Derek Boogaard, Canadian hockey player (Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers), died from a accidental overdose of alcohol and oxycodone he was , 28.

Derek Boogaard was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played for the Minnesota Wild and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL) died from a accidental overdose of alcohol and oxycodone he was , 28.. Known primarily as a fighter and enforcer, his nicknames included "Boogeyman" and "The Mountie". He was voted as the second most intimidating player in the NHL, behind now retired Georges Laraque.



(June 23, 1982 – May 13, 2011)

Playing career

A native of Saskatoon, Boogaard played Major Junior Hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Regina Pats, Prince George Cougars and Medicine Hat Tigers. After recording 9 points and 245 penalty minutes with the Cougars in 2000–01, he was drafted in the 7th round, 202nd overall, by the Minnesota Wild in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.
Midway through the 2002–03 season, he turned pro and joined the Louisiana IceGators of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). He then spent two seasons with the Houston Aeros before earning a roster spot with the Wild in 2005–06.
By the end of 2009, Boogaard had played four and a half seasons with the Wild tallying 2 goals (both scored in his first season) and 492 penalty minutes.^[3]
On March 7, 2010, Boogaard was suspended for 2 games for a knee on knee hit to Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Jones.^[4]
On July 1, 2010, Boogaard signed with the New York Rangers for $6.5 million over four years.^[5] His last NHL shift ended at 17:29 of the first period in a December 9, 2010, game against the Ottawa Senators, when he suffered a concussion in a fight with Matt Carkner, and he never recovered sufficiently to play again.^[6]

Role as an enforcer

Boogaard's knockout of fellow enforcer Todd Fedoruk in a fight during a game against the Anaheim Ducks helped spark debate over increasing the punishment for fighting in the NHL. During this fight, Boogaard landed a brutal punch to the cheek sending Fedoruk to the ice. As a result, Fedoruk had to undergo surgery to reconstruct his shattered cheek using titanium plates. Fedoruk and Boogaard would later become teammates in Minnesota during the 2007–08 season.^[7] On November 6, 2005, Boogaard knocked out the Mighty Ducks' enforcer Trevor Gillies with an uppercut to the jaw.^[8]
Boogaard and his brother Aaron, who plays hockey for the Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League, ran the Derek and Aaron Boogaard Fighting Camp in Regina, Saskatchewan, for children aged 12 to 18. This sparked some controversy, with some people siding with the Boogaards, saying that they are teaching children how to not get hurt in a fight, and others opposing them, with the position that the Boogaards' camp encourages children to fight.^[9]

Death

On May 13, 2011, Boogaard was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment by family members. He was found unconscious and not breathing. Minneapolis Fire Department members were the first to arrive, and they pronounced him dead.^[10] He was a month short of his 29th birthday.^[11]
Although there were no indications of a homicide transpiring, Minneapolis homicide detectives were nonetheless assigned as part of the investigation. An autopsy was performed, the results of which a medical examiner in Minnesota ruled that Boogaard's death was accidental and was due to mixing alcohol and oxycodone.^[12] His family agreed to donate his brain to the Sports Legacy Institute, which, with Boston University Medical School, study the brains of athletes in contact sports, especially with regards to the degenerative brain condition chronic traumatic encephalopathy since 2008.^[13]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1999–00	Regina Pats	WHL		5	0	0	0	17		—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Prince George Cougars	WHL		33	0	0	0	149		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Prince George Cougars	WHL		61	1	8	9	245		6	1	0	1	31
2001–02	Prince George Cougars	WHL		2	0	0	0	16		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL		46	1	8	9	178		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Medicine Hat Tigers	WHL		27	1	2	3	65		—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Louisiana IceGators	ECHL		33	1	2	3	240		2	0	0	0	0
2003–04	Houston Aeros	AHL		53	0	4	4	207		2	0	1	1	16
2004–05	Houston Aeros	AHL		56	1	4	5	259		5	0	0	0	38
2005–06	Minnesota Wild	NHL		65	2	4	6	158		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Minnesota Wild	NHL		48	0	1	1	120		4	0	1	1	20
2007–08	Minnesota Wild	NHL		34	0	0	0	74		6	0	0	0	24
2008–09	Minnesota Wild	NHL		51	0	3	3	87		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Minnesota Wild	NHL		57	0	4	4	105		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	New York Rangers	NHL		22	1	1	2	45		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				277	3	13	16	589		10	0	1	1	44

 

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