As family members prepare to lay former Wild winger Derek Boogaard to rest Saturday morning in his hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office revealed Friday afternoon that Boogaard's cause of death was an accidental mixture of alcohol and oxycodone toxicity.
Boogaard, 28, was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment a week ago today at 6:10 p.m. by his brothers, Ryan and Aaron.
It was reported last Saturday by the New York Post that Boogaard had spent his final days in the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavoral Program. The Star Tribune reported last Saturday that when Boogaard missed most of the Wild's training camp in 2009 and the first two weeks of the season under the guise of a concussion, he also entered Stage 1 of the Substance Abuse & Behavioral Health Program.
Boogaard is survived by his two brothers, sister, half brother Curtis and parents, Len and Joanne. Several NHL players, including many with the Wild, as well as Wild owner Craig Leipold, GM Chuck Fletcher and those in the Wild training staff, are expected to attend his funeral Saturday.
