Boy on Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard

by John Branch

  Derek’s two primary girlfriends, the two loves of his life, deserve special recognition. Janella D’Amore and Derek were together for about three years, stretching from his stint in Medicine Hat through his first season in Minnesota. Janella shared intimate memories of two young people in love, on a crazy journey from obscurity to wealth and fame.

  Erin Russell and Derek became intimately involved early in Derek’s second NHL season, about the time of his knockout punch to Todd Fedoruk. They had several years together, through the ups and downs of fame, fortune, and the tangled web of personal problems that Derek encountered, including substance abuse. In his final year, Derek hoped to win Erin back, and the two had their most pleasant exchange of many, many months shortly before he died. Erin, reluctant to participate in the story, eventually provided a two-hour phone interview after I inadvertently discovered her waiting tables at a Minneapolis bar and restaurant and introduced myself.

  With the permission of the Boogaard family, the doctors and experts at Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy opened their files on Derek and showed me Derek’s brain. Dr. Ann McKee, Dr. Robert Cantu, Dr. Robert Stern, and Chris Nowinksi helped educate me on brain science, the mystery behind concussions, and the precise damage Derek’s brain absorbed during his 28 years.

  Finally, Len Boogaard deserves a special section, because so much of this book could not have been written without his help. In the wake of his son’s death, the longtime Royal Canadian Mounted Police member began his own investigation. He tirelessly uncovered a paper trail of Derek’s final year or two, lined with the types of documents mostly available only to next of kin, and shared it for the purposes of telling Derek’s story.

  He requested—and, in most cases, received—Derek’s medical reports and files from team doctors of the Wild and Rangers, including notes from trainers and prescriptions from doctors. He requested and received Derek’s pharmacy records from drugstores in Minnesota and New York, mostly various outlets of Walgreens and Duane Reade that Derek frequented.

  He painstakingly combed through Derek’s phone records, making a directory of contacts by calling numbers he did not recognize and seeing who answered. He collected Derek’s bank records and credit-card reports. He received copies of Derek’s drug tests, which showed which drugs the league’s substance abuse program was testing for, and the results. He received Derek’s file from Authentic Recovery Center, the Los Angeles rehabilitation clinic where Derek spent most of his final few weeks. (Founder and program administrator Cassidy Cousens was among those I interviewed.)

  By overlaying the data—doctor’s notes, prescriptions received, drug tests taken, and bank records—Len’s research created a deeply woven arc of highs and lows and, ultimately, the death of his son. It also became the foundation of a wrongful-death lawsuit that the family filed against the NHL in 2013, which was slowly wending its way through the American court system at the time of publication.

  For those people, and all the others with a stake in Derek’s life and an aching from unanswered questions, their trust and insight will forever be appreciated.

  PHOTO CREDITS

  FRONTISPIECE: Courtesy Joanne Boogaard

  PAGE 14: Courtesy Joanne Boogaard

  PAGE 19: Courtesy Joanne Boogaard

  PAGE 35: Courtesy Joanne Boogaard

  PAGE 76: Brent Braaten/Prince George Citizen

  PAGE 140: Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images

  PAGE 150: Bruce Kluckhohn/Minnesota Wild

  PAGE 157: Andy King/Bruce Kluckhohn Photography

  PAGE 188: Andy Devlin/Getty Images

  PAGE 227: AP Photo/Jim Mone

  PAGE 259: Andre Ringuette/Getty Images

  PAGE 306: AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Mark Taylor

  INDEX

  Page numbers listed correspond to the print edition of this book. You can use your device’s search function to locate particular terms in the text.

