The cause of the death of Ryan Boogaard has not been determined . He was found dead Friday in his Minneapolis apartment . Dr. Robert Stern , co-director for Boston University 's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy , confirmed Sunday that the family has donated Boogard 's brain to the VA CSTE Brain Bank for study . The year - old hockey player joined the New York Islanders in July .
The cause of the death of Ryan Boogaard has not been determined . He was found dead Friday in his Minneapolis apartment . The year - old hockey player joined the New York Islanders in July .