Which professional Snooker player from Canada was known as 'The Grinder' because of his slow determined style of play?
"Cliff Thorburn Clifford Charles Devlin ""Cliff"" Thorburn (born January 16, 1948) is a Canadian retired professional snooker player. He won the World Snooker Championship in 1980, the first player from outside the United Kingdom to win the title in the sport's modern era. He was also ranked number one that year. In 1983, Thorburn became the first player to compile a maximum break at the World Championship. He is one of two snooker players inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the other being George Chenier. His slow, determined style of play earned him the nickname ""The Grinder"". Thorburn first"
"the season. In November 2018, after winning his first round match against Anthony Hamilton at the UK Championships, Lawler was crtitised for his slow play by World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn taking an average of 39.8s per shot. Rod Lawler Rod Lawler (born 12 July 1971 in Liverpool, Lancashire) is an English professional snooker player. He is noted for his slow playing style, which gave rise to his nickname, ""Rod the Plod"". Since turning professional in 1990, Lawler has reached one ranking tournament final - the 1996 International Open, where he lost 3–9 to John Higgins - and won one"
"George Chenier George Chenier (January 14, 1907– November 11, 1970) was a Canadian snooker player widely regarded as the best player Canada has ever produced. Chenier is considered to be one of the premier break builders of his era, who was also the North American Snooker Champion from 1948 to 1970 and is one of only two snooker players to have been inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the other being Cliff Thorburn. Born in Hull, Quebec, he began playing snooker as a youngster in Ottawa, and lived in various cities around North America including Detroit, Montreal, Vancouver and"
"still managed to successfully defend his North American Snooker Championship in April 1970. Chenier died from complications following series of strokes on November 11, 1970. The following year in 1971 he was posthumously inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. George Chenier George Chenier (January 14, 1907– November 11, 1970) was a Canadian snooker player widely regarded as the best player Canada has ever produced. Chenier is considered to be one of the premier break builders of his era, who was also the North American Snooker Champion from 1948 to 1970 and is one of only two snooker players to"
"him."" Alain Robidoux Alain Robidoux (born July 25, 1960) is a Canadian snooker player; he played on the sport's main tour from 1988 to 2005 and continues to play in events in Canada. He was born in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec and joined the pro circuit in the late 1980s, playing as a ""non-tournament"" professional. This entitled Robidoux to be listed on official rankings, although he could not play in most competitions. In 1988, Robidoux amassed enough points in the World Championship qualifiers to finish in the top 128 players, and thus allowing him to join the tour full-time. In September 1988,"
"that Richard had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Henri Richard Joseph Henri Richard (born February 29, 1936) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played centre with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1955 to 1975. He is the brother of Canadiens legend and fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Maurice 'The Rocket' Richard. Fifteen years younger and three inches shorter, he was given the nickname ""The Pocket Rocket"". In 2017 Richard was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. The two Richard brothers' style of play was quite different. While Maurice"
"Johnny Bower John William Bower (born John William Kiszkan; November 8, 1924 – December 26, 2017), nicknamed ""The China Wall"", was a Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender who won four Stanley Cups during his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 2017 he was named one of the ""100 Greatest NHL Players"" in history. Bower was born John William Kiszkan into a Ukrainian Canadian family in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to Johnny Kiszkan, a labourer, and his wife, Betty. He had one brother and seven sisters. He taught himself how to play hockey, using a branch as a stick, and"
"Henri Richard Joseph Henri Richard (born February 29, 1936) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played centre with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1955 to 1975. He is the brother of Canadiens legend and fellow Hockey Hall of Famer Maurice 'The Rocket' Richard. Fifteen years younger and three inches shorter, he was given the nickname ""The Pocket Rocket"". In 2017 Richard was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. The two Richard brothers' style of play was quite different. While Maurice shot left (left hand lower on the stick),"
