Ice Hockey: Canadian hockey player found dead

New York Rangers' Derek Boogaard (R) was one of the most feared fighters in the NHL. Photo / Getty Images

Canadian professional hockey player Derek Boogaard was found dead Friday in his Minneapolis apartment. He was 28.

The New York Rangers announced the forward's death on Friday night, but gave no details.

Boogaard had signed a four-year, $6.5 million deal with the Rangers in July and appeared in 22 games with them last season. He had a goal and an assist to go with 45 penalty minutes.

One of the most feared fighters in the NHL, Boogaard missed the last 52 games of the regular season with a concussion and shoulder injury and did not play in the playoffs.

"Derek was an extremely kind and caring individual," Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather said. "He was a very thoughtful person, who will be dearly missed by all those who knew him."

The Saskatchewan native began his NHL career with Minnesota and appeared in 255 games with the Wild from 2005-10.

In 277 regular-season games with Minnesota and the Rangers over six seasons, he had three goals and 13 assists and 589 penalty minutes.

-AP