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The Grim Reaper: The Life and Career of a Reluctant Warrior
A powerful memoir from an NHL heavyweight champion who moved from the dressing room to the courtroom.
NHL tough guys all tell the same story.
They all grew up dreaming of skating in the big league as stars. Then one day, a coach tells them the only way to make it is to drop the gloves. And every guy says the same thing: I'll do whatever it takes to play in the NHL.
Not Stu Grimson, though. When he was offered a contract to patrol the ice for the Calgary Flames, he said no thanks, and went to university instead. And that's the way Grimson has approached his career and his life: on his own terms. He stared down the toughest players on the planet for seventeen years, while working on his first university degree. He retired on his own terms, and went on to practice law, including a stint as in-house counsel for the NHLPA.
This has put him in a unique position when it comes to commenting on the game. He's seen it from the trenches, and he's seen it from the courtroom. This puts him in the eye of the storm surrounding fighting and concussions. And he handles that the way he does everything: on his own terms. When Don Cherry called him out on televison, it was the seemingly indominable Cherry who backed down. Hockey fans will be fascinated by his data-driven defence of fighting.
But in the end, this is not a book about fighting and locker-room stories. It's the story of a young man who ultimately took on the toughest role in pro sports and came out the other side. Where many others have not.
NHL tough guys all tell the same story.
They all grew up dreaming of skating in the big league as stars. Then one day, a coach tells them the only way to make it is to drop the gloves. And every guy says the same thing: I'll do whatever it takes to play in the NHL.
Not Stu Grimson, though. When he was offered a contract to patrol the ice for the Calgary Flames, he said no thanks, and went to university instead. And that's the way Grimson has approached his career and his life: on his own terms. He stared down the toughest players on the planet for seventeen years, while working on his first university degree. He retired on his own terms, and went on to practice law, including a stint as in-house counsel for the NHLPA.
This has put him in a unique position when it comes to commenting on the game. He's seen it from the trenches, and he's seen it from the courtroom. This puts him in the eye of the storm surrounding fighting and concussions. And he handles that the way he does everything: on his own terms. When Don Cherry called him out on televison, it was the seemingly indominable Cherry who backed down. Hockey fans will be fascinated by his data-driven defence of fighting.
But in the end, this is not a book about fighting and locker-room stories. It's the story of a young man who ultimately took on the toughest role in pro sports and came out the other side. Where many others have not.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2019
23 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 24, 2019
The life of a hockey player who is called an “enforcer”, a “fighter” or a “goon” is quite different than the life of other hockey players. They play fewer minutes, are asked to perform a duty in which they face great risk of injury, their careers can be much shorter than those of other players, they can play in relative anonymity and they also switch teams frequently. Aside from a short career, this is pretty accurate for Stu Grimson who has written a very good memoir about his time as an enforcer.
Having read good books on other enforcers such as Bob Probert and Derek Boogardt, I picked this one up with high expectations and it did not disappoint. It did not follow the usual format from youth to college or junior hockey to the pros to life after hockey. While all of these life cycle events are covered by Grimson with many great stories, the book does skip around at times, especially when he is discussing his life after hockey.
Despite that, reading about important events in his life other than hockey was very enjoyable, something that usually isn’t the case with sports memoirs. His time working as an attorney for the NHL Players Association was very intriguing, especially when he was fired from the position by the person whom he helped attain the director position of the union. He also talks about meeting his birth parents (he and his sister were adopted) and the fact that his birth father was also a professional athlete (played football in the Canadian Football League) and became a lawyer after his playing days were over is just an amazing coincidence.
Readers who prefer to read about his hockey career will also be happy as he shares many stories of his fights on the ice, his trouble with rules during junior hockey and through it all, he always wondered if this was the best path to make a career in the sport. He repeatedly states at every stop in his professional career (there were many, as he played for seven different NHL teams, including two stints with the Anaheim Ducks) he states he would do whatever he needed to do in order to contribute to the success of his team. From the descriptions of some of his actions, there was no reason to believe otherwise.
His description of fights, especially one in which Dave Brown broke the orbital bone of Grimson early in his career when he played on the Blackhawks. It was almost gruesome to read the details of not only the injury but how Brown threw the punches. However, there was no hard feelings between the two players and Brown did show concern. That is part of the code present among enforcers in the NHL and Grimson talks often about that and displays much respect for his fellow fighters who obey these unwritten rules.
Whether or not one enjoys fighting as part of the game, hockey fans should pick up this book and get a very good perspective into the life and mind of those players whose main job is not to score goals or keep the puck out of the net, but instead have to use their fists to provide value to their teams.