"Derek Boogaard Derek Leendert Boogaard ( ; later ; June 23, 1982 – May 13, 2011) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played for the Minnesota Wild and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). A native of Saskatchewan, where he grew up in several different communities as the son of a Mountie, he was known primarily as a fighter and enforcer throughout his career, from junior hockey to the pros. His fighting prowess earned him the nicknames of ""Boogeyman"" and ""The Mountie"", and made him a favourite with fans. In 2007, he was"
"Rod Lawler Rod Lawler (born 12 July 1971 in Liverpool, Lancashire) is an English professional snooker player. He is noted for his slow playing style, which gave rise to his nickname, ""Rod the Plod"". Since turning professional in 1990, Lawler has reached one ranking tournament final - the 1996 International Open, where he lost 3–9 to John Higgins - and won one minor-ranking tournament, Event 3 of the 2012/2013 Players Tour Championship, where he defeated Marco Fu 4–2 in the final. Lawler has compiled 100 competitive century breaks during his career, including his highest, a 143, in qualifying for the"
"Geoff Snider Geoff Snider (born 2 April 1981) is a Canadian lacrosse player from Calgary, Alberta. He is known as a dominant faceoff man and a very physical player.He no longer plays after retirement this year. Growing up, Snider played for the Calgary Hornets in the CDLA (Calgary District Lacrosse Association) Snider's Junior lacrosse career began with the Burnaby Lakers of the British Columbia Junior A Lacrosse League. In 1998, 2000 and 2002, he helped the Lakers win the Minto Cup as Canada's champion junior men's lacrosse team. He continues to play with the Senior ""A"" Coquitlam Adanacs in the"
"Bill Werbeniuk William Alexander ""Bill"" Werbeniuk ( ; 14 January 1947 – 20 January 2003) was a Canadian professional snooker and pool player. Recognisable for his girth, he was nicknamed ""Big Bill"". Werbeniuk was a four-time World Championship quarter-finalist and also a UK Championship semi-finalist, reaching a career high world ranking of #8 for the 1983-84 season. William Werbeniuk was born on 14 January 1947 in Winnipeg. His paternal grandfather had immigrated to Canada from Ukraine; his father, according to Werbeniuk, ""was one of the biggest fences in Canada"" and ""committed armed robberies, peddled drugs, every larceny in the language."""
"Alexander Ursenbacher Alexander Ursenbacher (born 26 April 1996) is a Swiss professional snooker player from Rheinfelden. He is Switzerland's second professional snooker player after Darren Paris, who competed on the main tour in the mid-1990s. He is often called by the nickname 'The Swiss Fish'. Having qualified for the main tour through Q-School in 2013, where he defeated Paul Wykes in his quarter-final match, Ursenbacher lost his professional status upon the expiry of his two-year tour card in 2015, however regained it two years later after defeating Jackson Page 6–4 in the final of the 2017 EBSA European Under-21 Snooker"
"sometimes leaving his crease to do so. This move has since been imitated by goaltenders at all levels of hockey. Regular season and playoff statistics. Johnny Bower John William Bower (born John William Kiszkan; November 8, 1924 – December 26, 2017), nicknamed ""The China Wall"", was a Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender who won four Stanley Cups during his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In 2017 he was named one of the ""100 Greatest NHL Players"" in history. Bower was born John William Kiszkan into a Ukrainian Canadian family in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to Johnny Kiszkan, a labourer,"
"in June 2012. With the 2012 NHL lockout affecting his contract status, Godard effectively announced his retirement on November 2, 2012. Eric Godard Eric Godard (born March 7, 1980) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Godard was known as an enforcer for his physical style of play and regularly dropping the gloves. His nickname is ""The Hand of God"". Godard played junior hockey with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. He went undrafted and was signed as"
"Dave Harold David ""Dave"" Harold (born 9 December 1966) is an English former professional snooker player from Stoke-on-Trent. He was known by the nicknames of ""the Hard Man"" and ""the Stoke Potter"" (conflating his home city's pottery industry and his profession of potting snooker balls). He was also the first player on the television circuit to sport a plaster on his chin as a guide for his cue, which is a practice now adopted by Graeme Dott. As an amateur he played as David Harold, but since turning professional in 1991 he was registered as Dave Harold. He has three"
"John Hill (wrestler) John Steele Hill (July 8, 1941 – March 10, 2010) was a Canadian professional wrestler best known under the ring names Guy Mitchell, The Stomper and ""Gentleman"" Jerry Valiant. During his career, he held the top singles titles in Australia and Vancouver, and competed in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) where he won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship. Hill became a professional wrestler in 1959 after working out for a year at both Al Spittles's and Jack Wentworth's gyms in Canada. He traveled to the United States in 1960 in the hopes of making more"
