Boy on Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard Read online

  Gilmour, Doug, 37, 38

  goals, 61, 80, 87, 88–89, 101, 105, 106, 113, 139, 154, 161, 187, 229, 253–254, 324

  Godard, Eric, 73, 80, 169–171

  golf, 91

  Grand Rapids (AHL team), 127

  Grand Rapids, Mich., 125

  Graves, Adam, 237

  Green, Ted, 57

  Gretzky, Wayne, 61, 116, 230, 286

  Grimson, Stu, 146

  Hafiz, Dillon, 190, 244, 300, 316–317

  Hafiz, Peter, 244

  Hafiz, Stewart, 190, 244

  Hafiz family, 190

  Halcro, Floyd, 40, 41–43, 249

  Halifax, Nova Scotia, 15

  Hall, Adam, 5

  Hamhuis, Dan, 92

  Hanley, Saskatchewan, 23, 24

  Harding, Josh, 101, 150, 175

  Hartford, Conn., 125

  Heide, Curtis, 96–97, 105, 204–205, 223, 230, 265, 312, 324

  Heide, Gladys, 105, 205

  helmet campaigns, 287–288

  Hennepin County, Minn., 314, 317

  Herbert, Saskatchewan, 27–30, 31

  Herbert Hawks, 27, 30

  Heritage Landing, 296

  Hoarau, Eric, 78

  hockey, 20, 22, 33, 40, 55, 141

  bantam-level of, 40–41, 90

  in children’s leagues, 13–14, 21–22, 27, 30, 33, 35, 36, 37

  college, 58, 77, 224

  fighting in, see fights, fighting

  first report of indoor, 49–50

  history and evolution of, 49–52, 56

  rough and violent plays in, 37, 42, 45, 50, 51, 52, 56, 64, 89–90, 94, 95, 100, 101, 104, 109, 112, 142, 145, 156, 172, 173, 174, 182–183, 201, 222, 226, 248, 257, 276, 311

  Saskatchewan culture of, 21, 22, 27

  semi-professional levels of, see junior-league hockey; minor-league hockey

  southern migration of, 111, 149

  see also National Hockey League (NHL); specific teams

  HockeyFights.com, 63, 228

  Hockey Hall of Fame, 57, 145, 287

  hockey players, 98–99, 192

  boxing lessons taken by, 117, 129, 176, 177–179, 192–193

  CTE in, 276–277, 319–320, 323

  Derek’s idolization of, 37–38, 88, 134

  drinking by, 79

  as “enforcers,” see enforcers, hockey

  head injury and concussions in, 5, 50, 56–57, 83, 132, 140–142, 143–146, 170, 174, 201, 276–277, 318–320, 326

  lifetime bans of, 56

  long-term health concerns for, 141

  as molded into specific roles, 6–7, 129

  in NHL drafts, 38, 82–83, 90, 92–93, 94, 101, 116, 117, 119, 123, 128–129, 133–134, 171, 187, 258, 317, 321

  on-ice deaths of, 50, 51

  potential for brain injury dismissed by, 140–141, 143, 146

  premature retirement of, 57, 83, 132, 141, 144, 145, 146, 155, 318–319

  prescription drug use of, 126, 155, 185–186, 200, 221, 225, 284

  puck bunnies and, 79, 98, 120, 162

  from Saskatchewan, 21, 38, 56, 58, 148, 171, 187, 221, 226, 254, 321

  suspensions of, 57, 89, 93, 95, 96, 101, 113, 155, 182–183, 321

  “toughness” as valued in, 9, 143, 145, 155

  see also specific players

  hockey rinks and arenas, 36, 43, 55, 63, 70, 98, 175, 204

  see also specific hockey rinks and arenas

  “Hockey Sweater, The” (Carrier), 22

  Hollweg, Ryan, 182

  Hordichuk, Darcy, 172

  Horner, Red, 57

  Houston, Tex., 118, 120, 121, 125, 160

  Houston Aeros, 116, 117–119, 121, 122, 124, 125–128, 129–131, 134, 150, 174, 198, 224

