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Bourque brothers looking to reunite with Rangers

New York Rangers v New Jersey Devils

Ryan Bourque

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Chris and Ryan Bourque may be minor league mainstays to this point in their respective careers, but both are hoping they can make a case for NHL roster spots and reunite with the New York Rangers this season.

If you’re wondering about the last name, yes they’re both sons of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque.

Ryan, originally a third-round selection of the Rangers in 2009, signed a new contract with the Rangers last week. The 23-year-old is coming off a season where he scored a career-best 21 goals and 37 points in 74 games for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL.

Chris, the elder of the two, signed a one-year deal with the Rangers on July 2, which will pay him $600,000 at the NHL level should he make the team. At 28, Chris is the more experienced of the two having appeared in 51 NHL games with Washington, Pittsburgh and Boston. Originally a second round selection of the Capitals in 2004, Chris split last season between the KHL and Switzerland. He did however have 10 goals and 38 points with the Providence Bruins during the 2012-13 season, his last in North America. Chris added a goal and three helpers in 18 games with Boston that season.

“It’s going to be an awesome experience,” Ryan Bourque told Blueshirts United Tuesday. “There’s not many fields out there, or even in sports, where someone can experience something like this. We always said growing up that we would want to do this if we could. The fact that it all fit in and worked out this year is incredible. It’s definitely going to be an unbelievable experience and we are definitely excited about it.”

With the loss of key players up front such as Benoit Pouliot, Brian Boyle and Brad Richards, Ryan, who is a center, is hoping there’ll be opportunities come training camp.

“Every camp provides an opportunity, but this is really a big year for me,” he said. “This is an opportunity for me to get serious looks to see if I can make a difference. I am going to try and make the most of the opportunity because there are spots to be won.”

Though it’d be a nice story, it’s doubtful both Chris and Ryan make the defending Eastern Conference champions roster out of training camp. The blue shirts added NHL veterans Matthew Lombardi and Tanner Glass, among others, in free agency.

But if it’s any consolation, they could be reunited with the Rangers’ top farm club, the Wolf Pack for 2014-15.

Related: Boyle: ‘There’s going to be some pressure’ joining Rangers

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