A Review of the Book "Boy On Ice" by John Branch

Title: Boy On Ice

Author: John Branch

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Year: 2014

327 pages

From the Back: 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 non-fiction, acclaimed reporter John Branch tells the shocking story of Boogaard's life and heartbreaking death.

    Based on months of investigation and hundreds of interviews with Boogaard's family, friends, teammates, and coaches, Boy on Ice is a brilliant work 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.

Personal Thoughts: I remember watching NHL hockey when I was younger and fighting took up much of the game. It was exciting and you rooted for your favorite players to win the boxing match. Then as time went on, fights were less frequent and the enforcers stopped being a staple on the teams. As an observer, you probably didn't really notice or pay attention to why this happened. Then as deaths - weather accidental or by suicide - began to pile up, media started to release stories that provided more details about why these players were dying.

    It makes sense that high-contact sports like hockey and football would have high rates of concussions so it's surprising to read about how many trainers and doctors would ignore the symptoms, or perhaps not be aware of them. Also, to think that these same people wouldn't recognize someone addicted to painkillers is quite surprising. Boy On Ice is the story of one such player who, after reading the book, I feel was let down by his coaches, his trainers, and his doctors.

    After reading a couple of hockey-related biographies that I felt were terribly written, I was unsure if I wanted to read another one. However, John Branch did an incredible job of delivering a heart-felt narrative about the life and death of Derek Boogaard. I quite enjoyed this book as it was easy to read and well-written. The book provided a view from inside the life of a someone who had a dream, would do anything to achieve that dream, and suffered because of it, in the end.

    If you would like a inside perspective of the effect of concussions on a young athlete, this is an excellent book to read.