  Derek’s fights for, 122, 124, 126–127, 129–130, 258

  in playoff series, 128, 130, 131

  prescription drugs supplied by, 127

  training camps of, 118

  Houston Chronicle, 130, 131

  Houston Press, 122–123

  Hudella, Shane, 197–198

  Huskins, Kent, 5

  Hutchins, Jeff, 113

  hydrocodone, 182, 189, 206, 207, 220, 243, 252, 255, 256, 286, 291, 292

  hydromorphone, 283, 286

  Ivanans, Raitis, 124

  Jackman, Barret, 63, 66

  Jackson Bandits, 110

  Jacksonville Lizard Kings, 112

  Johnson, Matt, 94, 117, 132, 147

  Johnson, Trevor, 86

  Johnsson, Kim, 5, 174

  Johnston, Denny, 96, 106

  Johnstown Chiefs, 111

  junior-league hockey, 10, 27, 36, 38–40, 43–44, 63, 65, 71, 77, 83, 93, 98, 107, 138, 139, 143, 171, 175, 183, 187, 223, 231, 258, 278

  as assembly line of players, 93

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

  Derek’s rare offensive output in, 87, 88–89, 101–102, 105, 106

  drinking in, 79

  fights and fighting stats in, 42, 53, 54–55, 59, 60, 63, 66–69, 72, 73–74, 76–77, 76, 80–82, 86–87, 88, 95, 97, 100, 101, 103–104, 106, 108, 109, 113, 169–170, 224, 250, 254, 320

  grueling roadtrips in, 71, 72, 89, 95, 159

  puck bunnies in, 79, 98, 120, 162

  training camps in, 53–55, 59, 66–67, 103, 138

  see also specific junior teams and leagues

  Kaczowka, David, 86

  Kamloops Blazers, 44, 71, 80, 87, 250

  Kansas, 223, 296, 303

  Kansas, University of, 204, 260, 296, 299

  Kelowna, British Columbia, 119

  Kelowna Rockets, 53, 68, 80, 81

  Kelvington, Saskatchewan, 38

  ketorolac, see Toradol

  King, D. J., 171–172, 176, 226–228, 227

  Koci, David, 9–10, 217–218

  Kocur, Joey, 21, 237

  Koharski, Don, 288

  Koivu, Mikko, 92

  Konopka, Zenon, 229

  Kootenay Ice, 86

  Kovalchuk, Ilya, 92

  Krahn, Brent, 105

  Kunitz, Chris, 156

  Lafayette, La., 107, 114, 120

  LaFontaine, Pat, 145, 318

  Lapp, Kevin, 60

  Laraque, Georges, 61–62, 146, 148, 150–151, 152–153, 155, 169, 174, 179

  Laurie (Derek’s girlfriend), 263–264, 265, 274, 285–286

  Laurin, Alcide, 50

  Leacock, Stephen, 20

  Lee, Mike, 82, 86–87

  Leetch, Brian, 237

  Lemaire, Jacques, 4, 6, 7, 95, 132, 134, 168, 172, 173, 202, 206, 223, 249, 308

  Lethbridge Hurricanes, 73–74, 170

  Level 10 Fitness, 83

  Lewis, David, 213, 214, 219, 220, 221, 243, 262, 265, 299, 323

  Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey, 125

  Liles, John-Michael, 311

  Lindros, Brett, 145

  Lindros, Eric, 145, 258, 318–319

  line brawls, 86, 109–110, 112

  lockouts, 129, 130, 132, 133, 145, 192

  Loney, Allan, 50

  Long Island, N.Y., 261, 262, 264–265, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 295

