Boy on Ice

The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard

By: John Branch

Narrated by: John Pruden

The much-anticipated debut from the Pulitzer Prize - winning New York Times reporter, Boy on Ice is a moving human story and behind-the-scenes account of a life lived in the glare of sporting fame. The tragic death of hockey star Derek Boogaard at 28 was front-page news across the country in 2011 and helped shatter the silence about violence and concussions in professional sports. Now, in a gripping work of narrative nonfiction, acclaimed reporter John Branch tells the shocking story of Boogaard's life and heartbreaking death. Boy on Ice is the richly told story of a mountain of a man who made it to the absolute pinnacle of his sport. Widely regarded as the toughest man in the NHL, Boogaard was a gentle man off the ice but a merciless fighter on it.

With great narrative drive, Branch recounts Boogaard's unlikely journey from lumbering kid playing pond-hockey on the prairies of Saskatchewan, so big his skates would routinely break beneath his feet; to his teenaged junior hockey days, when one brutal outburst of violence brought Boogaard to the attention of professional scouts; to his days and nights as a star enforcer with the Minnesota Wild and the storied New York Rangers, capable of delivering career-ending punches and intimidating entire teams. But, as Branch reveals, behind the scenes Boogaard's injuries and concussions were mounting and his mental state was deteriorating, culminating in his early death from an overdose of alcohol and painkillers. Based on months of investigation and hundreds of interviews with Boogaard's family, friends, teammates, and coaches, Boy on Ice is a brilliant work for fans of Michael Lewis's The Blind Side or Buzz Bissinger's Friday Night Lights. This is a book that raises deep and disturbing questions about the systemic brutality of contact sports - from peewees to professionals - and the damage that reaches far beyond the game.

©2014 John Branch (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Informative and enlightening.

I am both deeply saddened and grateful for this extremely important tale of one of the most telling stories about a man in a role that is clouded by mystery and intrigue. Derek’s tale is a cautionary one, pulling back the curtain on the most taboo art in hockey; the art of the guardian and enforcer. From start to finish and all that lies between, this book is extremely thorough and descriptive in all aspects. I hope that maybe this sheds a little more might on the seemingly under appreciated role of the enforcer. Modern day warriors are those like Derek. My heart goes out to his friends and family for their loss. I read this twice to capture as much as possible. Do yourself a favor and read this masterpiece.

Too sad for words...

Any additional comments?

Tragic story...As a dedicated Hockey fan, I already knew a bit about Derek Boorgard and his demise. This book lays it all out...from the "Boy on Ice" first taking the ice to his untimely death. These young men pay a high price for their fame and fortune. Strongly recommend this book to all hockey fans.

Great book!

Great book to listen to. The narrator could've used more emotion in the story but nonetheless it was very good.

Very interesting hockey bio of a fighter

I really enjoyed this bio of Derek Boogaard. I especially liked hearing about his childhood and how he came to be an enforcer (fighter) in the NHL. The second half was sadder, as injuries and drugs brought him down. As his life spiraled out of control, the book got a little repetitive, but was still informative and interesting. I strongly recommend this to listeners with an interest in hockey. This book captures the best and worst of hockey.

A tragic story with a sad ending

Excellent narration and story of a tragic ending to a promising life. RIP Derek Boogaard.