It may be weeks before authorities know exactly how and why New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard died, although foul play was not immediately suspected.

    The 28-year-old player was found dead Friday in his Minneapolis apartment. Few details were available, but the news rippled across the NHL, where the 6-foot-7 Boogaard was a fan favorite and one of the game's most feared fighters. He missed most of last season because of a concussion and shoulder injury from a fight.

    "I don't think we have any answers as to what happened or why it happened," Ron Salcer, Boogaard's agent, said Saturday.

    Authorities received a report of a man not breathing shortly before 6:15 p.m. Friday, Minneapolis police Sgt. William Palmer said. Minneapolis fire officials were the first to arrive and determined he was dead.

    Palmer said authorities do not suspect foul play at this point, but the police department's homicide unit and the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office are investigating. Palmer said the medical examiner will decide the cause of death.

    An autopsy was being conducted Saturday, but county spokeswoman Carol Allis said results probably will not be released for at least two weeks.

    She said in cases with no obvious signs of physical trauma or an obvious immediate cause of death, it takes time to receive results of laboratory tests. Allis said the medical examiner's office doesn't anticipate releasing preliminary autopsy findings until all results are in.

    "The news that we have lost someone so young and so strong leaves everyone in the National Hockey League stunned and saddened," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. "The NHL family sends its deepest condolences to all who knew and loved Derek Boogaard, to those who played and worked with him and to everyone who enjoyed watching him compete."

    Rangers captain Chris Drury said in a statement that Boogard was "a great friend and a great teammate" whose death is a "tragic loss for the hockey community."

    Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that Boogaard was "always joking and having fun."

    "Anytime anything happened or if you needed anything, Boogy was always there," he said. "He was always a pleasure to be around."

    Added Rangers forward Brandon Prust on Twitter: "At a loss for words. I'll miss my roomy Derek Boogaard. You will be missed by everyone. Great friend and teammate."

    Fans, meanwhile, flocked online to express their sadness. For years, fans have been going to YouTube to watch "The Boogeyman" do battle.

    His final game was Dec. 9 at Ottawa when he fought Matt Carkner and sustained a concussion and shoulder injury. That was the 70th fight of his NHL career, and by midday Saturday more than 80,000 people had watched replays of that fight on YouTube.

    Boogaard signed a four-year, $6.5 million deal with the Rangers in July and appeared in 22 games last season. He had a goal and an assist to go with 45 penalty minutes.
Boogaard was out for the last 52 games of the regular season because of his injuries and did not play in the playoffs. He didn't skate again until about three months after the concussion. He was sent home to Minnesota late in the season to work on conditioning.

    In several player polls, Boogaard was voted as the league's most intimidating player. When the Rangers signed him last summer, Sather said the decision was made because Boogaard was "the biggest and toughest."

    He had seven fights with the Rangers. His lone goal of the season came at home against Washington on Nov. 9. That ended a drought of 234 games without a goal, dating to Jan. 7, 2006. It was the longest such streak in the league.

    Boogaard began his NHL career with Minnesota and appeared in 255 games with the Wild from 2005-10. He missed four games with the Wild because of a concussion. With Minnesota and the Rangers over six seasons, he had three goals and 13 assists and 589 penalty minutes.

    Minnesota center Pierre-Marc Bouchard played with Boogaard for five years."Every player on our team felt a little bit more safe with him on the ice with us," Bouchard said in a phone interview. "He was really tough on the ice, but outside the ice he was a great guy."

    Wild media relations coordinator Ryan Stanzel first met Boogaard when he was working the ECHL and Boogaard was assigned to Lafayette, La., in 2002."I remember the first day he was on the ice, he was larger than life," Stanzel said. "He was so much bigger than everybody in that league. He certainly wasn't the best skater in the world, but he worked 45 minutes to an hour every day after practice with the coaches on his footwork."

    San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan coached Boogaard for two years in the minors in Houston."He was a lovable guy that everybody liked," McLellan said. "Obviously mean and nasty on the ice. He'll be sorely missed."

    Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Boogaard was drafted by Minnesota in 2001 in the seventh round, the 202nd choice. He drew notice in 2007 when he and brother Aaron ran a hockey-fighting class in Saskatchewan. Some voiced concern about such a camp. Boogaard insisted he wasn't teaching kids how to hurt each other, but rather how to protect themselves so they don't get hurt on the ice.

    This is the second death of a player in the Rangers organization in the past three years. Alexei Cherepanov, drafted in 2007 but never signed by New York, died at 19 in Chekhov, Russia, in 2008, after collapsing on the bench during a game.