I wish to thank Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Having read good books on other enforcers such as Bob Probert and Derek Boogardt, I picked this one up with high expectations and it did not disappoint. It did not follow the usual format from youth to college or junior hockey to the pros to life after hockey. While all of these life cycle events are covered by Grimson with many great stories, the book does skip around at times, especially when he is discussing his life after hockey.
Despite that, reading about important events in his life other than hockey was very enjoyable, something that usually isn’t the case with sports memoirs. His time working as an attorney for the NHL Players Association was very intriguing, especially when he was fired from the position by the person whom he helped attain the director position of the union. He also talks about meeting his birth parents (he and his sister were adopted) and the fact that his birth father was also a professional athlete (played football in the Canadian Football League) and became a lawyer after his playing days were over is just an amazing coincidence.
Readers who prefer to read about his hockey career will also be happy as he shares many stories of his fights on the ice, his trouble with rules during junior hockey and through it all, he always wondered if this was the best path to make a career in the sport. He repeatedly states at every stop in his professional career (there were many, as he played for seven different NHL teams, including two stints with the Anaheim Ducks) he states he would do whatever he needed to do in order to contribute to the success of his team. From the descriptions of some of his actions, there was no reason to believe otherwise.
His description of fights, especially one in which Dave Brown broke the orbital bone of Grimson early in his career when he played on the Blackhawks. It was almost gruesome to read the details of not only the injury but how Brown threw the punches. However, there was no hard feelings between the two players and Brown did show concern. That is part of the code present among enforcers in the NHL and Grimson talks often about that and displays much respect for his fellow fighters who obey these unwritten rules.
Whether or not one enjoys fighting as part of the game, hockey fans should pick up this book and get a very good perspective into the life and mind of those players whose main job is not to score goals or keep the puck out of the net, but instead have to use their fists to provide value to their teams.
I wish to thank Penguin Random House Canada for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
September 9, 2019
The Grim Reaper is the story of former NHL tough guy Stu Grimson.
During the course of his NHL career, Stu played with eight different teams – Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators.
Drafted by the Red Wings in 1983 (he was drafted in the 10th round) the Wings would also draft superstar Steve Yzerman 4th overall and then heavyweights Probert, Klima and Kocur to bolster toughness. Grimson compared themselves to the Detroit Lions Offensive Line. Unfortunately, Stu would not be signed by the Wings and would need to enter the draft once again.
After being redrafted by the Calgary Flames, he spent some time playing University hockey in Winnipeg. Fighting wasn’t allowed, so he had time to work on other aspects of his game in an attempt to become a more complete player. When the time came to make his NHL roster debut, he realized he could make it as an NHL tough guy after tangling with Edmonton Oilers enforcer Dave Brown. While Stu got the better of him in their first outing, the rematch saw Stu get tagged multiple times in the face. The result? A broken orbital bone. Grimson says this was his turning point that brought to light that old adage, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
One of the more surprising parts of the book came when Stu admitted he had no interest in becoming a goon or enforcer. In fact, he would initially walk away from the Calgary Flames training camp because all they wanted him to do was protect star players and fight. While he would eventually fall into this role, it doesn’t mean Stu was suddenly OK with fighting. While he knew he could handle it, it didn’t exactly make the anxiety suddenly go away. Later in the book he discusses conversations he had with other fighters who noted they rarely slept the night before a game where they knew they’d have to go one on one with another heavyweight. He compares this to boxing and MMA where fighters may fight two or three times a year at most whereas NHL enforcers may fight two or three times a night. What that does to a person’s psyche is unreal. You can see it in the research coming out now about post-concussion syndrome and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). This was particularly eye-opening as players tend to glorify the rougher aspects of the game, and even though steps are being taken to protect players moving forward, those that lived through this era often view that as “ruining the game”.
My biggest issue with the book is that Grimson goes off on tangents from time to time where he recounts stories that take place over his career while playing with different clubs. The timeline begins to get a bit jumbled and sort of jumps around while trying to tie subjects together. I found it disorienting at times and had to re-read pages thinking I missed somewhere where he was now suddenly playing for a different team.
The book also touches on his days after hanging up the gloves. Grimson would finish law-school and become a practicing lawyer. He would work as counsel for the NHLPA as well as with a private law firm. He even touches on a legal scuffle he nearly had with Don Cherry. Today, he works as a color analyst for the Nashville Predators.
In closing, The Grim Reaper gets deep into the role of a career bruiser and how while fighting is often an essential part of the game, the mental fortitude it takes to stay within that role on the part of the player should not be overlooked.
During the course of his NHL career, Stu played with eight different teams – Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators.
