Book Review | The Grim Reaper
The life of a reluctant warrior by Stu Grimson
This book changed my little sister. She read this when the book first came out in 2019 and has turned into this rabid Hockey Fan. She now knew teams, competitions and names of Hockey players off by heart and watched the games regularly.
What was in this book that changed my sister? How can one book can flip a person from not-really-into-sport passion to a Hockey Fan?
This type of book is something I wouldn’t’ normally read – memoir of a sports athlete. But, I read it in April 2025 and I am happy to admit that I have not transformed as my sister – though I have a better idea about the sport. Let’s break from the normal review format and have a look at The Grim Reaper: The Life of a Reluctant Warrior by Stu Grimson1.
The great thing about hockey players is that they are able to separate the on-ice from the off-ice and not let the latter distract them. Stu Grimson
This is a memoir of the author’s life and love of hockey. From his younger days moving around Canada because of his fathers work, getting scouted from a brawl in his teenage years, tearing his ACL in 1987, having his face used in advertising for Kraft Mac and cheese boxes, setting up couples, looking after team members and the team reputation.
I know I am not the target audience of this book. There is a lot of hockey jargon and names than a hockey fan or Canadian would recognize. Things like season, trading, oilers, flames, rangers, first round pick and Zamboni2 - what do these mean?
As the writing style and wording suggests that you know the author and to what and whom he is referring to. I found those parts of the book difficult to take in. But because I found it difficult doesn’t mean it’s a bad book.
This book is about a hockey player yet while reading, I’m getting the vibes from a boxer or martial arts athlete. He’s on the rink in a game and gathering momentum to explode into a fight. But all the while analyzing the opposing players, assessing the angle to attack, to timing of the fight on the rink. My favorite fight story was when Stu Grimson had Krzysztof Oliwa3, an opposing Polish Player, giving him the heads up to fight on the rink. The reason for the author’s retirement, was a concussion. Seemed to me, as a unfamiliar sports person, that it’s a strange injury to have. Concussions are normally from one well places shot to the head or repeated trauma to the head. I’d heard of boxers getting concussions but a hockey player? To me this book sounds like it was written by a boxer who happens to be on an ice rink.
I was surprised by how the author gets absolutely raw on many things. The uncertainty of going into a professional athletic field. The relationships he made while playing Hockey; not only the teammates but players from other teams. And he goes into his relationships; friends, family, marriage, divorce then finding love again. Then exploring what it was like meeting his birth mother and learning about his biological father. There was a lot of heart throughout this memoir.
‘People talk about post-traumatic stress, but in fact, the usual response to something stressful is post traumatic growth. That’s how we are built. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger’ - Stu Grimson
The author touches on his Christian faith as well - something I didn’t expect and certainly a whole chapter dedicated to it. But as the chapter finished, it’s made clear of his faiths importance to his life story so far. It certainly seemed like a firm anchor to keep his chin up in more challenging times and humble and compassionate with close friends and family. The jolt he got through his Christian faith propelled him further to grow not only in himself but with those around him.
‘If this book is about one thing, it’s about the freedom and the peace you find on the other side of fear, both on and off the ice’ - Stu Grimson
The main takeaway is you see the growth of Stu Grimson; from a teenager to athlete. The younger days he was a typical kid looking for acceptance and attention (which I can relate to). As he grew in the game and in experience, you can see the change in outlook and maturity. You see this plainly in this memoir when he looks back on his hockey career. The moments he remembers fondly of are not the fights, possibly to fans disappointment, but the friends he made and the times they spent together.
Stu Grimson is a famous hockey player but he’s also a normal fella with a family and kids. When he got started playing hockey, he went in to play for the sport, nothing more. He’s a regular guy who is looking for a simple life: have a good game, have a chat with the players over a beer then head home to rest up. This memoir is a look behind the rose-tinted or biased famous hockey player. And what we see is the experiences and life of a regular athlete.
If you’re looking to grab the book yourself, links to purchase it are below.
https://www.instagram.com/officialstugrimson/
https://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comments/xzmqc2/how_a_zamboni_works/
https://www.instagram.com/oliwashredzone/
I read the book. Good review, sums it up very well.