Stu Grimson was one of a kind.
While the NHL lends itself to a wide cast of characters, the hulking presence of the 6-6, 240-pound Grimson and his style of play stood out during his time on the ice.
He was known for his enforcer role when he laced up his skates.
If you were teammates with Grimson, you felt pretty good if you ever needed to drop the gloves, knowing who had your back.
Nicknamed the “Grim Reaper,” Grimson played in the NHL from 1989 to 2002 for eight different teams.
The Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators all found themselves employing the Grim Reaper at one point or another.
As rugged and fierce as Grimson’s reputation was on the ice, it was quite the opposite when he was off of it.
He was a soft-spoken man, built by his faith and academic studies.
After retirement, Grimson pursued law school and received his J.D. from the University of Memphis.
He became the In-House Counsel for the NHL Player’s Association from 2006 to 2008.
The Grim Reaper became a born-again Christian later in his life and toward the back half of his professional hockey career.
He wanted to spread the word of the Lord through the game of hockey.
“I think it’s a great idea to incorporate Christian music and testimonies into NHL hockey,” Grimson told Baptist Press back in 2001.
“There are so many youth playing the game that it makes sense to incorporate your faith into the game.”
Grimson made it clear that what he does on the ice, beating people up, doesn’t reflect what he does away from it.
“It’s what I do,” Grimson continued.
“I am a physical player and I can tell you that I don’t compromise my beliefs. My message is to share the gospel.”
To this day Grimson remains strong in his faith and is an active member of his church, while he can now be found as an analyst for NHL Network.
While the NHL is known for its eccentric personalities and hard to believe stories — such as the enforcer turned bank robber or the Hall of Famer who lost $43 million in career earnings in an investment –scam, Grimson’s stands out.
A man nicknamed the Grim Reaper also became a born again Christian.