    Roman Lyashenko, who briefly played with the Rangers several years ago, was found dead in a hotel in Turkey in 2003. His death was believed to be a suicide.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Chris Lomon - NHLPA.com

May 20, 2011

    He was one of hockey's most identifiable enforcers, a player with a big presence on the ice and a big heart away from it.
Shane Hudella has all the time in the world to talk about Derek Boogaard, his good friend, the man he refers to as "the epitome of a gentle giant."
Hudella, the founder and president of the Minnesota-based Defending the Blue Line, a non-profit organization created by soldiers whose mission is to keep hockey alive for the children of military heroes, is still reeling over the death of Boogaard, an NHLPA member who was respected equally both inside and outside of the game.

    "I know it's been all over the news, but Derek really was the great guy that everyone has been talking about," said Hudella, of the 28-year-old native of Saskatchewan, who passed away on May 13. "But I don't know if anyone really understood just how passionate he was about making a difference. The work that he did for us was remarkable. He reached out to us and wanted to further our cause."

    Boogaard, who played in the Western Hockey League (WHL) for the Regina Pats, Prince George Cougars and Medicine Hat Tigers, was selected in the seventh round, 202nd overall, by the Minnesota Wild in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

    His physical play and his reputation as one of the game's premier enforcers was certainly well-earned. But despite his imposing size – he stood 6'8" and tipped the scales at 260 pounds – Boogaard was beloved by those he met off the ice, a person whose warm demeanor made him a fan favourite in Minnesota, New York and beyond.

    "He was such a humble guy, someone who truly cared about making a difference," recalled Hudella, of the forward who signed a four-year contract with the Rangers on July 1, 2010. "He looked at playing in the NHL as being a true gift. He enjoyed it all. He loved looking out for his teammates and he took his commitments off the ice with the same passion."

    Brandon Prust, who played with Boogaard in New York, and was roommates on the road with the imposing forward, has similar recollections. "I remember him coming in to training camp and here's this big, tough guy on the ice," said Prust. "He was big and scary when he played, but that's not who he was when the game ended. He was calm and nice, just a great person. He didn't have a mean bone in his body."

    There are countless times, as Hudella recalls, where children that are part of the Defending the Blue Line program, literally and figuratively looked up to Boogaard.

    "Here's a guy that stands 6'8" walking out of the dressing room and the kids look up and see this mountain of a guy," remembered Hudella. "The kids thought he was awesome. He was absolutely there for them in every way. He was a nice, caring man. Derek would be the first one out of the locker room after a game and the last to leave. He would get pictures taken with the kids and they just loved it. He wanted to be there to do that. To them, he was a giant overstuffed teddy bear."

    Prust saw Boogaard in the very same light.

    "He was a big teddy bear, a gentle giant. He was my roommate on the road and I won't ever forget the good times we had. Whether it was watching TV, going out for dinner, or ordering in, we had a lot of laughs."

    Prust was relieved he never had to drop the gloves with his former teammate. "I never did have a fight with him when we played against one another," noted Prust. "There aren't too many guys I wouldn't fight in this league. With Derek, I was genuinely scared of him. I can't say that about anyone else that comes to mind."

    To Hudella, Boogaard was also a close and respected friend. "It's truly sad," he admitted. "But to see the letters and notes we've received…it really is touching. We've had people write to us from 30 different states and provinces across North America and from five or six different countries, sending their thoughts on Derek. It's very comforting to know what people thought of him."

    Boogaard appeared in 277 NHL regular season games, tasked with the unenviable role of squaring off against some of hockey's toughest players at a moment's notice.

    And regardless of how long his career would have gone on for, Boogaard spoke with Hudella about a life in the military once he hung up his skates. "He wanted to be in the military, he talked to me about it a lot," said Hudella. "He was adamant about it. Once he took care of his family and friends, it's what he wanted to do. I remember I once told him, 'Derek, you're 6'8." How are you going to fit in a tank? But he was serious about it."

    Moments after speaking with NHLPA.com, Hudella texted back with one last thought on Boogaard.

    "I think it's good that so many outlets are focusing on what a great man Derek was," noted Hudella. "More people should stop for a minute in today's hectic world and ask themselves, 'What will I be remembered for?' I think Derek did that and the world is a better place because of it."

    There are many, Hudella and Prust included, that don't need any convincing.

Derek Boogaard Memorial Donations

In lieu of flowers, the family of Derek Boogaard requests donations be made to Defending The Blue Line. His family would like to see Derek's legacy live on by supporting military kids & the game he loved. Donations may be mailed to: Defending the Blue Line, c/o Boogaard's Booguardians Memorial Fund, 1206 N. Frontage Road Suite B, Hastings, MN 55033; or made online at www.defendingtheblueline.org.