Father of Vancouver Canuck Brock Boeser dies after Parkinson’s battle

The father of Vancouver Canucks star Brock Boeser has died at the age of 61, after a decade-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

In a statement, the Vancouver Canucks announced Duke Boeser’s passing, saying they were “deeply saddened” by the news.

“(He was) a beloved member of the Canucks family, Duke’s strength courage, and positive energy was an inspiration to everyone around him,” the Canucks said.

Brock Boeser became emotional about his father’s battle with Parkinson’s at the end of season news conference for the Canucks in early May.

“He’s not doing well. He has pretty bad dementia right now. It’s onset and it has gotten pretty bad this year and it’s really hit me hard,” Boeser said through tears.

His teammates offered support at the time, with Quinn Hughes saying the best thing they could do was be there for their teammate.

“We can’t comprehend what he’s going through. It’s tough for him. All we can do is try to be there for him. I don’t want to speak too much about his situation, but hopefully, we can be the best support system for him.”

Boeser had talked on his father’s medical challenges in the past and has been raising awareness of Parkinson’s disease since his father was diagnosed in 2010.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. More than 12 per cent of Canada’s population over the age of 80 are living with the disease, according to the Parkinson Society of BC.

With files from Caroline Frolic, Claire Fenton, and Sportsnet