Jim Neveau, NHL Correspondent
The tragic passing of New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard in May caused fans of the NHL to re-evaluate just how important the game of hockey was. Most stories before his death revolved around his penchant for fisticuffs, but after his accidental overdose of alcohol and oxycodone, folks really began to talk about what was important in Derek’s life: his charitable work. He was a tireless advocate for good causes, and while his death may have marked the end of his life, it did not mark the end of the impact that he has had on the lives of others. Even after he died, his brain was donated to medical researchers looking into the impact of concussions on the brains of hockey players, a decision that his family was rightfully lauded for.
Friday morning unfortunately brought the events of that tragic day back into focus, however. Aaron Boogaard, Derek’s 24-year old brother, was charged with unlawful sale of a controlled substance, an accusation that centers on him allegedly giving his brother the Oxycodone pill that ultimately led to his death. He was also charged with interfering with the scene of a death, a complaint arising from allegations that he tried to mislead or conceal evidence in the incident.
In what has already been a trying summer for the Boogaard family, this is just another obstacle in their efforts to cope with Derek’s death.
Here are the links to the charities that Derek helped, and The Hockey Writers encourages you to make a donation in his memory:
Defending the Blue Line: An organization dedicated to making sure that children of United States military members have affordable access to the game of hockey. Derek is still listed as an All-Star MVP of the organization on its homepage.
: An organization that gives children access to their favorite athletes and musicians when they play or perform at Madison Square Garden.
James started out for The Hockey Writers covering the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009, and has also covered the Chicago Blackhawks, served as NHL Correspondent, and is now a Managing Editor and the site’s NHL Central Blogger. He also writes for The Golf Writers.