  Lonsdale Boxing Club, 176–179

  Los Angeles, Calif., 214, 217, 223, 281, 290, 293, 297, 298, 299

  Los Angeles Kings, 61, 129, 217

  Loucks, Bob, 100, 103

  Louisiana, 111, 114, 120

  Louisiana IceGators, 4, 107–111, 112–113, 115, 117, 224

  Derek’s fights for, 108–111, 113

  Louisville RiverFrogs, 112

  Love, Mitch, 103–104

  Lubiniecki, Daryl, 72, 79, 93–94, 95–96, 187

  Lundqvist, Henrik, 248

  Lynn, Tom, 107, 132–133, 199–200, 223

  Macaluso, Claude, 260, 264, 271

  MacDonald, Leo, 64, 65

  MacGregor, Roy, 250

  MacIntyre, Steve, 68, 254–255, 260

  MacKenzie, Barry, 102–103

  Madison Square Garden, 56, 180, 232, 237, 242, 245, 247, 248,
250, 253, 254, 268, 283, 287

  Main Arena (Melfort), 31, 43, 44, 175

  major-junior hockey, 38–40, 42, 43, 44, 63, 67–69, 78

  see also Western Hockey League; specific major-junior teams

  Major League Baseball, 201

  Major League Soccer, 213

  Maki, Wayne, 57

  Malibu, Calif., 214, 216, 217, 290

  Manhattan Beach, Calif., 238, 299

  Manitoba, 28, 71, 108, 201

  Manitoba Moose, 321

  Manny’s Steakhouse, 274

  Manson, Dave, 21

  Martin, Rick, 320

  Masson, Charles, 50

  Matsu, Eddie, 128

  May, Brad, 5, 174

  Mayrand, Dean, 125

  McClelland, Kevin, 61, 318

  McCourt, Owen “Bud,” 50

  McDonald’s, 102, 103, 274

  McGrattan, Brian, 151–152, 220, 222

  McKee, Ann, 305, 306, 319, 324–326

  McLellan, Todd, 118–119, 131, 198

  McMorrow, Sean, 123

  McSorley, Marty, 61, 116–117

  Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, 171

  Medicine Hat, Alberta, 27, 100, 102, 120

  Medicine Hat Tigers, 63, 96, 100, 101–105, 106, 112, 224

  training camps of, 103

  Meins, Jerry, 127–128

  Melfort, Saskatchewan, 30–31, 38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 48, 65, 67, 78, 90, 95, 118, 148, 178, 232, 240, 249

  Bantam AA team of, 40, 41–42, 44–47

  hockey rinks in, 31, 43, 44, 175

  Melfort Mustangs, 36, 43–44, 119

  memory loss, 142

  Mennonites, 27–28

  Messier, Mark, 237, 286–288

  Messier, Mary-Kay, 287

  “Messier Project,” 287–288

  Metropolitan State College, 308–309

  Miami, Fla., 111

  Michigan Tech, 224

  midget-level hockey, 61, 64

  Milwaukee (AHL team), 124

  Milwaukee, Wisc., 125

  Minneapolis, Minn., 162, 166, 194, 195, 202, 204, 207, 213, 223, 231, 232, 238, 245, 263, 266, 274–275, 281, 285, 296, 299, 300, 303, 305, 307–308, 314

  Derek’s nightlife in, 162–163, 167, 190–192, 209, 238, 239, 264, 274, 297, 300, 301–302

  investigation into Derek’s death in, 315–317

  Sneaky Pete’s in, 190–192, 208, 239, 241, 243, 263, 264, 268, 273, 274, 296, 298, 300, 301, 316

  Warehouse District of, 190, 293, 301

  Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, 195, 241

  Minnesota, 99, 108, 149, 160, 165, 167, 177, 205, 213, 223, 237, 263, 266, 273–275, 296, 299

  Derek’s homesickness for, 243–245, 273

  Minnesota Army National Guard, 197, 198

  Minnesota North Stars, 149

  Minnesota State Fair, 210–211

  Minnesota Timberwolves, 263

  Minnesota Twins, 190, 196

  Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 195

  Minnesota Vikings, 244

  Minnesota Wild, 91–93, 100, 101, 102, 107, 116, 117, 118, 123, 128–129, 143, 149–150, 159, 160, 162, 175, 178, 180–181, 183, 192, 197, 198, 199, 201–202, 203, 205, 211, 213, 214–215, 218, 222, 223, 224, 228–229, 230, 231, 232, 237, 238, 240, 249, 252, 263, 268, 274, 276, 279, 284, 307, 308, 311, 313, 321

  contracts and salaries offered by, 9, 115, 132, 154, 174–175, 318

  Derek drafted by, 92–93, 94, 100, 103, 117, 129, 133–134, 242

  Derek’s diminishing role with, 202, 216, 217, 221, 225

  Derek’s fights for, 7–8, 9–10, 133, 137–138, 139, 140, 147, 149, 150–152, 156–158, 157, 167, 169–172, 175, 187–188, 188, 190, 201, 217–218, 221–222, 226–228, 227

