Title/Author:
“Boy On Ice: The Life
and Death of Derek Boogaard” by John Branch
Tags:
Ice hockey, biography,
professional, Wild, Rangers, death
Publish date:
September 29, 2014
Length:
385 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
When Derek Boogaard was found
dead in his apartment in May 2011, I was shocked. He was a player that I followed as a fan of
the Minnesota Wild, his first team, and then as a member of the New York
Rangers, since I live in Rangers territory.
My first thought was he was another athlete who succumbed to the good
life and lived it too well. But then
when the true cause of his death was disclosed, it was an even bigger shock.
Given that premise, I was very interested to read this book by John Branch to see what really happened to Boogaard and what type of life he led. This was not the typical biography of an athlete, something that Branch states in the book. While it does cover the entire spectrum of Boogaard’s life, it reads much like a novel in which you root for the main character but you just have this sinking feeling that in the end, something bad is going to happen.
Two topics that are hot
items in sports and the news today, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and
addiction to pain killers, are discussed at length in the book, as it was shown
that Boogaard was suffering from both. Branch did extensive research to
illustrate how much Boogaard was willing to spend and to travel in order to
obtain prescriptions for pain killers and sleeping pills. It made for
fascinating reading and makes the reader both feel sorry for Boogaard and also
angry in why he was not following his rehabilitation treatment and listening to
those close to him about this problem.
The book also explores
the life of a hockey enforcer and what these players go through in order to catch
on with professional teams. Branch portrays not only Boogaard, but all players
who are this type of specialist, as insecure and always wondering if that next
fight that is lost or that next shift that is missed will cost the player his
job. There are many facets to this type of player such as the constant hand
injuries and the secret codes they speak to one another about when to fight. I
also enjoyed reading about life in the Canadian junior leagues, a path many
young Canadian players take to achieve their dream of playing in the NHL. If
the reader is unfamiliar with these leagues and the lifestyle of these players,
the book does a wonderful job of portraying this life.
Hockey fans should read
this book for not only a description of the ups and downs of Derek’s life but
also for the insight into the life of the enforcer. There will be many
surprises to be found if one believes that person is merely the tough guy for
his team. An excellent book that I
enjoyed very much.
Pace of the book:
It was a fast paced book
that will grab the reader’s attention right away and will not let go. Each
segment of Boogaard’s life was covered by excellent writing.
Do I recommend?
Not only will hockey fans enjoy this book, but anyone who is interested
in the effects of CTE or the addiction to pain killers will want to read this
book as well.
Book Format Read:
Hardcover
Buying links:
It's good to know that you really enjoyed this book. I have to confess that I started it, but found it so depressing, that I didn't finish it. I'm not a huge fan of fighting in hockey, and seeing Boogaard forced to fight to succeed was very sad. I can remember local hockey commentators mocking his lack of skating skills when he came to Vancouver, but obviously there was a much deeper story. Your enthusiasm makes me think I should take another look at the book.
ReplyDeleteYou should...it shows how complicated his life on and off the ice got. Thanks for commenting.
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