ST. PAUL (AP) — Wild fans are gathering at Xcel Energy Center on Sunday night to honor enforcer and fan favorite, Derek Boogaard.

Boogaard was found dead in his Minneapolis apartment Friday. The cause of death is being investigated. He was 28.

A fan set up a Facebook page to honor Boogaard and used the site to plan a public memorial at Xcel Energy Center from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. According to the Facebook page, fans will bring candles and their favorite memories to share.

The memorial will take place at Gate 1, and that Boogaard's family members were so touched they plan to attend. The family is asking for privacy.

Boogaard played for Minnesota from 2005 to 2010, then signed with the Rangers.

Derek Boogaard's family has donated his brain to researchers who will check for damage that might have resulted from his career as an NHL enforcer.

A spokeswoman for the Boston University School of Medicine confirmed Sunday that Boogaard's family made the donation.

Researchers at the medical school have set up a brain bank to check athletes for chronic traumatic encephalopathy caused by repeated concussions.

There is no evidence yet that concussions might have contributed to Boogaard's death. But the family is asking the Sports Legacy Institute at BU to look into it.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.

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