I rarely pick up books like this - tales of athletes and their demise - but something pulled me to this book. I think I vaguely recalled Boogaard's name but not his situation. So glad I found it.

This book is about the life of young hockey thug/enforcer Derek Boogaard and how he found his place in the NHL as a fighter but constantly wanted to prove himself as a player. However, at the same time, the book is about how the NHL will sacrifice a young man to keep the game of hockey interesting to fans. Derek was treated as no more than a cog in the NHL machinery and paid with his life. With the help of Boogaard's family and friends, Branch details Derek's drug use and abuse during his time with the Minnesota Wild and NY Rangers. Prescriptions were written with little regard for the player's actual well-being. In hindsight, the abuses were monumental and Derek cannot be blamed for most of what happened (in my opinion).

If you are a die-hard hockey fan, this book might be a bit more than you can handle about what really goes on in the sport. But, it is a worthwhile read if you are interested in the truth.