Helge Bostrom

Bulgy Helge Bostrom was a clerk by trade, but masqueraded as a long time hockey player, including with the Chicago Black Hawks from 1929 through 1930.

Bostrom was already 35 years old when he finally debuted in the NHL in 1929. He had spent the previous decade bouncing around the minor leagues in western Canada and Minnesota following his discharge from his service in World War I with the Canadian army. He served in France, along side hockey legends like Bullet Joe Simpson and Rabbit McVeigh, as a cook. Simpson arranged for a fake honor for Bostrom, claiming Helge "eliminate or wounded more Canadians with your skillet than the whole German Army."

Described as "a colorful player" with "the reputation of being the most stitched player in the ame." He was a likeable sort, equally at home on the ice or the baseball diamond.

On January 6th, 1933 Kenneth Fry of the United Press recalled a horrific injury to Bostrom. Earl Siebert stepped on Bostrom, severing four tendons above an ankle. 142 stitches where needed to close the gash. Doctors wondered if he would ever walk properly again, let alone skate, but he did return to action.

The crossword puzzle loving Bostrom was let go by the Blackhawks in 1933, but he continued on. He played until 1936 when he turned 42 years old.

Bostrom later served as a minor league coach and as a scout.

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Pistol Pete Horeck

Pistol Pete Horeck played in 426 NHL games with Detroit, Boston and Chicago in the 1940s and 1950s.

Pete was born in Massey, Ontario on June 15th, 1923. He was the son of shoemaker, and was one of 8 boys in the family. Obviously that was a perfect set up for a very competitive household, especially when it came to their favorite game - hockey. Brothers John and Danny were quite the players, but it was Pete who was destined for hockey greatness.

Horeck would leave home for Parry Sound. Armed with his first pair of new skates courtesy of the local train conductor, he joined the Parry Sound Shamrocks and played with another promising youngster named Doug Orr. You probably have heard of his son Bobby.

Both were recruited by the Boston Bruins, although Orr did not sign as he opted for service in World War II instead. Horeck did turn pro, and after a few seasons in the minor leagues, he became a NHL regular for 10 years of Original Six hockey.

Horeck got his first shot at the big leagues with Chicago, who acquired him from the AHL's Cleveland Barons to replace departed star Doug Bentley. Horeck would put up back to back 20 goal seasons (in 50 game schedules) before being traded to Detroit late in 1946. He played three seasons with the Wings, two more with the Bruins and a final season back in Chicago, but never saw the 20 goal mark again. He did score 106 goals and 224 points in his NHL career.

He would play senior hockey for almost another decade after leaving the NHL, eventually settling in the Sudbury area.

Horeck died in the summer of 2009 after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer.

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Stu Grimson

Stu Grimson was a skating contradiction in many ways. The son of a RCMP police officer and devoutly religious Christian made his living in one of the most violent occupations known to North Americans - NHL tough guy.

"I've always felt, why can't a born-again Christian play an aggressive role in a physical sport?" the man nicknamed "The Grim Reaper said. "Christ stuck up for people who were weak or lame in the Bible. (Fighting) takes place within the context of the game. This is just a game."

Further adding to his list of contradictions was his interest in education, not something normally associated with hockey players, and especially not with the goons.

He left the ice world of violence and joined the halls of academia, earning his degree in economics from the University of Manitoba and later a law degree at the University of Memphis.

Grimson actually began his degree at Manitoba before going to the NHL. Coming off of three seasons in the tough Canadian junior leagues, the 6'5" giant was twice drafted by the NHL (Detroit in 1983 and Calgary in 1985) but he was struggling to accept a life of hockey violence.

"I think it was the whole prospect of playing professional hockey, and specifically playing the role I was playing. That was pretty intimidating to me, and I really wrestled with that a lot. I was just never comfortable in that role at that stage in my life, and I was prepared to walk away from the game altogether."

He opted to attend university while continuing to play hockey for the Bisons and head coach Wayne Fleming. He would credit this time away from big league hockey as a chance to grow up emotionally and be better prepared for professional hockey. He accepted his role as tough guy and defended his teammates with great pride.

In 1987 Grimson would turn pro, and play in the Calgary Flames minor league system. Over the next two seasons he accumulated 665 penalty minutes in just 109 games.

Those staggering penalty minute totals earn him a trail with the NHL Flames, who of course battled their provincial rivals from Edmonton with both pucks and fists. Grimson was called up, quickly solidifying his reputation as a feared NHL tough guy in a couple of showdowns with Edmonton's hulk Dave Brown. It wasn't easy though, as Brown fractured Grimson's cheek and orbital bones.

Grimson was ultimately returned to the minor leagues, but other teams took notice. The Chicago Blackhawks acquired the Reaper and he became a NHL regular.

Life with Chicago was never easy. The Hawks were in the old Norris Division, nicknamed the Chuck Norris Division with good reason. Grimson would become very well acquainted with Detroit's Bob Probert and Joey Kocur, Toronto's Wendel Clark and Ken Baumgartner, Minnesota's Shane Churla and Basil McRae and St. Louis' Tony Twist.

Grimson would play two seasons in Chicago before moving on to the expansion Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He would bounce around the league a lot over the years, with stops in Hartford/Carolina, another stop in Anaheim, as well as games with Los Angeles and Nashville. Over the years he was probably involved in 100s of fights. His last came against Edmonton's Georges Laraque, who ended The Reaper's career by dealing him a severe concussion.

Stu Grimson played in 729 wars, scoring just 17 goals and 39 points. He was not much of a player with or without the puck, often stapled to the bench as his hulking size made him a clumsy and slow player. But he earned everyone's respect, both on and off the ice. He became very involved with the Players' Association as he used this outlet to satisfy his interests in business.

Grimson on Bob Probert - "A very good fighter. Great with both hands. A very busy fighter, I have a lot of respect for him."

Grmson on Tony Twist - "Heavier hitter than Bob. A very good fighter. He's a real threat, very effective at setting you up and getting his right hand free. I respected him very much."

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