The Grim Reaper

The Life and Career of a Reluctant Warrior

By: Stu Grimson

Narrated by: Stu Grimson

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.

Critic reviews

“Whether you followed Grimson's career or simply knew the weight his reputation carried, The Grim Reaper should give you a better appreciation and understanding of Stu Grimson, a reluctant warrior, who found his place on and off the ice.”
—NHL.com

“Excellent . . . [Grimson] does a fine job sketching out his remarkable life's arc.”
—The Toronto Star

“[The Grim Reaper] is much more than a sports book.”
—Vancouver Sun

“[The Grim Reaper provides] 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. . . hockey fans should pick up this book.”
—The Guy Who Reviews Sports Books

Great Fuckin Read **

It's a fantastic walk through Stu's career, and an honest assessment and evaluation on the role he played in that era of hockey. I loved it.

a great hockey listen

Stu wrote a hell of a book and narrates it just as well. If you're a hockey fan or a fan of compelling story this book is for you!

Fantastic introspective

Stu Grimson presents a well thought out and honestly phrased introspective to the world of not just professional hockey, but hockey on any level. Having been a hockey player for the better part of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stu’s story is eerily familiar; and Having been a player leaning more towards the skill side than the enforcer side, it’s nice to see an explanation of why they are needed. He really did well describing where enforcers come from and that they too are hockey players who want to play hockey, not goons looking to smash teeth. Ideas like putting more refs on the ice are ludicrous and come from people who don’t understand hockey. If you are looking for a book to explain the finer points of hockey strategy, or a former hockey player looking for a narrative from someone you looked up to in the 90’s golden age of hockey, this is the book. Heck, he even checks the Christian box with no attempt to hide his faith. Great boom from a great guy.

Super Engaging …

No matter what you do in life it takes a lot of grit and fight, and this book applies to all of that. Very well written and even better read by Stu. Highly recommend listening to this!

excellent

This book was actually still grimsson is a true Warrior and a male convictions finally a book that talks about and enforcers existence after hockey loved it