Wild to Honor Boogaard, Demitra Prior to Opener

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild will honor two former players who died during the offseason in a pre-game tribute at Xcel Energy Center.

The Wild host Columbus Saturday night. Players will honor Derek Boogaard and Pavol Demitra (PAH'-vuhl deh-MEE'-truh) with stickers on their helmets, and Boogaard and Demitra will be commemorated prior to faceoff.

Boogaard died in May due to a toxic drug-and-alcohol mix. He was addicted to a powerful painkiller. Demitra was killed in September when the plane his Russian team was on crashed.

Also featured Saturday is the Owatonna (oh-wuh-TAHN'-uh) family that made national news in a hockey shot contest mix-up involving 11-year-old twin sons. Father Pat Smith will make the "Let's Play Hockey" announcement. Boys Nate and Nick will take part in an on-ice contest at the first intermission.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

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