A well-researched and beautifully written story. What tugged at me most was the way Derek came of hockey age in major juniors. While I understand the culture of fighting and the enforcer, there seemed something mildly tragic in the way John Branch framed his hockey upbringing -- as if the only way Derek could stay connected with the sport, let alone attempt to carve out a career, was to fully embrace an enforcer role which he didn't seem to relish. I found Branch's reporting solid and his writing intriguing. What's heartbreaking are the many times in which support systems failed Derek -- from their own blindness and from his inability to recognize his pain and seek help.