  Page numbers in italics refer to illustrations.

  acetaminophen, 182, 207

  Agridome, 61, 68, 101, 138, 212

  Air Canada Centre, 251

  Air Canada Cup, 64

  Alberta, 27, 165, 223, 230

  Alcoholics Anonymous, 294

  Alzheimer’s disease, 319

  Ambien, 126, 169, 182, 189, 200, 207, 209–210, 211, 212, 214, 220, 238, 243, 245, 262, 263, 265, 267, 268, 269, 271, 272, 274, 276, 283, 284, 291, 292, 315

  American Hockey League (AHL), 115, 116, 118, 123, 124, 125, 129, 130, 131, 134, 137, 148, 171, 204, 208, 224, 240, 258

  see also specific AHL hockey teams

  Anaheim Ducks, 137–138, 148, 156, 167, 180, 216, 217, 222

  in 2007 playoff series vs. Wild, 4–6, 7, 8–9, 10, 172–175, 187

  Anderson, John, 131

  Archbishop O’Neill High, 66

  Arkansas RiverBlades, 108, 109

  Armstrong, Jason, 40

  arthritis, 109

  Ashley (Derek’s female acquaintance), 298, 300, 301, 302

  assists, 2, 4, 10, 61, 80, 87, 108, 128, 130, 139, 173, 187, 189, 201, 229, 248, 324

  Astor & Black, 293, 299

  Atlanta Thrashers, 92, 129–130

  Authentic Recovery Center, 290–295, 298–299

  Avery, Sean, 248

  azithromycin, 256

  Bailey, Ace, 56–57

  Bala, Chris, 122

  Baldwin, Howard, 59

  bantam-level hockey, 40, 41–42, 44–47, 71, 90, 96, 104

  Barnes, Ryan, 130

  baseball, 44, 51, 52, 62, 189, 201, 231

  basketball, 51, 52, 62, 200, 231

  Baskin, Timothy, 315

  Battle of the Blades (reality series), 322

  Battle of the Hockey Enforcers (pay-per-view tournament), 124–125, 247

  Baum, Dan, 88

  Bedford Veterans Administration Medical Center, 305, 324

  Belak, Graham, 187

  Belak, Wade, 187–188, 190, 221–222, 321–322

  Bertuzzi, Todd, 145

  Bettman, Gary, 52, 59, 322, 323–324

  Beukeboom, Jeff, 237

  billet families, 74–76, 79–80, 83–85, 86, 93, 100–101, 102, 104, 161

  Billington, Leah, 316

  Biron, Martin, 259

  Bois, Danny, 216

  Boll, Jared, 216

  Bonds, Barry, 189

  Bone, Jason, 80

  Boogaard, Aaron Nicholas, 19, 26, 35, 39, 60, 65, 68, 70, 119, 149, 161–162, 163, 165, 175, 196, 204, 207, 208–210, 232, 238, 239–241, 293, 296–298, 299, 314, 317–318, 324

  arrest of, 317

  Derek in skirmishes with, 104–105, 178, 193, 240

  Derek’s close relationship with, 129, 162, 194, 208, 239, 297–298

  Derek’s death and, 303–304, 315

  Derek’s final hours with, 300, 301–303

  at Derek’s funeral, 309–310, 312–313

  Derek’s prescription drug abuse and, 208, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 267, 296, 300, 316

  Erin distrusted by, 209, 239–240

  hockey career of, 90, 104–105, 128–129, 175, 194, 204, 208, 211, 240–241, 243, 317, 318, 320

  investigation into Derek’s death and, 315–316, 317

  workouts and training of, 129, 178–179, 193, 208, 238, 297, 317

  Boogaard, Bill, 17, 18, 26

  Boogaard, Derek Leendert, 77–78, 159–160, 228–230, 295–300

  Aaron’s close relationship with, 129, 162, 194, 208, 239, 297–298

  academic struggles of, 29–30, 40, 75, 77, 83, 84, 85, 292

  adolescence of, 2, 32, 38–48, 65–69, 70, 74, 75–80, 83–86, 149, 249

  affairs and sexual exploits of, 160–161, 163, 164, 293

  aggressive and violent plays of, 45, 64, 89–90, 94, 95, 100, 101, 109, 156, 173, 222, 257, 311

  angry oubursts of, 45–46, 64, 95, 96, 100, 241, 289

  anxiety over move to New York of, 237–238, 239, 240, 244

  apartments and condos of, 4, 114–115, 120, 12
1, 160, 164, 165, 194, 204, 223, 237, 238, 266, 267, 269, 281, 282, 284, 295–296, 302

