. Filming will resume later this year,” added John.
Grandfather Henry Boucha, 69, is Ojibwe and was a former professional hockey player in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association between 1971 and 1977. Internationally, Boucha played for the American national team at two World Championships and was a silver medalist for Team USA in the 1972 Winter Olympics. Boucha was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame.
“Gaabi and I are in the movie ’Way of the Warriors’ and Gaabi has a great role, and is not shy,” said grandfather Henry Boucha. “Producer John Montague, of Minneapolis, wrote, directs and produces the movie. Gaabi will do well. I will do a cameo appearance. I consulted with John early on about the legitimacy of the Ojibwa culture and gave my thoughts on the Warriors.”
The ‘Way of the Warriors’ is potentially a major motion picture with a top billed cast. According to it’s website: “Led by an inspired coach and his two sons, a high school hockey team from a small mining town in Northern Minnesota overcomes great challenges on and off the ice to win an improbable state championship.”
“Gaabi has always been athletic, and as a kid like most others he likes to be outside, play and run and explore. He is very coordinated, driven and picks up concepts quickly, has great eye-hand coordination and thought for the game. A few things I noticed is that he is unafraid and will move forward without fear,” added Henry.
“I once watched Gaabi play seventh grade football,” said Henry. “Gaabi was their place kicker, they scored a touchdown, Gaabi hurt his right leg during the play but was supposed to kick the extra point. The coach was wondering what to do, and Gaabi said, ‘don’t worry I will kick it with my left foot.’ Although skeptical, the coach let him do it, and sure enough he kicked it through the uprights. I was astounded, and said to my daughter Tara, ‘I thought he was right footed.’ She said with a laugh that he is.”
“Although he loves to play all sports, his dream is to play in the NFL. He is big, strong and talented, much bigger and faster than I was at that age. He has the discipline to get his schoolwork done and strives to complete his dreams and goals,” added Henry.
Most star high school athletes showed promise at a young age by putting in the time and energy to prepare for the future. “He stood out in middle school football,” said Gabe Richards, Warroad HS head football coach. “Bigger and faster than those around him. Fun to watch.”
“Gaabi has always been a very competitive and natural athlete,” said mom Tara Boucha. “As a parent, I have always supported any type of physical activity he was interested in and I have enjoyed watching him over the years.”
“Growing up, Gaabi would go from one activity to another all day long depending on the season,” said Tara. “He was always moving and trying to top what he had done the day or week before. When he was younger he spent hours on the trampoline figuring out how to do any kind of flip he could … front flips, back flips, and double back flips. Then he started doing flips from the trampoline to the ground. After that, he started doing back flips around the yard. Once he felt he mastered those, he added catching a ball mid-air while doing a back flip. It has always been the same concept for any physical activity he did. He always wanted to take his skills to the next level and has been self-driven.”
“I have known Gaabi since he was a baby,” said Jaimie Snowdon. “I have been his coach and teacher over the years. In the classroom he is a hands-on student. He is very good at creating with his hands. He is above average at beadwork, really pays attention to detail. I coached him in hockey when he was in Squirts. At that time he showed leadership on the ice and a passion to compete.”
“I also had the privilege of coaching him for two years in junior high school football. He has a very high football I.Q. He sees the field very well. He sees the game in angles. He instinctively knows when running the ball if he should cut it up or continue to run for the corner. Watching him run the ball is like watching a ballerina,” added Jaimie.
“Gaabi is very light on his feet and he is able to squeeze through holes by adjusting his hips to the line of scrimmage,” said Jaimie. “He is a combination of Le’Veon Bell and Derrick Henry. He can also use his speed and strength to run you over. When it comes to athletics his limits are boundless. He also plays baseball in the spring and is also a decent basketball player.”
