John branch, author of a threepart series in the new york times called punched out. No one told him that, those times when he blacked out or when he got punched in the head or fell and hit his head or whatever, that those were concussions and that they were all going to be potentially adding up. Boy on ice tells the sad story of the rise and fall of an nhl enforcer. Over six months, the times examined the life and death of the hockey player derek boogaard. Shows us, in tender detail, a life consumed by our unholy appetites. The fight that catalyzed derek boogaards hockey career took place when he was legally still a child. Boogaard book reveals sad story of nhl enforcer sportsnet. The life and death of derek boogaard tells the sad story of a largerthanlife manchild who struggled to fit in on and off the ice. Derek boogaard was so much more than just the 68, 240 lbs pistonfisted ice locomotive we saw on the ice. L, he fought his way to centre ice as an enforcer and quickly became one of the n. Branch, who documents boogaards troubled life in a new book, notes that boogaard fought at least 61 times over an nhl career that spanned 277 regularseason games and produced three goals, assists and 589 penalty minutes. Derek boogaard did not make a career out of fighting so people could use his death as a means to stop hockey players from doing it the new york times recent publication of punched out a. Fight club the life and death of derek boogaard the new york times uggprock on dailymotion. The life and death of derek boogaard by john branch explores the rise and fall of the nhl enforcer.
On the fourth anniversary of derek boogaards death, a look back at the addiction issue it raised in the nhl. The life and death of derek boogaard by john branch. Punched out is a critical journalistic piece that utilizes the principles of hearing both sides and has harris using the internet to release her source material. The tragic death of hockey star derek boogaard at 28 was frontpage news across the country in 2011 and helped shatter the silence about violence and concussions in professional sports. The official cause of death was an accidental drug and alcohol overdose. John branch joined the new york times in september 2005 as a reporter in sports. Boy on ice is an expanded version of his 2011 series punched out, which. The nhl, as much as theyd like to say they take concussions seriously, never explained to derek boogaard what a concussion really was. Boogaard wasnt really on the ice to score, but to delve out punches and to win dirty with all the repercussions and concussions this had for his head. Just 28 at the time of his death, boogaard was the nhls most feared pugilist. The tragic death of hockey star derek boogaard at twentyeight was frontpage news across the. Boy on ice tells the sad story of the rise and fall of. John branchs book highlights the unique power that careful.
Suit filed by derek boogaards parents against nhl thrown out by judge. Derek boogaard gave everything he had to a sport that ultimately destroyed his life. Boy on ice powerfully explores the tragic life of hockey enforcer derek boogaard. The author also joined bill littlefield on only a game. Derek boogaard was one of the most respected, admired, and revered individuals in the realm of hockey fighting the nhl had been graced with over the past 20 years boogaard possessed the. The life and death of derek boogaard i was struck by what a large figure boogaard presented. The sad rise and fall of derek boogaard globalnews. The sudden death in 2011 of national hockey league enforcer derek boogaard shocked the hockey world in ways that continue to resonate today. The life and death of derek boogaard due out this week. The first time i looked at the dust jacket of john branchs new biography of former hockey player derek boogaard, entitled, boy on ice. The content and theme of this book in fact will touch your heart. Part 1 a boy learns to brawl part 2 blood on the ice part 3 a brain going bad one of the best sports articles ive ever read about the very tragic life and death of derek boogaard.
He was named the boogeyman the story of derek boogaard. In 2011, at the age of 28, boogaard was dead of an accidental overdose. Perfect kickbacks behind little affordability boy on ice. The book says boogaard and an nhl substance abuse counsellor exchanged seven texts the night before he. Branchs 2011 series punched out, about derek boogaard, a professional hockey player valued for his brawling, shed light on the sports embrace of potentially braindamaging violence. Boy on ice the life and death of derek boogaard john branch. Boy on ice powerfully explores the tragic life of hockey. The life and death of derek boogaard quill and quire. Years after his sons death, len boogaard on quest to end.
Boy on ice raises deep and disturbing questions about the systemic brutality of. Derek boogaard book tells sad story of largerthanlife hockey enforcer. Derek boogaard wants to break your face mens journal. Derek boogaard was a canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played for the minnesota wild and the new york rangers of then. Derek boogaards death example of nhls path to drug. Remembering derek boogaard, hockeys lovable enforcer. The life and death of a hockey enforcer by john branch. Derek boogaard fought his way to center ice as one of the n. New york times reporter john branch chronicles the downfall of enforcer derek boogaard in his new book boy on ice. In addition to concussions, there were strained muscles and tendons, a. The new york times examined the life and death of the professional punched out.