  as approachable to fans, 162–163, 191

  assault charges against, 163

  ATM withdrawals of, 261–262, 264–265, 274, 282, 283, 284, 286, 301

  autopsy report on, 314–315

  as avid cyclist, 196, 208, 312

  back problems of, 3, 8, 127–128, 143, 171, 182, 183, 186, 195, 203, 214, 229, 240, 245, 316

  bantam-level tryouts of, 39, 40

  barhopping and nightlife of, 79, 104, 161–162, 163, 167, 190–192, 208, 209, 221, 238, 239, 263, 264, 274, 281, 286, 297, 298, 300, 301–302

  billet families of, 75–76, 83–85, 93, 100–101, 102, 104, 161

  birth of, 18

  blurred vision of, 137, 201, 264

  boxing of, 41, 83, 117, 129, 176–179, 193, 204, 293, 297

  boyhood-level hockey played by, 3, 13–14, 14, 18–20, 21–22, 26, 27, 30, 33, 35, 36, 37, 95, 307

  boyish, immature behavior of, 161–162, 263

  brain damage found in, 8, 325–327

  broken noses of, 8, 178, 227, 228, 245, 255, 258, 260, 264

  building drug tolerance in, 207, 314

  bulldogs loved by, 120–121, 159

  charity work of, 197, 237, 244, 310

  childhood of, 3, 6, 13–14, 14, 18–20, 19, 21–22, 24, 26, 27, 28–38, 35, 159, 185, 269, 278, 292, 307, 308, 311

  chronic pain of, 8, 9, 126, 186, 210, 240, 260, 265, 280, 292, 293, 294–295, 316

  in clashes with authority figures, 64–65, 74, 79–80, 84–86, 102, 119, 231, 249, 284

  clumsiness and lack of agility in, 29, 37, 42, 67, 78

  coaching mentors of, 40, 41–42, 84, 118, 119, 198, 202, 249

  company and companionship sought by, 101, 194, 208, 244, 256, 265, 266, 278, 282, 310

  concealment of pain and injury by, 8, 82, 101, 178, 184, 186, 263, 290

  concussions and head injuries of, 3, 8, 143, 170, 201, 203, 229, 245, 255, 260–261, 264, 265–266, 267, 272, 273, 279, 284, 288, 292, 294, 296

  contracts and salaries of, 4, 9, 107, 115–116, 118, 154, 174–175, 222, 228, 229, 230, 249, 270, 288

  cool and aloof on-ice persona of, 2, 6, 139, 148, 149, 157, 172, 173, 218, 222, 224, 251

  CTE symptoms displayed in, 277, 325, 326

  damaged hands of, 3, 8, 81–82, 108–109, 113, 126–127, 128, 139, 143, 168, 195, 245, 252, 255, 315, 316

  death of, 303–304, 310, 315

  depression of, 220, 267, 268, 269, 277, 284, 292

  diminishing role with Wild of, 202, 216, 217, 221, 225

  diminishing work ethic in, 198, 209, 211, 288

  drinking by, 79, 92, 162, 163, 164, 280, 285–286, 291, 292, 301, 314

  in drug rehabilitation centers, 214–215, 216–217, 218, 222, 225, 242, 256, 267, 268, 269, 272, 279, 289, 290–295, 297, 298–299, 314, 323

  drug tests of, 220–221, 256, 257, 262, 265, 267, 269, 271–272, 275–276, 283, 286, 291, 298, 314

  ejections of, 46, 95

  emotional tolls of fighting on, 9, 140, 152, 157–158, 193–194, 318

  equipment and gear used by, 3, 48, 53, 72, 93, 107, 121

  Erin’s relationship with, 167–168, 192, 202–204, 205, 209–210, 211, 217, 218, 225, 232, 239–240, 243, 244, 256–257, 263, 266, 292–293, 295, 297

  facial injuries of, 8, 82, 83, 86, 137, 171, 178, 188–189, 190, 206, 227, 228, 245, 252, 255, 256, 258, 260, 264, 322

  fame of, 8, 177, 204, 239

  family background of, 14–18

  fan popularity of, 1–2, 7, 87, 101, 122, 131, 133, 139, 149, 174, 229, 244, 268, 269, 307, 324

