Derek Boogard was born June 23, 1982 in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. The seventh round, 202nd overall selection of the Minnesota Wild in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Boogard is a graduate of the WHL.
After suiting for Regina, Prince George and Medicine Hat of the WHL, the hulking forward made his professional debut with Louisiana of the ECHL during the 2002-03 season. In the fall of 2003, Boogard made the jump to the AHL and went on to spend two seasons with the Houston Aeros before making his NHL debut with Minnesota in 2005-06.
On July 1, 2010, the tough guy signed with the New York Rangers as an unrestricted free agent.