Derek Boogaard died of an accidental mixture of alcohol and oxycodone, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner said on Friday, according to multiple news reports.
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic painkiller, also known as OxyContin.
Boogaard, a Regina product who played for the Prince George Cougars from 1999 to 2001, was found dead in his Minneapolis home by family members a week ago Friday. He was 28 years old.
Boogaard, at six-foot-seven and 258-pound, was known as an enforcer.
He was drafted by the NHL's Minnesota Wild in 2001 and skated for the club for five seasons. He signed a US $6.5-million, four-year contract with the New York Rangers last July but, because of a shoulder injury and a concussion, appeared in just 22 games this season.