  Fedoruk’s facial injury caused by, 8, 156–158, 157, 159, 167, 173, 179, 180, 181, 202, 278, 280

  Fedoruk’s unlikely friendship with, 183–186, 277–279

  fighting stats of, 7–8, 69, 80, 88, 100, 106, 113, 123, 133, 148, 173, 181, 201, 229, 324

  fighting-style and strategy of, 67, 74, 110, 178–179, 224

  final hockey fight of, 257–260, 259, 279

  final hours of, 300–303

  “flipping the switch” in, 104, 193, 195, 255

  “fogginess” in head experienced by, 268, 318

  free agency of, 228–231

  frequent trips to Long Island of, 262, 264–265, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 295

  funeral of, 306–314

  games missed due to injuries of, 126, 168, 169, 170, 171, 182, 183, 184, 201–202, 229, 245, 255

  gentle, mild-mannered nature of, 33, 42, 101, 103, 104, 118–119, 121–122, 167, 177, 184, 197, 200, 202, 263, 281, 285, 308, 312, 313

  growing self-confidence of, 94, 104, 150

  headaches of, 245, 264, 265, 267, 273, 281, 283

  hockey-career ambitions of, 80, 83, 87–88, 101–102, 114, 118, 122, 129, 269

  hockey players idolized by, 37–38, 88, 134

  homesickness of, 74, 243–245, 266, 273

  on Houston Aeros, 116, 117–119, 122, 124, 125–128, 129–131, 134, 150, 174, 198, 258

  humble, unassuming nature of, 139, 149, 160, 167, 174, 196, 197, 198, 202, 224, 311

  improvement and development of skating skills in, 131, 134, 139

  increasing lethargy in, 199, 209, 211, 221, 257, 267, 272, 273, 281, 285, 288

  increasingly erratic behavior of, 209, 221, 265–266, 268, 277, 280–281, 282, 285, 286, 289, 301–302, 326

  injuries inflicted by, 8, 55, 87, 148, 156–158, 157, 159, 167, 173, 179, 180, 181, 202, 203, 278, 280

  inquisitiveness of, 78–79, 150, 185, 224, 312

  intimidating on-ice presence of, 1, 7, 8, 64, 87, 108, 131, 134, 168, 179, 229

  investigation into death of, 315–317

  Janella’s relationship with, 97–99, 103, 105, 114–115, 118, 119–121, 122, 128, 159, 160–161, 163–166, 192, 203–204, 302, 309

  junior-league fights of, 54–55, 60, 64, 66–69, 73, 74, 76–77, 76, 80–82, 86–87, 88, 95, 97, 101, 103–104, 106, 169–170, 250

  at junior-league training camps, 53–55, 59, 66–67, 103, 138

  as lacking all-around hockey skills, 37, 67, 78, 88, 115, 123, 154, 198

  large physical build of, 2, 6, 13–14, 18–20, 22, 29, 30, 32, 37, 38–39, 40, 41, 42, 48, 53, 66, 72, 75, 78, 83, 84, 90, 101, 103, 107, 115, 138, 151, 152, 169, 179, 184, 195, 196, 214, 311, 312

  Laurie’s relationship with, 263–264, 265, 274, 285–286

  limited ice time of, 2, 4, 7, 8, 59, 64, 67, 76, 100, 102, 150, 168, 198, 229, 246, 247, 249

  loneliness of, 10, 256, 266, 268, 269, 273, 277–278, 280, 301–302, 310

  long-lost half-brother of, 96–97, 105, 204–205

  loose and erratic spending habits of, 116, 160, 161, 205, 244, 264, 269, 274–275, 281, 283, 285, 293, 295, 296, 298, 301, 311

