The parents of Derek Boogaard have decided to donate their son's brain to the Sports Legacy Institute for scientific research, according to the Star Tribune.
Boogaard, who played six seasons with the Minnesota Wild and New York Rangers, was found dead at his Minnesota apartment on Friday. He suffered a season-ending concussion in late December, and has had a history of concussions throughout his playing career.
The cause of Boogaard's death is not yet known, and there is no evidence to suggest that his concussion history played a role, but there has been an increase in concern regarding athlete concussions in recent years.
Former NHL enforcer Bob Probert was discovered to have suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease, upon his death in March, although the exact cause of his death was heart failure.
The Sports Legacy Institute teamed with researchers at Boston University Medical School in 2008 to advance the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes, says the Star Tribune.
The exact cause of Boogaard's death could take at least two weeks.
