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John Branch, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, Tattered Cover Book Store, 1628 16th St., Denver, 303-436-1070.

The 2001 death of professional hockey player Derek Boogaard sparked a major discussion on the issue of violence and concussions in contact sports. In Boy on Ice, his new book about Boogard, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter John Branch delves into not only the issue of the danger of impacts in contact sports, but also the root of violence in sports and coping mechanisms of athletes.

He brings the larger issue to light by narrating the life of Boogaard — a violent, troubled boy who physically fought his way up the ranks in the sport and eventually died from a drug overdose, after which it was discovered that he was suffering from advanced brain damage. Branch will discuss and sign his book at the Tattered Cover Book Store on Thursday, Oct. 9.