Derek Boogaard photo gallery on chron.com

One of my employers, the Houston Chronicle, has put together a really nice picture gallery/tribute to the late and great Derek Boogaard.

Here is a link ... Be sure to check it out and drop a few lines in the comment section talking about your favorite Boogeyman memory.

http://www.chron.com/sports/photogallery/Derek_Boogaard.html

While I have a minute, I will leave mine.
I think it was the fall of his first year in Houston, maybe his second year, and the Booster Club invited him to speak at one of their meetings and a BBQ place off 59 in Houston.

Ken Double was supposed to emcee, but had to cancel and I got the call. Needless to say, I put something together real quick and when I introduced him to the fans, I started reading all of this negative garbage scouts had written about him that I found on the Internet.

So I turned to ask him what he thought about all of that as he made a successful move from the ECHL to the AHL, and he quickly turned it on me.

"What do you think about all that, you're a hockey reporter ... " he said.

*gulp*

I still have no idea what I said, but I remember what I was thinking. Back then, I really did not think he would make the transition to a real NHLer. Boy was I wrong. Boy was I EVER wrong.

R.I.P. Boogeyman.
Thanks for all the memories; they are all great, and I wish your lovely family much peace and all the love in the world.