Drafted by the Red Wings in 1983 (he was drafted in the 10th round) the Wings would also draft superstar Steve Yzerman 4th overall and then heavyweights Probert, Klima and Kocur to bolster toughness. Grimson compared themselves to the Detroit Lions Offensive Line. Unfortunately, Stu would not be signed by the Wings and would need to enter the draft once again.
After being redrafted by the Calgary Flames, he spent some time playing University hockey in Winnipeg. Fighting wasn’t allowed, so he had time to work on other aspects of his game in an attempt to become a more complete player. When the time came to make his NHL roster debut, he realized he could make it as an NHL tough guy after tangling with Edmonton Oilers enforcer Dave Brown. While Stu got the better of him in their first outing, the rematch saw Stu get tagged multiple times in the face. The result? A broken orbital bone. Grimson says this was his turning point that brought to light that old adage, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
One of the more surprising parts of the book came when Stu admitted he had no interest in becoming a goon or enforcer. In fact, he would initially walk away from the Calgary Flames training camp because all they wanted him to do was protect star players and fight. While he would eventually fall into this role, it doesn’t mean Stu was suddenly OK with fighting. While he knew he could handle it, it didn’t exactly make the anxiety suddenly go away. Later in the book he discusses conversations he had with other fighters who noted they rarely slept the night before a game where they knew they’d have to go one on one with another heavyweight. He compares this to boxing and MMA where fighters may fight two or three times a year at most whereas NHL enforcers may fight two or three times a night. What that does to a person’s psyche is unreal. You can see it in the research coming out now about post-concussion syndrome and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). This was particularly eye-opening as players tend to glorify the rougher aspects of the game, and even though steps are being taken to protect players moving forward, those that lived through this era often view that as “ruining the game”.
My biggest issue with the book is that Grimson goes off on tangents from time to time where he recounts stories that take place over his career while playing with different clubs. The timeline begins to get a bit jumbled and sort of jumps around while trying to tie subjects together. I found it disorienting at times and had to re-read pages thinking I missed somewhere where he was now suddenly playing for a different team.
The book also touches on his days after hanging up the gloves. Grimson would finish law-school and become a practicing lawyer. He would work as counsel for the NHLPA as well as with a private law firm. He even touches on a legal scuffle he nearly had with Don Cherry. Today, he works as a color analyst for the Nashville Predators.
In closing, The Grim Reaper gets deep into the role of a career bruiser and how while fighting is often an essential part of the game, the mental fortitude it takes to stay within that role on the part of the player should not be overlooked.
June 7, 2020
I gotta stop getting these sports autobiographies.
June 22, 2022
This review is a 10 minute re-write because my previous draft got bogged down in tangential explanations.
a) I kind of wish USSR had won the '72 Summit Series
b) I say that because 'Goon' culture played too big a role in our win and has had too large a role in Canadian hockey (imo)
c) Yes, tough guys are brave and honorable.
d) I think there are better ways to play sports than other aspects though (i.e. not intimidation, cheapshots, payback, and intentional hurting).
e) I think hockey is moving away from that, for one, because of the realization that head trauma is, like, really bad.
f) I know that emotions run very high re: fighting/rough stuff. It is exciting/blood pumping to watch hockey and see your team 'do better' - but I'm not naïve enough to think that means my primordial, primate instincts are the best way to play/be around sports.
g) We put too much pressure on kids to win, instead of win well.
h) This is an okay book. I didn't really connect but I appreciate what Grimson attempted. I felt bad for Pam.
a) I kind of wish USSR had won the '72 Summit Series
b) I say that because 'Goon' culture played too big a role in our win and has had too large a role in Canadian hockey (imo)
c) Yes, tough guys are brave and honorable.
d) I think there are better ways to play sports than other aspects though (i.e. not intimidation, cheapshots, payback, and intentional hurting).
e) I think hockey is moving away from that, for one, because of the realization that head trauma is, like, really bad.
f) I know that emotions run very high re: fighting/rough stuff. It is exciting/blood pumping to watch hockey and see your team 'do better' - but I'm not naïve enough to think that means my primordial, primate instincts are the best way to play/be around sports.
g) We put too much pressure on kids to win, instead of win well.
h) This is an okay book. I didn't really connect but I appreciate what Grimson attempted. I felt bad for Pam.
December 16, 2020
My rating of The Grim Reaper: The Life and Career of a Reluctant Warrior is a little biased.
I got to meet Stu Grimson a half a dozen times growing up while at Hockey Ministries International Camps. Every year he returned to camp he connected and interacted with campers and staff in the most genuine and wholesome ways. His prescience and personality was in so many ways at odds with his role in the NHL.