  Derek’s rare offensive output with, 2, 4, 10, 138–139, 147, 154, 161, 173, 187, 189, 201, 229

  Derek’s rookie season with, 137–140, 147–148, 149, 150–152, 160, 161, 222, 253

  drugs freely prescribed or administered by, 169, 173, 182, 184, 189, 200–201, 206–207, 209–210, 211, 220, 221, 245, 255, 263, 274, 291, 323

  off-ice events of, 149, 150, 164, 210–211

  pregame tribute to Derek held by, 324

  training camps of, 93, 94–95, 97, 99, 108, 132–134, 163, 211, 267

  2006–7 season of, 2, 156–158, 167–175

  2007–8 season of, 9–10, 181–182, 183, 184

  in 2007 playoff series vs. Ducks, 1, 4–6, 7, 8–9, 10, 172–175, 187

  2008–9 season of, 187–190, 201, 224–225

  2009–10 season of, 217–218, 221–222, 223, 226–228

  minor hockey, 307

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

  children’s teams in, 13–14, 21–22, 27, 30, 33, 35, 36, 37

  midget level in, 61, 64

  minor-league hockey, 4, 44, 55, 63, 93, 107, 110, 116, 120, 124, 130, 132, 147, 153, 170, 180, 192, 194, 198, 208, 224, 243, 254, 269, 281, 307, 311, 312, 318, 321

  contracts and salaries in, 115, 118, 125, 174

  Derek’s fearsome reputation in, 110, 111

  Derek’s rare offensive output in, 108, 113, 122, 123, 128, 130, 131, 254

  erratic and mundane schedules in, 125–126

  fights and fighting stats in, 108–111, 112–113, 122, 123–125, 126–127, 129–130, 137, 148, 208, 258

  gimmicks and promotions in, 112, 115, 130

  grueling roadtrips in, 125

  multiplayer brawls in, 112, 113, 130

  supplying and administering of prescription drugs in, 126, 127

  top enforcers in, 123–125, 129–130, 171

  training camps in, 118

  see also specific leagues and teams

  Mississippi Coast Coliseum, 107

  Mississippi Sea Wolves, 107, 112–113

  Mobile Mysticks, 112

  Montreal, Quebec, 49

  Montreal Canadiens, 57, 116, 152, 258, 268

  Montreal Forum, 57

  Moore, Steve, 145

  Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, 27, 39

  Moose Jaw Civic Centre, 60

  Moose Jaw Warriors, 59–60

  morphine, 286

  Multiplex (Prince George arena), 70, 87, 88

  Murphy, Eddie, 79

  Myhres, Brantt, 155, 272

  Nabokov, Evgeni, 138

  Namath, Joe, 286

  Nashville Predators, 92, 111, 221, 322

  Nasonex, 264

  National Football League (NFL), 143, 200–201, 276, 319, 323

  National Hockey Association, 50–51

  National Hockey League (NHL), 1, 7, 19, 21, 51, 55, 56, 64, 79, 80, 103, 109, 112, 114, 129, 132, 133, 134, 154, 166, 168, 180, 194, 203, 208, 223, 254, 269, 270, 273, 276, 278, 279, 307, 312

  brain injury threat as mishandled or dismissed in, 143–145, 146, 287, 323

  contracts and salaries in, 9, 115, 118, 154, 170, 174–175, 223, 229, 230, 248, 249, 270, 321