Warroad HS teacher Jennifer Dahlen said: “There are two things I immediately associate with Gaabi: his ability to focus on one thing even though the room may be full of noise and distractions, and his humility. The first class I had Gaabi in, he seemed very outgoing and full of questions. Some may have seen that as a problem, but I soon realized that he was trying to see how many angles he could approach a problem from. As soon as he was satisfied about the parameters of his assignment, he got to work and was able to focus solely on the task in front of him. He’s done that consistently for years, and when he decides it’s time to work, nothing can interrupt his progress.”
“The second thing that stands out about Gaabi is his humility. He was in my class for months before I even knew he was in sports and the reason I found out was because he was wearing a State Champion Bantams hat in class. He said nothing about it. It was a new hat, and I stared at it for awhile before I asked, ‘Are you in hockey?’ Yes. ‘Are you on that team?’ Yes. ‘Did you guys win the state hockey tournament?’ Yes, this weekend. And then he went back to work like it was nothing. Gaabi has maintained that humility and never brags or boasts about himself or his ability in sports.”
“Growing up with Gaabi we have always been very competitive with each other,” said sister Sky Boucha. “We have always been really close and that fed into us being competitive. He’s always been the epitome of athleticism. The one difference between Gaabi and I was I love to golf and at first he wasn’t a big fan. I was fortunate enough to be able to witness Gaabi golf for the first time. Not only did he out-drive me but completely out-played me in every aspect of the game.”
“He amazed me at the pure athleticism that he exemplified that day and that’s something I’ll never forget. He ended up beating me by at least 10 strokes and I had been taking golf lessons for years and that was the first time he had ever stepped onto the course,” added Sky.
“All through high school I worked as a life guard at the local indoor and outdoor pool,” said Sky. “When Gaabi wanted to start working he went though lifeguard training. The lifeguard test as a whole takes around a full day to complete from a swim and dive test to the written exam. I told Gaabi that he would need to start swimming in order to make it under the required time to complete the laps. We went to the pool one day before the exam and he made it with four minutes to spare. He got out of the pool and wasn’t even tired and I asked him if he thought it was hard and he replied ‘no, I thought I was going slow.’ I was shocked because that exam was something I had to train for in order to make the time limit.”
“Gaabi has always been an extremely well-rounded athlete and was interested in a wide variety of sports growing up,” said older sister Shalese Snowdon. “My favorite sports story of Gaabi’s is his passion for lacrosse starting at age nine or 10. He watched the movie ‘Crooked Arrows’ that is about a Native lacrosse team and instantly was hooked on lacrosse. Despite not having a local team, Gaabi spent countless hours in the backyard perfecting his game. Gaabi would attend lacrosse camps and the coaches would be in disbelief that he didn’t play on any team because of how good he was.”
“While Gaabi’s passion for lacrosse faded as he got older the skills he gained flooded into Gaabi’s other sports. It was extremely noticeable how much stronger his hockey shot got during his lacrosse years from whipping the ball at the lacrosse net all day. Gaabi’s ability to learn skills from being self-taught has transitioned into football and allowed him to become a gifted player. He is a great example of how cross training and being a multi-sport athlete pays off,” added Shalese.
“The biggest highlight for me as a varsity student athlete is putting the Warroad jersey on and being able to represent my community,” said Gaabi.
Gaabi said: “I have several different interests and long term goals, but for now … I’m hoping it is on some coaches’ college football or hockey roster.”
Photo Credit: Tara Boucha
Very good write up Henry was a great Hockey player Gaabi is not alone. 194os – 50s Max Oshie Buster (Alvin) Oshie were the greatest Warroad High school Hockey players . Buster in the 9th grade was on the 1950 Minnesota State Hockey Team, Sister Joan was a Great Cheer leader . Sam Gibbons was another Star Hockey Player for Warroad, All full blooded Ojibwe Indians . Plus many more.
Ie remember seeing Henry play in the Minnesota State HS tournament many years ago. He was wonderful. Glad to know he is doing well and that his grandson is following in his footsteps!