Rangers’ Derek Boogard died of accidental overdose

The death of Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard was an accident, due to a toxic mix of alcohol and the powerful painkiller oxycodone.

The Hennepin County, Minn., medical examiner announced Boogaard’s cause of death Friday, saying it was unclear exactly when the 28-year-old died. Boogaard was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment May 14, five months after he sustained a season-ending concussion with the New York Rangers.

The medical examiner said no private data on Boogaard would be released, but a statement his family issued through the National Hockey League Players’ Assn. indicated the 6-foot-7 Boogaard had been struggling with pain and addiction.

“After repeated courageous attempts at rehabilitation and with the full support of the New York Rangers, the NHLPA and the NHL, Derek had been showing tremendous improvement but was ultimately unable to beat this opponent,” the family said. “While he played and lived with pain for many years, his passion for the game, his teammates, and his community work was unstoppable.”

Boogard’s agent, Ron Salcer, and a spokeswoman for the Boston University School of Medicine said this week that Boogaard’s brain will be examined for signs of a degenerative disease often found in athletes who sustain repeated hits to the head.

Boogaard was known as “The Boogeyman” — one of the league’s most feared fighters. He agreed to a $6.5 million, four-year deal with the Rangers in July and appeared in 22 games last season, finishing with a goal, an assist and 45 penalty minutes.

Boogaard’s funeral will be held Saturday in Regina, Saskatchewan.

GOLF

David Toms shoots 62 again at Colonial

David Toms shot his second straight eight-under 62 at the Colonial at Fort Worth, matching the PGA Tour record for the first 36 holes to open a seven-stroke lead.

Seven months after joining forces to help Europe reclaim the Ryder Cup, Northern Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell will meet in the final 16 at the World Match Play Championship at Casares, Spain.

In another match between Ryder Cup teammates, top-ranked Lee Westwood will face fellow Englishman Ian Poulter.

Luke Donald and Martin Kaymer, who could supplant Westwood as No. 1 if they win the tournament, also advanced as unbeaten group winners.

Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie won second-round matches to lead six Americans into the third round of the Sybase Match Play Championship at Gladstone, N.J.

UCLA’s Tiffany Lua had a hole-in-one and topped the individual leaderboard with four holes left and the Bruins had a six-stroke lead Friday when third-round play in the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship at Bryan, Texas, was suspended because of darkness.

FOOTBALL

Unions for NHL, MLB and NBA file brief in support of NFL players

The unions for hockey, baseball and basketball are siding with the players in the NFL lockout court battle, saying the league’s lockout should be lifted.

The players associations for MLB, the NHL and the NBA filed a brief Friday in a federal appeals court, saying the case presents “vitally important issues” for the unions and their members. The unions say professional athletes’ careers are short, and the loss of even part of a season causes personal and professional injures that can’t be compensated.

ETC.

Kyle Busch wins third straight trucks race

Kyle Busch recovered from an early spin to pass Clint Bowyer with seven laps to go and pulled away to win his third consecutive Trucks Series race at Concord, N.C.

Nicolas Almagro beat Tomas Berdych, 6-4, 6-4, to line up an Open de Nice final against Victor Hanescu, upset Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine, 6-3, 6-3, to reach his first final of the year. … Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki outlasted champion Francesca Schiavone, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, to reach the final of the Brussels Open. She will face Peng Shuai in Saturday’s final. Shuai upset Vera Zvonareva, 6-3, 6-3.

UCLA beat Jacksonville, 2-0, and Long Beach State beat San Diego State, 6-2, in the opening round of regional softball playoffs.

Royal Delta rallied to beat Buster’s Ready by 21/2 lengths in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico. The race for 3-year-old fillies is the companion event to Saturday’s Preakness.

UCLA women’s basketball Coach Cori Close announced the hiring of Shannon Perry, Tony Newnan and Jenny Roulier-Huth as assistant coaches. In addition, Pam Walker will continue in her role as director of operations for women’s basketball.

PASSINGS

Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage dies

Randy “Macho Man” Savage, the professional wrestler known for his raspy voice, the sunglasses and bandanas he wore in the ring and the young woman named Miss Elizabeth who often accompanied him, died in a car crash Friday in Florida. He was 58.