  culture of “concussion denial” in, 143, 144, 170, 201, 261

  Derek’s rare offensive output in, 2, 4, 10, 138–139, 147, 154, 161, 173, 187, 189, 201, 229, 246, 248, 253–254, 324

  difficulty in reaching level of, 39, 112, 116, 123, 124, 125

  drugs freely prescribed or administered in, 169, 173, 182, 184, 186, 189–190, 200, 201, 206–207, 209–210, 211, 220, 221, 243, 245, 252, 255, 256, 257, 262, 265, 267, 271, 274, 282, 283, 284, 285, 291, 315, 323

  expansion of, 59, 111, 149

  fighting in, see fights, fighting

  lifetime bans in, 56, 272

  1970 Finals of, 200

  official rules and penalties in, 51–52, 58–59, 147, 193, 250, 323

  player drafts in, 38, 82–83, 90, 92–93, 94, 101, 116, 117, 119, 123, 128–129, 133–134, 171, 187, 258, 317, 321

  in response to mysterious deaths of players, 322–323

  southern migration in, 111, 149

  substance abuse program of, see NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program

  suspensions in, 57, 155, 182–183,
321

  2005 lockout in, 129, 130, 132, 133, 145, 192

  violence against referees in, 56, 57

  see also specific players and teams

  Nelson, Rob, 244, 266

  Netherlands, 15, 17

  Neuvirth, Michal, 253

  New Jersey Devils, 145, 223, 286, 288

  Newman, Paul, 55

  New York, N.Y., 4, 10, 94, 231, 232, 241, 242, 246, 256, 257, 263, 264, 265, 267–268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 275, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285–286, 287, 295–296, 298, 299, 316

  Derek as having trouble adjusting to life in, 243–245, 266, 273, 278

  Derek’s anxiety over move to, 237–238, 239, 240, 244

  Derek’s loneliness in, 10, 266, 268, 269, 273, 277–278

  New York Islanders, 119, 145, 146, 170, 180, 183, 244, 247, 255–256, 281

  New York Jets, 231, 244, 286

  New York Knicks, 200, 231, 232

  New York Rangers, 4, 56, 145, 180, 182, 223, 237, 240, 241, 242, 244, 245, 246–247, 250, 260, 261, 262–263, 264, 268, 269–270, 273–274, 280, 281, 284, 287–288, 291, 308, 311, 313, 317

  in confronting Derek’s prescription drug addiction, 243

  contract offered by, 230, 249, 270, 288

  Derek’s decision to sign with, 230, 231–233

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

  Derek’s fights for, 250, 251–253, 254–256, 257–260, 259, 279

  Derek’s offensive output with, 248, 253–254

  drugs freely prescribed by, 243, 252, 255, 256, 262, 265, 267, 271, 274, 283, 284, 285, 291, 315, 323

  1994 championship of, 237, 286–287

  training camp of, 241, 246, 247, 268

  2010–11 season of, 247–256, 257–260, 272–273, 284, 294

  New York Yankees, 231

  NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program, 10, 183, 213, 218–221, 222–223, 242, 243, 252, 262, 265, 300, 323

  “aftercare plan” contract in, 218–219, 221

  Derek’s rehab center stints and, 214–215, 216–217, 222, 225, 242, 256, 267, 268, 269, 272, 279, 289, 294–295, 298–299, 323

  drug testing in, 220–221, 256, 257, 262, 265, 267, 269, 271–272, 275–276, 283, 286, 291

  privacy protected in, 219–220, 291

  NHL Players’ Association (NHPA), 218, 220, 322, 323

  Nilan, Chris, 152, 155

  Nordstrom’s, 274

  Norrie, Jason, 110–111

  North American Hockey League, 223

  North Battleford (bantam-level team), 45–46, 119

  Northern Lights Palace, 43, 44

  Nowinski, Chris, 318–319, 320

  O’Brien, Mrs., 197

  O’Brien, Pat, 195–197, 263, 274

  O’Brien, Shane, 156, 167

  Officine Panerai, 269

  Oklobzija, Kevin, 123

  Olynyk, Ryan, 100

  Ontario, 21, 24, 26, 50, 192