Reading this book now 20 + years later, I am still amazed and impressed with Stu and his character shining throughout the pages. He continues to come across as an amazing teammate, an intelligent man, and an inspiration. He continues to show me that by being thoughtful and considerate of yourself, you can exist and succeed in many lanes in life.
Thanks for sharing your story Stu!
I got to meet Stu Grimson a half a dozen times growing up while at Hockey Ministries International Camps. Every year he returned to camp he connected and interacted with campers and staff in the most genuine and wholesome ways. His prescience and personality was in so many ways at odds with his role in the NHL.
Reading this book now 20 + years later, I am still amazed and impressed with Stu and his character shining throughout the pages. He continues to come across as an amazing teammate, an intelligent man, and an inspiration. He continues to show me that by being thoughtful and considerate of yourself, you can exist and succeed in many lanes in life.
Thanks for sharing your story Stu!
January 29, 2022
If ever there was an autobiography/memoir that I read and went “meh” to then it’s this one. It’s not bad but it’s not particularly great either. And that’s the response of a lifelong hockey fan and someone who enjoys these types of sports tell-alls.
Maybe it’s the lack of salacious and debauched tales. Maybe it’s the refined voice that Grimson deploys - one with an intellect and awareness a lot of his enforcer peers do not share. Maybe it’s because of a host of things. But I do know that this book never leaps off the page and sinks its hooks any deeper than a paper cut.
There’s enough here for hockey fans and those who followed Stu’s career. But that’s about it. Hard to recommend beyond that.
Maybe it’s the lack of salacious and debauched tales. Maybe it’s the refined voice that Grimson deploys - one with an intellect and awareness a lot of his enforcer peers do not share. Maybe it’s because of a host of things. But I do know that this book never leaps off the page and sinks its hooks any deeper than a paper cut.
There’s enough here for hockey fans and those who followed Stu’s career. But that’s about it. Hard to recommend beyond that.
February 22, 2024
This was a good book about the way hockey used to be when some players had more penalty minutes than points. Stu Grissom was one of those types of players. All teams had them because they kept the opposing players away from the star players. He is honest about everything during his playing days and also his personal life as he speaks about being adopted and then meeting his birth parents. I found this to be a good book about a player I saw play during the end of his career or at least remember. A good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com
January 17, 2020
This is what being an athlete is about. I loved this book and how he breaks the mold of the "fighter" or "tough guy" being able to have that two parts to your person makes you so much deeper and easier to connect with. I personally don't really know about hockey but I know enough to tell that this man is different. Stu writes with a confidence I aspire to have and I strive to be as open and fair as he is. 15/10
December 31, 2020
Stu Grimson's book is a lot better than some of the other auto-biography's I've read recently. It offers real substance, and overall is written better than say Ed Olyck or Curtis Joseph's books. There are some genuinely funny stories in here, background on Grimson I had no idea about, and great commentary on the game of hockey as it was in his playing days, as well as current day.
January 4, 2020
I couldn’t put this book down. Excellent portrayal of the life of a hockey enforcer. Very interesting life story to read. Very thoughtful with very interesting details from a substantial professional career.
June 15, 2021
I enjoyed the details of his on-ice and off-ice work as a professional hockey player, but I wish there had been a little more personal background. For example, I found it a little jarring to have him mention his wife when she had not been talked about previously. When did they meet? Where?
May 20, 2020
I liked the book however wasn’t the most interesting story. Was cool to see the game through the eyes of an enforcer though.
February 17, 2023
Interesting story by an NHL enforcer….very bright, well spoken intelligent man
April 8, 2024
Really enjoyed listening to this while driving my son to hockey practice
May 21, 2024
Instant classic
November 19, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Anyone who would like to get an account of life in the NHL as an enforcer will enjoy this book.
November 10, 2019
Must read for hockey fans!
Well written from a unique perspective. Puts you on the ice and gives a inside view in the life of an NHL enforcer.
Well written from a unique perspective. Puts you on the ice and gives a inside view in the life of an NHL enforcer.
September 7, 2019
Stu Grimson might not be a name that registers with the casual hockey fan, but any hockey fan will appreciate the journey outlined throughout these pages. Fans of the previous generation of hockey will appreciate the stories of the players and style for which they were drawn to years ago. More recent fans will be treated to a glimpse of what hockey was like in the 1980's and 1990's. Sprinkle in some colorful stories from Grimson's life on and off the ice, and his journey to licensed attorney in is post playing career life, and you have an entertaining read unlike most other former player memoir.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews