Today, I'm looking at Boy on Ice: The life and death of Derek Boogaard, by John Branch.

First and foremost, this book was written after Boogaard's death. However, Derek's family was willing to help write this story.

It's a story of Derek's rise to fame as an enforcer, his time at the top, and how he fell just as fast, if not faster, from his perch. It's a scary tale of what can happen when someone has access to painkillers and other drugs, and an especially scary tale of what does happen when the system is not able to keep up with a player's desire to obtain more of what he believes he needs.

Derek's rise to fame with Minnesota is well chronicled. Same with his use and eventual abuse of painkillers. It boggled my mind time and again as to just how he was able to get so many prescriptions without someone stopping to say "Hey, wait a minute."

It's the tale of a 28-year old who wanted so desperately to be accepted on the ice as a member of the NHL, and yet, when given a role to play, no matter how good at it, Derek had trouble playing this role.

It's a sad tale of the NHL and the drug abuse system that Derek was able to work his way through the cracks and continue his actions.



Link to Powell's City of Books:

http://www.powells.com/book/boy-on-ice-the-life-death-of-derek-boogaard-9780393351910/1-0


Link to Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Ice-Death-Derek-Boogaard/dp/0393351912/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450658219&sr=8-1&keywords=Boy+on+Ice+The+Life+%26+Death+of+Derek+Boogaard


Link to Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/boy-on-ice-john-branch/1118484490?ean=9780393351910