Times wires
Friday, May 20, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS — The death of Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard was an accident, caused by a toxic mix of alcohol and the morphine-like painkiller oxycodone, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office announced Friday.
It was unclear exactly when Boogaard, 28, died, the office said. He was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment May 13.
Boogaard's family released a statement in which it said the 6-foot-7, 265-pound wing struggled with pain and addiction, and confirmed newspaper reports he had been involved in the substance abuse program run by the league and the players association.
"After repeated courageous attempts at rehabilitation and with the full support of the New York Rangers, the NHLPA and the NHL, Derek had been showing tremendous improvement but was ultimately unable to beat this opponent," the family said.
Oxycodone is better known by its commercial name, OxyContin. Drinking alcohol while taking strong painkillers such as oxycodone can result in breathing problems and increase the risk of an overdose, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says.
"Regardless of the cause, Derek's passing is a tragedy," league spokesman Frank Brown said in an e-mail to the Associated Press.
The Rangers had no comment. Neither did the Wild, the team for which Boogaard played for five seasons before signing a $6.5 million, four-year deal with the Rangers in July.
Boogaard played 22 games for New York before being sidelined for the rest of the season with a concussion and a shoulder problem sustained in a fight with the Senators' Matt Carkner on Dec. 9.
Boogaard's agent, Ron Salcer, said his client had been doing much better and "turning a corner" in his treatment.
Boogaard's funeral is today in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Winnipeg mayor: Move 'matter of time'
Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz said it's just "a matter of time" before a deal to move the Thrashers to his city is finalized and announced.
Katz said he has been in touch with True North Sports and Entertainment, the Winnipeg company negotiating to buy the team, and had been told nothing was official yet.
True North has been negotiating with Thrashers ownership about moving the team. Despite a report Thursday that a deal is done, the league and True North have said nothing has been decided.
The Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona in 1996 and became the Coyotes. Since then, the city has built an arena — the MTS Centre, owned by True North — and argued it can support a franchise once again.
Thrashers goaltender Chris Mason told the Canadian Press members of the team have not been given an indication where they will be based next season, despite reports that some have been told the team will be moved.
"We're sitting on the edge of our seats waiting to see what's going to happen, too," Mason said.
Today the Thrashers will still hold their scheduled select-a-seat day for season-ticket holders for next season.