Boeser says final goodbye to his dad Duke

Canucks star's father had been battling several health issues in recent years

Before Brock Boeser's first game in the National Hockey League, then-vancouver Canucks coach Willie Desjardins pulled out a surprise: He invited Boeser's dad Duke into the dressing room to read out the team's starting lineup for the night.

It was a touching, emotional moment for everyone involved that Saturday, March 25 in 2017. The younger Boeser admitted to a few tears in the moment when his dad and mom Laurie came in the room.

It's been an emotional ride ever since for the Boeser family, as Brock chased NHL success and his father continued his battle with a series of health issues.

Duke died at the age of 61 on Friday.

He had suffered from Parkinson's disease for the last decade, brought on by a 2012 car accident, and then battled lung cancer in 2017 and again in 2019. The 2019 recurrence saw the cancer spread to his liver and his bones, then he developed blood clots, one of which caused heart failure. He was very ill.

After three weeks in intensive care and then nearly three months in hospital, Duke Boeser was finally able to go home.

But life was tough. The Parkinson's developed into early-onset dementia, something that an emotional Brock revealed after the 2021-22 season came to a close.

“He's not doing well. He has pretty bad dementia right now … it got pretty bad this year,” he said of his father's deterioration. “It has really hit me hard.”

Laurie revealed, quietly, on a family web page after Christmas that Duke had faced another recurrence of cancer in March 2021, which was treated with medication after discussions with his oncologist.

The medication stabilized his cancer, though it still was painful. And his cognitive decline was difficult, she wrote. She quit her job last year to serve as his primary caregiver, with the assistance of some hired help during the week.

On Thursday, she said the end was near.

“Our beloved Duke is skating his last lap around the hockey rink. He is at our home resting. Our family is close by his side. He's had some wonderful visits from family, friends and neighbours. Please pray for his comfort and peace as he makes his way home to our heavenly father. And please pray for our children as this is so very hard for them to let go,” she wrote.

On Friday, Desjardins recounted his decision to invite the Boesers into the Canucks' dressing room five years ago. Boeser grew up in Minnesota and was set to make his debut against the Minnesota Wild, the team he had grown up watching, often while sitting in his father's lap.

“I didn't know the family or Brock real well at that time, but he was certainly an exceptional talent, a highly touted player,” Desjardins told Postmedia. “The one thing I could tell from Brock was how important his family was to him. He's really grounded, just a really good person.”

The sincerity of Duke's enthusiasm, as well as Laurie's loving support, stood out to him. He said he knew that Duke Boeser had been facing some health challenges.

“I know how important his mom and dad were to Brock,” he said. “That was a way of letting them be part of the moment as well.

“Every situation has challenges, but whatever the situation, you can find a good moment.”

The humanity of the moment still shines through to him.

People don't realize, (players are) way more than just warriors. Most guys in the NHL know they don't get there alone.

“People don't realize, (players are) way more than just warriors. Most guys in the NHL know they don't get there alone,” Desjardins said. “It really was a special moment, just how he read, how sincere he was. The other thing that was really great was the reaction of our players. The Sedins got up right away to shake his hand.

“I don't think anybody gets to that level without the family being involved. It was a tribute to Brock and his family, but it was also a tribute to all the families and what they do.

“I certainly send my condolences to Brock and his family.”