The life and death of derek boogaard to find a customer baseprior decide to purchase rule boy on ice. Untitled derek boogaard project movie is currently in announced. Punch by punch, pill by pill, the dread mounts in john branchs brilliantly reported account of derek boogaard, a modernday gladiator who gave everything for a career in hockey, not least of all his hauntingly short and quietly kind life. June 23, 1982 may, 2011 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 a native of saskatchewan, where he grew up in several different communities as the son of a mountie, he was known. Boogaard, he points out, was never the most talented player on his minor hockey teams, but that he was a big obstacle planted in front of the goal to gum up the opponents.
A former minor league hockey player and former physicians assistant were arrested on tuesday in connection with the 2011 overdose death of new york rangers tough guy derek boogaard. Branch, who documents boogaards troubled life in a new book, notes that boogaard fought at least 61 times over an nhl career that spanned 277. In a compelling and upsetting threepart series, branch offers a detailed. Boy on ice powerfully explores the tragic life of hockey enforcer. This article is more than 5 years old this excerpt appears in boy on ice. But nobody predicted how far and how fast the boogeyman would fall. Derek boogaard went nearly five years without a goal. Suit filed by boogaards parents against nhl thrown out by. Derek boogaards tragic story told in boy on ice mpr news. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on derek boogaard. Derek boogaard had chronic traumatic encephalopathy when.
Branch, who documents boogaard s troubled life in a new book, notes that boogaard fought at least 61 times over an nhl career that spanned 277 regularseason games and produced three goals, assists and 589 penalty minutes. Punched out april 2, 2012 by john branch, josh williams, marcus yam, shayla harris over six months, the new york times examined the life and death of the professional hockey player derek boogaard, who rose to fame as one of the sports most feared fighters before dying at age 28. Len boogaard, father of late nhl player derek boogaard, sits in a spare bedroom at his home on jan. That is why, after a separation from len boogaard when derek was 16, she took out a second mortgage on the house, to finance. The life and death of a hockey enforcer dead of an accidental overdose at 28, derek boogaard rose from western canadas rugged youth leagues to become on of hockeys most feared pugilists. Boogaard book reveals sad story of nhl enforcer in this nov. The author stays objective, not taking sides in the fighting in hockey debate. Boy on ice gives the reader an objective view of boogaard s life from childhood until his tragic death at the young age of 28. Boy on ice gives the reader an objective view of boogaards life from childhood until his tragic death at the young age of 28. The tragic death of hockey star derek boogaard at twentyeight was fron. The life and death of a hockey enforcer, joins bill to.
The series won several awards, including a dart award for. Derek boogaard book tells sad story of largerthanlife. By josh williams, john branch, shayla harris, andrew kueneman, becky lebowitz hanger, jacky myint and marcus yam. John branch of the new york times the pulitzer prizes. The life and death of a hockey enforcer tv miniseries documentary. Derek boogaard had chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he died. Boogaard passed away this past summer from an accidental overdose of alcohol and sleeping pills. Initially a hockey liability, boogaard found a role in protecting his teammates. The life and death of derek boogaard, by john branch, w. Hes basically using boogaards death for his own agenda. The life and death of derek boogaard tells the sad story of a largerthanlife manchild who struggled to fit in on and off the ice as an nhl enforcer. Within a year, derek would have teeth knocked out and be prescribed vast amounts of painkillers by team doctors, branch, a pulitzer.
The first article of a threepart series revisits his childhood and his progression from boy to brawler. While this is an excerpt, i expect the rest of his book will be like this. This stretching to justify the stories hes trying to spin to make himself look like a hero, and his enemies, terrible people. Theres a world of new ideas in every books newsletter. The life and death of derek boogaard kindle edition. Focus has made a deal for the new york times article punched out. This role of enforcer exposed boogaard to repeated. The new york times examined the life and death of the professional hockey player in 2011. Boogaard fought more than 100 times, starting at 16, before he reached the nhl. Branch is a sports reporter for the new york times and is best known for his pulitzer. Yeah, even many books are offered, this book can steal the reader heart consequently much. The life and death of derek boogaard ecommerce, take advantage of easy on the pocket sexy a definite boy on ice. Branchs book should be required reading for profighting pundits, as well as fans who jump out of their seats to cheer when players bludgeon each other. Now, acclaimed reporter john branch tells the shocking story of boogaards life and heartbreaking death.