Over 5 months after his tragic passing, the Rangers returned home to re-open the 33% transformed Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. Not only was it notable for the first phase renovation that was completed, but this would also be the first game the Blueshirts played on their home ice since the passing of their 2010-2011 teammate, enforcer Derek Boogaard.
Many fans, myself included, were ready for the home opening ceremonies to be one of celebration as well as introspection remembering those lives of the fallen NHL players that passed away in one of the most tragic off-seasons in the league’s history. Boogaard, Wade Belak, Rick Rypien and all of those who died in the plane crash tragedy in Russia gave hockey fans and their fellow players a serious reality check and a forced them to take a second to take a step back realize the fragility of life.
Though not the scope of the devastation that came from the plane crash that killed 43 people including several with ties to the Rangers, or the kind of unforeseeable medical tragedy that took the life of Alexi Cherepanov, Boogaard’s death was no less heartbreaking.
Boogaard was a man who may well have been the toughest enforcer in the NHL, but ironically it was the fight with pain for nearly a year due to the nature of his job that may well have led to his demise. After a December fight against Ottawa’s Matt Carkner, Boogaard’s head hit the ice after taking a few clean right hands to the jaw and he would never skate in another NHL game again. While Boogaard’s job is seen by many in the business as an important one, debate rages on about how dangerous and even if fighting is even necessary. There have been discussions on potentially taking it out of the game.
The game of hockey was built with fighting in it. Even though it was a stressful and sometimes painful job, it was Boogaard’s and by all accounts he loved being the one who could go out on the ice and calm a game down via his presence alone. If you can, recall the Rangers/Calgary game last season. Things were getting heated and the level of physicality was rising…until Boogaard stepped on to the ice; gave that little smile to the Flames players signifying that he was there and not to forget about him and just like that, the game took a cleaner turn.
“I’m right here, I’m ready.” Were the words that Boogaard mouthed on the ice. Calgary’s enforcer, Tim Jackman, stood next to him in the faceoff circle and looked less willing to drop the gloves than ever before in his career. He refused to even dare to take a look at Boogaard who was intently staring at him. That was what Boogaard brought with him, an intimidating presence that many of the most feared enforcers in the game would back down from.
In the video (see above) Sam Rosen mentions just how involved in the community Derek Boogaard was. He was beloved in Minnesota and “Boogy” as he was known, repaid it tenfold. Even in his short stay in New York, the fans were growing acclimated to Boogaard but that didn’t let it stop him from continuing his role in “Defending The Blueline.” DFB is a nonprofit organization geared toward helping the families, mostly the children, of military personnel to enjoy the game of hockey. This was an organization that Boogaard was very active in and cared a great deal about. The Rangers were a good fit for the former Minnesota Wild as they their own charities and are very involved with all of them. I can already think back to an episode of Rangers Game-Night where Boogaard was at a Build-a-Bear location giving of his time with the Rangers’ Garden of Dreams foundation.
Sadly, Boogaard only played for half a year for the team in the red, white and blue and wasn’t able to win the crowd over as he had with the Wild. According to an ESPN article that came out just days after his passing was announced, the story recounted how Boogaard’s friends said that he never felt quite at home in NY. Boogaard didn’t feel at home walking the streets of Manhattan with no one recognizing him, something he’d never be able to do in Minneapolis.
“The New York Rangers signed his checks, but the Canadian’s heart was always in the Twin Cities. In Manhattan, he could walk around for six hours and nobody recognized him. He hated that, the isolation he felt after he had signed with the Rangers this past summer. People close to Boogaard say he was bored and lonely in New York. When he suffered a season-ending concussion in December, things got even worse. He didn’t leave his apartment for three weeks, shunning the light, and had containers of takeout food piling up on the counters.”
(Click to read this “must-read” article)
Make no mistake about it, the death of Derek Boogaard was an absolute tragedy. In my opinion he deserved a dedicated moment of silence prior to the anthems being sung at MSG Thursday night. Rick Rypien never played a game for the Winnipeg Jets yet he received a video tribute and a very long and heartfelt moment of silence before the Jet’s home opener. Yes, Derek Boogaard only played in 22 games for the Rangers before his season, and his life, were cut way too short, but that in no way should minimize his receiving the sort of respect that he gave to those who love and follow hockey. It was a mistake for the Rangers organization to not give a man who put so much out there for others not to be given the chance, even in his death, to receive that back from the fans.
Well, I’m one fan who says, “I’m saddened by your loss.” I know the players are wearing your number #94 on their helmets with pride every game.
RIP Derek Boogaard.
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
3 Comments
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Top picks
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…
SWAMP RABBITS ANNOUNCE 2024 KELLY CUP PLAYOFF ROSTER
23 players begin the quest to hoist Patrick Kelly’s Cup in the Upstate By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoff Roster with the ECHL. Earlier…
SWAMP RABBITS AND LA KINGS EXTEND AFFILIATION
Los Angeles’ pipeline will continue to start in the Upstate through 2026 By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, 2024 South Division Champions, announced today that the organization is proud to continue its affiliation with the NHL’s Los Angeles…
You leave out facts that could explain why things happened the way they did, Rick Rypien played in Winnipeg for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL before the Winnipeg Jets came back.
Rypien was well known in the Winnipeg area during his time as a member of the Moose. They choose to honor him because they knew him.
Boogaard spent 22 games mostly on the bench because he was so ineffective. Yet people expect that we should forget that Boogaard was a player that most Ranger fans wanted not to return for this season.
Sorry that he passed away but at same time there truly never was any kind of bonding between player and fans.
Jess you bring up some great points, I for one can admit that I envisioned a Rangers team this season without Boogaard dressing every game. However he was a member of the Rangers family, put forth everything he did for the organization doing work for Garden of Dreams with his own independent work for Defending the Blue Line, I think he deserved a better moment than what was given. Judging by the responses that I’ve seen from fans, who also may not have wanted Boog on the team this season, I don’t feel alone in my thoughts at all.
Honoring Rypien was a classy move by the Winnipeg organization, there’s no doubt about that. I did know he played for the Moose too but that doesn’t change the fact that he never suited up for Winnipeg. The Jets lost a member of their family and honored him, the way any player should be honored.
Fact is I’m not trying to compare Winnipeg to NY or anything of that matter, or the Rypien situation to the Boogaard one, it was just an example of why I think the Rangers could have, and should have, done more for Derek.
My God, the guy never had a chance. I love when people talk like they know everything and then talk and prove they don’t. You should be ashamed. What about all the kids he bonded with on the build a bear day?
How about the military families that he gave two seats to for every home game? Truly no bonding from that?
Are you an actual reporter or just some faceless blogger who hides behind the safety of the internet?
I hope you never have to realize what it’s like to lose someone and then have some “expert” bring up a point that is marginally wrong at best, less the insulting part.
Be thankful for people who support the military unless you want to go fight for your right to spew your egocentric and inaccurate point of view. Sempre Fi