  loss of physical coordination in, 211, 289, 291

  on Louisiana IceGators, 4, 107–111, 112–113, 115, 224

  media’s friendly relations with, 174, 197, 244, 272

  on Medicine Hat Tigers, 98, 100, 101–105, 224

  on Melfort Bantam AA team, 41–42, 44–47

  mental decline and forgetfulness of, 203, 209, 211, 257, 261, 268, 277, 325

  Messier’s pep talk with, 286, 288

  minor-league fights of, 108–111, 113, 123–124, 126–127, 128, 129–130, 137, 258

  in minor-league playoff series, 128, 130, 131

  in minor-league training camps, 118

  missing teeth of, 3, 10, 82, 140, 161, 187, 188, 197, 221, 251, 322

  molding into “enforcer” role of, 2, 6–7, 40, 41, 42, 48, 117–118

  mood swings of, 209, 257, 268, 270, 277, 281, 282, 289, 301–302, 326

  in multiplayer brawls, 86, 103–104, 109–110, 113, 130

  NHL drafting of, 92–93, 94, 100, 103, 117, 129, 133–134, 242

  NHL fights of, 7–8, 9–10, 137–138, 139, 140, 147–148, 149, 150–152, 156–158, 157, 159, 167, 169–172, 175, 181–182, 187–188, 188, 190, 201, 217–218, 221–222, 226–228, 227, 250, 251–253, 254–256, 257�
�260, 259, 279, 321–322, 324

  NHL prospects of, 102–103, 118, 119, 120, 122–123, 131, 133–134, 198

  in NHL substance abuse program, 10, 213–215, 216–217, 218–221, 222–223, 242, 243, 252, 256, 257, 262, 265, 267, 268, 269, 271–272, 275–276, 283, 286, 291, 294–295, 298–299, 300

  at NHL training camps, 2, 93, 94–95, 97, 99, 108, 132–134, 163, 211, 241, 246, 247

  nicknames of, 2, 32, 47, 67, 72, 101, 122, 138, 184, 191

  off-ice events and public appearances attended by, 149, 150, 164, 174, 197–198, 210–211, 310

  off-season jobs of, 91

  opponent strategies for fighting against, 168, 179, 226

  parental support in hockey career of, 18–19, 21–22, 33, 34, 35–36, 41, 60, 61, 101–102, 139, 159

  parents’ deteriorating marriage and, 65, 70, 75, 83, 84, 91, 97, 292

  penalty minutes of, 4, 87, 88, 101, 106, 113, 128, 130, 131, 168, 173, 229, 324

  personality changes in, 197, 198–199, 203, 209, 210, 221, 223, 225, 230, 257, 281, 285, 286, 326

  physical appearance of, 2–3, 14, 149

  poor physical conditioning of, 211, 246, 247, 249, 273, 288

  popularity with teammates of, 149–150, 174, 197, 269

  post-concussion syndrome of, 261, 263, 264, 265–266, 273, 284, 292, 294

  posthumous brain examination of, 305–306, 315, 318, 320, 324–327

  post-rehab “aftercare plan” contract of, 218–219, 221

  in pregame confrontations, 8–9, 256

  prescription drug use of, 10, 126, 127, 169, 182, 185–186, 189–190, 200, 206–207, 208–210, 211–215, 220–221, 225, 230, 238–240, 241–243, 244, 245, 247, 252, 255, 256, 257, 261–263, 265, 266, 267–269, 271, 274, 276, 281, 282–284, 285–286, 289, 291–293, 295, 296, 297, 300, 310, 314, 315, 316–317, 322, 326

  in preseason fights, 54–55, 94–95, 133

  on Prince George Cougars, 70–71, 72–74, 75–78, 79–82, 83, 85–90, 95–96, 97, 100, 113, 170, 224, 250, 269, 281

  quirky sense of humor of, 78, 149, 224, 310, 312

  quixotic quests and fixations of, 119, 120, 164, 198, 269, 311

  Rangers’ distant and strained relationship with, 246, 249, 267, 269, 273, 278, 284, 288, 291, 294, 299

  rare offensive output of, 2, 4, 10, 80, 87, 88–89, 101–102, 105, 108, 113, 122, 123, 128, 130, 131, 138–139, 147, 154, 161, 173, 187, 189, 201, 229, 246, 248, 253–254, 324