Stuart Grimson (born May 20, 1965) is a

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former professional

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player. Grimson played in the

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from 1989 to 2002. During this time, he played for the

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Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...

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Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1 ...

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Con ...

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, and

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. Grimson was born in

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, but grew up in

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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

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, he suffered from

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and was forced to retire after a fight with Georges Laraque of the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

. He had already been suffering effects before that bout, and even admitted he once blacked out in the middle of a fight. 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

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in the early 1990s and led the NHL's Christian Fellowship ("

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was no wimp", Grimson said in one interview). After retiring, Grimson finished his undergraduate degree and began law school. He completed his

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degree in December 2005 at the University of Memphis Law School. He was In-House Counsel for the

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(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. During an October 6, 2011, edition of ''

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'', Don Cherry accused Grimson, along with

Chris Nilan Christopher John Nilan (born February 9, 1958) is an American former professional ice hockey player and former radio host. Nilan played 688 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season games as a right-wing for the Montreal Canadiens, New York R ...

and Jim Thomson, of being 'pukes' and 'hypocrites' for supposedly making a living as an enforcers and now complaining about it. 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". 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

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is your network; you pay for it. And you hold the network to certain standards and values." Grimson has four children with his ex-wife Pam; Erin, Hannah, Kristjan and Jayne. In 2018, Stu married Jennifer Ives Grimson, an entrepreneur and investor. They live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Filmography

References

External links

*
hockey draft central
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grimson, Stu 1965 births Living people Athabasca University alumni Calgary Flames draft picks Calgary Flames players Canadian Christians Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Canadian ice hockey left wingers Chicago Blackhawks players Carolina Hurricanes players Detroit Red Wings draft picks Detroit Red Wings players Hartford Whalers players 20th-century Canadian sportsmen Indianapolis Ice players Los Angeles Kings players Manitoba Bisons ice hockey players Mighty Ducks of Anaheim players Nashville Predators announcers Nashville Predators players National Hockey League broadcasters Regina Pats players Salt Lake Golden Eagles (IHL) players Ice hockey people from Kamloops Ice hockey people from Vancouver University of Memphis alumni Canada West ice hockey players