Ray began his hockey career in the Quebec Junior Hockey League playing for Sorel in the 1976-77 season and followed that up with 2 seasons for Verdun where he managed over a point per game, and was named to the QMJHL First All Star in 1978 and 1979.

In the 1979-80 season Bourque began his career with the Boston Bruins. Bourque played the full 80 game season and notched 17 goals, 48 goals for 65 points, good enough to win him the Calder Trophy and be named to the NHL First All Star Team. In winning the Calder Trophy and being selected to the First All Star Team, Bourque became the first non-goaltender in NHL history to garner both awards. This was Bourque's first of 17 consecutive nods to either the First or Second All Star berths which broke Gordie Howe's previous record, and by the looks of the record books, if Bourque plays in another All-Star game he will break a couple of more records.

Rock solid and steady has been the course of Ray's career. Up to the end of the 1999 season, Bourque had played his entire career with the Boston Bruins, so it's no surprise that he holds the club record for the Most Assists(Career) with 1083, and the Most Points(Career) with 1468, and it would appear that once Bourque finishes his career with Boston, he will overtake Johnny Bucyk for the Most Games Played(Career) record of 1436. Looking back over the statistics sheet, Ray has only been below 50 points in two of his 20 seasons. With numbers like that, it's no wonder that Bourque is a 5 time Norris Trophy winner(1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1994) , only Bobby Orr(8) and Doug Harvey(7) have won the award more times than Bourque. Ray also won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 1992. On January 22, 1992, Ray scored his 265th goal to become the Bruins All Time Scoring Leader for Defensemen, surpassing Bobby Orr. With 385 goals(end of 1999), Bourque was tied with Paul Coffey for Most Goals by a Defenseman and was poised to take over several other Regular Season records for defensemen. Ray also currently(end of 1999) ranks 3rd in All Time Assist Leaders with 1083 and 10th on the All Time Point Leaders with 1468. Bourque collected his 1000th assist on March 27, 1997, making him just the 5th player to reach that milestone, and the second defenseman to do it, behind Paul Coffey.

On December 3, 1987, the Boston Bruins honoured Phil Esposito by retiring his number 7 and at the time, that was Ray Bourque's number. When it came time during the ceremony to officially retire Phil's number, Bourque skated to centre ice, took off the number 7 sweater and handed it to Phil. Underneath Ray was wearing his now famous #77. Although in the NHL for 20 seasons, Bourque has yet to play on a Stanley Cup Championship team, but he continues to work hard. It will only be a matter of time before he is elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.