New York Rangers’ Derek Boogaard’s death comes as a shock for Vancouver Canucks – NHL Updates
The news of Derek Boogaard’s death not only came as a shock to Vancouver Canucks but as a shock to the entire National Hockey League (NHL). Boogaard was found dead in his apartment on the 13th of May with the cause of death found to be a drug
overdose.
Dan Hamhuis, defenseman of Vancouver Canucks, played alongside Derek Boogaard at the junior level from 1999-2002. He expressed his grievances and said that the two of them were very close and good friends.
"It was kind of shocking", Hamhuis said of Boogaard's death on Friday night. "I played with him in junior, and it's certainly very sad. He was a really good guy, certainly very quiet. He played a difficult role being a fighter, and he and I were pretty good
friends in junior. It's sad to see that happen".
Boogaard, who was a very well known player and famous for his fights in the National Hockey League, left around countless questions that would remain unanswered in a mysterious fashion. The thing that has raised many questions as to why fighting is legal
in NHL was partially due to him.
Boogaard laid a strong punch on Anaheim Ducks’ Todd Fedoruk, who was thrown on the ice as a result.
The hit was so hard that Fedoruk had to undergo a surgery that saw him reconstruct his cheek using titanium plates. However, both the players later played for the same team in Minnesota Wild for a season, the 2007-2008 season.
Derek and his brother, Aaron Boogaard, run a training center for young kids where they teach them how to fight from a very young age.
This led many to crticise that the Boogaard brothers are teaching young and innocent children how to fight and hurt each other.
Nevertheless, now that Derek has passed away he is remembered for his good aspects and rightfully so.
An autopsy has taken place and the results of the test are still pending. Boogaard’s family, on the other hand, as a noble cause has decided to donate his brain to the Sports Legacy Institute.
The Sports Legacy Institute in collaboration with the Boston University Medical School, studies brains of players who have gone through a high number of concussions during their career as a hockey player.
Tags: