BOOGAARD

Ron Salcer, a longtime hockey agent based in Manhattan Beach, spent most of last week talking business with New York Rangers forward Derek Boogaard. When they met to celebrate Boogaard's final night in Southern California, Salcer brought his family.

Police uncovered no signs of foul play. "It's terrible," Salcer said Monday, his voice breaking as he arrived in Minneapolis to join the Boogaard family in mourning.

Boogaard was approached by researchers after the Probert study was made public. Boogaard had spoken to Salcer about his admiration for the National Guard.

"I've been working with hockey players for 30 years and I've always thought they epitomize the highest of morals, values and ethics, and Derek epitomized that," Salcer said. Al DiRoberto of Fullerton, who has a TV production company and coached youth hockey in New York and California for 25 years, feared he might someday get the terrible phone call the Boogaards did.

DiRoberto's son, Torrey, was a prolific junior hockey scorer and usually had hefty penalty-minute totals too. Torrey DiRoberto, luckily unburdened by post-concussion syndrome, is in medical sales, Al said proudly. Derek Boogaard and his family won't reach those milestones.

had ever fought the late Derek Boogaard, and both shot their inquisitor a telling look.

“No,” said Vancouver’s Tanner Glass, his eyes widening. “I don’t fight guys like that.”

“No,” San Jose’s Ben Eager replied with a wry grin. “He was pretty feared guy.”

Not the 210-pound Glass, who tends to punch above hisweight class, and not the 235-pound Eager, who concedes little in the intimidation department.

Neither Glass nor Eager consider themselves “enforcers,” and neither felt they had the chops to drop the gloves with Boogaard.

Boogaard was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment late last week. Nicknamed the “Boogeyman,” it was Boogaard who placed the “Pinky and the Brain” tag on Vancouver’s Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik. Glass

Eager