Former NHL Enforcer Boogaard Had Degenerative Brain Disease

(NewsCore) - BOSTON -- Former NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard, who died in May from an alcohol and drug overdose, had a degenerative brain disease that is believed to be linked to repeated blows to the head, The New York Times reported Monday.

The disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy -- more commonly known as CTE -- is a close relative of Alzheimer's disease and was diagnosed posthumously by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University's School of Medicine after Boogaard's brain was donated by his family.

Boogaard, 28, becomes the fourth hockey player of four examined so far to have had CTE, while more than 20 dead former NFL players and boxers have also been diagnosed with the disease.

Neuropathologist Dr. Ann McKee, one of four directors at the Boston University center, said she was amazed to see how much damage Boogaard had at such a young age.

"To see this amount? That's a 'wow' moment," McKee said, referring to images of Boogaard's brain tissue. "This is all going bad."

The CTE was more advanced in Boogaard than in Bob Probert, who played 16 NHL seasons and died aged 45 in 2010.

The NHL said it was still not convinced there is a link between hockey and CTE.

"There isn't a lot of data, and the experts who we talked to, who consult with us, think that it's way premature to be drawing any conclusions at this point," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said.

Boogaard spent five years with the Wild before signing with the Rangers, developing a folk hero-style persona while engaging in 54 fights in 255 games.