From the penalty boxes of NHL arenas to parish halls, infamous hockey tough-guy and Stanley Cup champion Chris Nilan will join parishioners of St. John Brébeuf in LaSalle, Que., Jan. 9 for an evening of fellowship and fundraising towards the church’s roof fund. 

Billed as “An Evening with The Enforcer,” the intimate event is expected to draw 120 of the city’s diehard Habs fans to the parish for a reception that includes door prizes, a raffle for a signed Nilan jersey, a Q&A session, photo opportunities and personal meet-and-greets with the Canadiens' icon. 

As explained by Lisa Griffin, a parish secretary at St. John Brebeuf and event organizer, the soon-to-be evening is the result of a connection not to the game of hockey, but yoga. Having begun working at the parish during COVID with a 20-year background in leading Kripalu Yoga sessions, Griffin began leading sessions for the community in LaSalle in the parish hall. 

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“I liked to do workshops for the community, such as seniors and mobility-restricted people, and wanted to expand it to teach that yoga stretching is more than a physical exercise and discipline, but also a way to connect the community. I thought that by bringing in a guest speaker, it would be a great synergy for parish life and yoga stretching practices, and Chris Nilan seemed to be the best fit for me,” she said. 

Wanting the parish's backing and blessing, Griffin spoke to Fr. George Zacharias about her plan. With his blessing, the event was approved and, having a cousin who is a friend of Nilan, Griffin was able to secure an appearance from “Knuckles” — one of the NHL’s most feared skaters of the 1980s. 

For the LaSalle community, few players are likely to be as well-received as the local legend, having played eight seasons for the Habs from 1979 to 1988 and once again in the 1991–92 season. In that time, Nilan developed a reputation as both a legitimate offensive threat and a fan favourite for his fearless protection of his teammates. He hoisted the Stanley Cup with Montreal in the 1985–86 season, a campaign that saw him net 19 goals in the regular season. 

Nilan gained league-wide attention as well for his inclination to fight, still holding the record for most penalty minutes by an American-born player, the most for a Montreal Canadien and one of only nine players in NHL history to have recorded more than 3,000 career penalty minutes. 

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After hanging up the skates in 1992, Nilan has openly shared his battles with addiction towards alcohol, heroin and prescription drugs as well as mental health, becoming a motivational speaker on perseverance, recovery and second chances. He is popular nowadays as the host of the "Raw Knuckles" podcast.

Griffin says Nilan's attendance at St. John Brébeuf in January will be a welcome reception for the community, where hockey history continues to run deep.  

“Chris Nilan’s visit gives the parish a rare chance to welcome a living piece of Canadiens' history into its own backyard, which means a lot in a city where hockey is almost part of the parish fabric,” she said. “His reputation as a Stanley Cup champion with Montreal and one of the team’s most beloved tough guys connects instantly with longtime Habs fans who remember the glory days and want to share that pride with their kids and grandkids.

“For LaSalle, having Nilan walk into St. John Brébeuf feels like the Habs coming to the neighbourhood rather than something distant on TV or downtown at the Bell Centre.”  

Nilan's journey from intimidating enforcer to an speaker on perseverance and recovery is something the parish hopes can resonate with its community, one that preaches mercy, healing and hope. 

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“Gathering for a talk, Q&A and maybe a blessing or prayer around it can turn a hockey event into a true community moment, where people share memories and faith side by side,” Griffin said. 

All proceeds from the $75 tickets go toward the St. John Brébeuf Church Roof Fund. While an exact fundraising target isn't set, the more the parish raises, the more it can reduce what it has to borrow later, protecting the parish’s finances and “keeping our focus on our mission instead of debt.” Every ticket sold for the evening event is going towards maintaining the building that has served LaSalle since the late 1950s.