Long time fan favorite in Minnesota, played his last season with the Rangers. Dead at 28. Too fucking soon for anyone, regardless of what you thought about players of his ilk. R.I.P.
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=365644
ETA: didn’t see the mention in the SC thread. But I think this is worthy of its own thread.
Rest In Peace Boogeyman.
No one has said yet how he died.
He was found in his home wasn’t he?
Read that his family has allowed his brain to be analyzed by the Boston College neuroscience dept. I wonder if this was another Dave Dureson type of thing? The family must be convinced that on some level this is the result of a neurological disorder.
Medical Examiner rules death as “accidental”.
Oh, how sad 
Poor guy, what a shame.
In a weird way, I’m still kind of hoping his death can be linked to concussions, if only to get the NHL to actually do something about dangerous hits to the head and concussion. I don’t think it’s going to happen, though, so we are stuck waiting for someone else to die before people start taking it seriously (because that’s what it’s going to take - a death - since even the threat of the best player in the game having his career ended has resulted in nothing more than band-aid actions). I hate seeing players get hurt
Sports are inherently violent. People need to decide if that’s what they want to do for a living and then accept the risks.
Rules have changed over the years; mandating helmets, for one, which might have changed the outcome for Masterton. Some injuries are unavoidable (Markov’s ankle getting cut by a skate), and sports do have risk that can’t always be removed - I accept that - but some injuries absolutely can be prevented and I believe they should be. There is a “macho” culture which basically means the players aren’t going to make or even ask for the changes themselves, but the league can and should do it. Sure, Crosby might still be out of the game, since I’ll buy the accidental nature of the hits he suffered -they can’t all be prevented. But Savard? If a player can be expected to have full control of the end of a 5-foot long stick (mandatory 2 minute penalty for high sticking, 4 if there’s injury), then I believe it’s entirely reasonable to expect them to have full control of their own fists, elbows, shoulders, etc, with penalties applicable when they fail to do so. A hit to the head is so dangerous, regardless of what angle it comes from.
I love watching this sport, but some of the hits, some of the injuries literally make me feel sick. I realize not everyone agrees with me, but I’m still going to hope that the rules change to make it safer for the players. When it comes to head injuries, it isn’t just about the decade or two (if they are lucky) of a player’s career. It’s the rest of their lives, and I’m increasingly uncomfortable with the thought of sacrificing that for the sake of entertainment.
I could just stop watching, I suppose, but I love the game of hockey. It’s frustrating. I’m glad Derek Boogaard’s family have agreed to let researchers study his brain. With more data, perhaps the dangers and avoidability of so many of these injuries will become apparent, and things can change. I think Ken Dryden is right; one day we will be asking “How could we have been so stupid?”*
*transcribed article on a Canucks board, since the Globe and Mail’s original version is no longer available for free online.
It took Masterton’s death in order to convince players that helmets were needed.
It’s not about the risks people are taking – it’s about how the league is dealing with it, and penalties involving such injuries. It’s a huge issue in the NHL right now. The fact that there aren’t more serious penalties for deliberate hits to the head is big a controversy.
Don Sanderson died from a fight related injury. Minor league hockey, not NHL.
Thank you for this. Dryden is spot on. But will people listen?
Bob Probert had also allowed his brain to be analysed after his death, I believe by the same guys. They’ve recently released their report saying that he had suffered some brain damage related to his playing career. His death wasn’t related to this though.
Still he had the damage that one would see in somebody about 20 years older with Parkinson’s. And I don’t think that Probert was overly concussed during his career. I’d be really worried about players like Pat Lafontaine or the Lindros brothers (not that I like them) for the sheer number they had. And didn’t Troy Aikman have something like 12-15 concussions in his career?
A succession of concussions can lead to disorientation, depression, poor cognitive ability and a condition where the person just doesn’t feel good physically. It’s does take much imagination to wonder if such a person is prone to substance abuse.
If you want an extreme example, look no further than former Steeler Mike Webster:
Yikes.
ESPN on Webster (It’s a four part article)
Just for clarification and accuracy:
The credit for the neurological research on this syndrome goes to Boston University (not Boston College). They are at the forefront. This is where Duerson, Probert and Boogard’s brains were sent for analysis. Check out the website of the Sports Legacy Institute:
As I understand it Probert’s death was due to a heart attack, and unrelated with his drug addiction problems (about which I cannot say if they could be linked to his brain damage). Did I misunderstand?
A buddy of mine played in the NFL in the 70s/80s. He talks about stumbling to the sidelines after a vicious hit, totally dazed, and being sent back in. He has entire quarters he has no memory of, although he made plays that are on highlight reels.
Things have improved.
I wasn’t real clear in the post because I was thinking more of Boogard than Probert. Nevertheless, the similarities are striking. Connecting “A” to “C” is scientifically difficult.
If . . .
“A” is brain damage.
“B” is substance abuse, bankruptcy, homelessness, chronic illness and divorce.
and
“C” is death as a result of suicide, chemical overdose, early physical failure of the body of an otherwise healthy individual, or whatever. It is worth considering that “A” may lead to “C” even if it can’t be immediately proven.
It scares the hell out of me that enough anecdotal cases are surfacing among football players, hockey players, boxers, soldiers that have suffered concussions due to roadside bombs, and other cases of head trauma that we need to take a close look at this. “A” does not necessarily immediately lead to “C” but if “B” is almost always in the equation then it is something to take into serious consideration.
Did Probert die early as a result of brain trauma? Technically, as far as we know, no. However, maybe he did. His years of substance abuse certainly weren’t “good” for his heart.
Anyone want to revisit the death of John Kordic?