Stu Grimson

Last updated
Stu Grimson
Born (1965-05-20) May 20, 1965 (age 60)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 240 lb (109 kg; 17 st 2 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for
NHL draft 186th overall, 1983
Detroit Red Wings
143rd overall, 1985
Calgary Flames
Playing career 1988–2002

Stuart Grimson (born May 20, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Grimson played in the National Hockey League from 1989 to 2002. During this time, he played for the Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings, and Nashville Predators. Grimson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, but grew up in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Contents

Playing career

Grimson was known as an enforcer, with over 2,000 penalty minutes in his career. His stature, his reputation as a fighter, and a play on his surname combined to earn him the nickname "the Grim Reaper." In his final season, in Nashville, he suffered from post-concussion syndrome and was forced to retire after a fight with Georges Laraque of the Edmonton Oilers. [1] He had already been suffering effects before that bout, and even admitted he once blacked out in the middle of a fight. [2] [3]

His final NHL game was on December 12, 2001, and he officially announced his retirement on June 1, 2003.

Personal life

Despite his fearsome reputation on the ice, Grimson won respect as an intelligent and articulate man off it. He became a born-again Christian in the early 1990s and led the NHL's Christian Fellowship ("Jesus was no wimp", Grimson said in one interview).

After retiring, Grimson finished his undergraduate degree and began law school. He completed his Juris Doctor degree in December 2005 at the University of Memphis Law School. He was In-House Counsel for the National Hockey League Players' Association (2006–2008) and then worked for the Nashville law firm of Kay, Griffin, Enkema & Brothers, PLLC (2008–2012). He worked as a Color Analyst for the Nashville Predators on Fox Sports South and the team's flagship network, 102.5 The Game, through the 2016–17 season.

Grimson appeared in a 2001 commercial spot for The Foundation for a Better Life. It begins with on-ice game action leading up to an intermission. While in the locker room with the team, Grimson receives a phone call. It is revealed that the caller is Grimson's young daughter, who asks him to sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider". He reluctantly complies, much to the amusement of his teammates. Grimson replies "Hey, it's my girl! You know, my daughter?" The commercial showed a softer side of Grimson as a good family man. [4]

During an October 6, 2011, edition of Hockey Night In Canada , Don Cherry accused Grimson, along with Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson, of being 'pukes' and 'hypocrites' for supposedly making a living as an enforcers and now complaining about it. [5] Grimson, by then a licensed attorney, indicated that he considered legal action against Don Cherry on behalf of himself, Chris Nilan and Jim Thomson citing Cherry's claims as "baseless and slanderous". [6] After an apology on Hockey Night in Canada by Cherry, Grimson reconsidered his lawsuit against Cherry stating that "This is a decision for Canadians. The CBC is your network; you pay for it. And you hold the network to certain standards and values." [7]

Grimson has four children with his ex-wife Pam; Erin, Hannah, Kristjan and Jayne.[ citation needed ]

In 2018, Stu married Jennifer Ives Grimson, an entrepreneur and investor. They live in Nashville, Tennessee.[ citation needed ]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1982–83 Regina Pats WHL 48011105500014
1983–84 Regina PatsWHL6388161312101129
1984–85 Regina PatsWHL71243256248812314
1985–86 University of Manitoba CWUAA 127411113—————
1986–87University of ManitobaCWUAA29881667—————
1987–88 Salt Lake Golden Eagles IHL 379514268—————
1988–89 Salt Lake Golden EaglesIHL72918273971423586
1988–89 Calgary Flames NHL 10005—————
1989–90 Salt Lake Golden EaglesIHL62881631940008
1989–90 Calgary FlamesNHL300017—————
1990–91 Chicago Blackhawks NHL35011183500046
1991–92 Indianapolis Ice IHL511217—————
1991–92 Chicago BlackhawksNHL542242341401110
1992–93 Chicago BlackhawksNHL7811219320004
1993–94 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL77156199—————
1994–95 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL31011110—————
1994–95 Detroit Red Wings NHL11000371110126
1995–96 Detroit Red WingsNHL5601112820000
1996–97 Detroit Red WingsNHL10000—————
1996–97 Hartford Whalers NHL75224218—————
1997–98 Carolina Hurricanes NHL82347204—————
1998–99 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL73303158300030
1999–00 Mighty Ducks of AnaheimNHL50123116—————
2000–01 Los Angeles Kings NHL7232523550004
2001–02 Nashville Predators NHL3011276—————
NHL totals7291722392,11342112120

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2022 The Simpsons Himself (voice)Episode: "Top Goon"

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Berra: A bunch of boy scouts". 19 January 2004.
  2. ↑ Feschuk, Dave (9 May 2011). "Feschuk: Grimson healthy today, but wonders what future holds". The Toronto Star.
  3. ↑ "Concussions still ringing Grimson's bell | Nashville City Paper". Archived from the original on 2016-04-13.
  4. ↑ Commercial Title: Hockey/Theme: Love – The Foundation for a Better Life.
  5. ↑ "Don Cherry calls ex-enforcers 'pukes' & 'hypocrites' for views on fighting". YouTube. Retrieved October 11, 2011.[ dead YouTube link ]
  6. ↑ "Cherry comments draw legal threat from NHL trio". CBC Sports. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Tough guys say they won't sue Cherry". The Canadian Press. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
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