"Donald Brashear Donald Maynard Brashear (born January 7, 1972) is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey player who played for five organizations in the National Hockey League (NHL), in which he was considered one of the most effective enforcers. His aggressive style led to being among the League leaders in penalty minutes for six seasons, while currently ranking 15th all-time in NHL history, and resulted in multiple suspensions as well. He remains the Vancouver Canucks all-time single season leader in penalty minutes, which he set in the 1997–98 season. He was the victim of one of the most publicized incidents"
"John Ross Roach John Ross Roach (June 23, 1900 – July 9, 1973) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League. His nicknames were ""Little Napoleon"", ""The Housecleaner"", and ""The Port Perry Cucumber"". Roach was born in Port Perry, Ontario. He won a Stanley Cup in 1922. Roach was one of only six goalies in the NHL to captain his team when he was with the Toronto St. Patricks during the 1924–25 season. He was a First Team All-Star during the 1932–33 NHL season. Roach was known for his acrobatic style of goaltending. In 2009, he"
"Fame. Glenn Howard Glenn William Howard (born July 17, 1962) is a Canadian curler from Tiny, Ontario. Howard is one of the most decorated curlers of all time; He has won four world championships, four Briers and 15 Ontario provincial championships, including a record eight straight, from 2006 to 2013. Through 2017, he has played in 218 games at the Brier, more than any other curler in history. He has also won the 2001 TSN Skins Game. Howard had a lot of success in his early career when he played third with his brother, Russ. With Russ, Howard won the"
"Ross Muir Ross Muir (born 6 October 1995 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish professional snooker player. He is noted for being the only professional snooker player who regularly wears a glove on the bridge hand, Muir turned professional in 2013 after graduating from event two of the Q School, defeating David Morris 4–0 in the final round. Muir had a very successful junior career, winning many titles including the prestigious televised Junior Pot Black at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield by defeating Jak Jones in the final, the under 14 section of the Lt. Col Walter Rowley OBE Junior Star"
"1996–97 season. He currently serves as an official ambassador to the Montreal Canadiens. Yvan Cournoyer Yvan Serge Cournoyer (born November 22, 1943) is a Canadian retired hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens from 1963 to 1979. Cournoyer was born in Drummondville, Quebec. He was nicknamed ""The Roadrunner"" due to his small size and blazing speed, which he credited to longer blades on his skates. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982. In 2017 Cournoyer was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Cournoyer's professional hockey"
"Neil Harrison (curler) Neil Gordon ""Harry"" Harrison (January 23, 1949 – February 24, 2014) was a Canadian curler from Newmarket, Ontario. He was a six-time provincial champion, and two-time Canadian and World champion. He is considered to be one of the best leads of all time. He is recognized as having revolutionized the position with the use of the corner guard. Harrison was born in Peterborough, Ontario on January 23, 1949 and began curling at age 12. Harrison's father Burritt was also a curler, having played lead for Ontario at the 1952 Macdonald Brier. Harrison also grew up in Peterborough."
"Didier Pitre Joseph George Didier ""Cannonball"" Pitre (September 1, 1883 – July 29, 1934) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Nicknamed ""Cannonball,"" he was renown for having one of the hardest shots during his playing career. One of the first players to join the Montreal Canadiens, Pitre and his teammates' French-Canadian heritage led to the team being nicknamed the ""Flying Frenchmen"". Though he spent the latter part of his career almost exclusivley with the Canadians, Pitre played for several other teams in various leagues early on, including the International Professional Hockey League, the first professional hockey league, and the"
"John Bear (snooker player) John Norman Bear (8 August 1944 – 17 March 2007) was a Canadian professional snooker player. Born in Kinistino, Saskatchewan in 1944, Bear spent much of his childhood was spent in Flin Flon where he learned how to play pool as a child and became a hustler. In 1979, he turned professional, entering his first tournament at the 1979 Canadian Open, where he beat Bernie Mikkelsen 5–3 before losing in the second round 7–9 to the young Englishman Joe Johnson. He beat Mikkelsen again in the Canadian Professional Championship of that year by 9 frames to"
"Shaun Murphy (snooker player) Shaun Peter Murphy (born 10 August 1982) is an English professional snooker player, who won the 2005 World Championship. Nicknamed ""The Magician"", Murphy is noted for his straight cue action and his long potting. Born in Harlow and raised in Irthlingborough, Murphy turned professional in 1998. His victory at the World Championship was considered a major surprise as he was only the third qualifier to lift the title. His other ranking tournament victories came in the 2007 Malta Cup, the 2008 UK Championship, the Players Tour Championship 2010/2011 – Finals and the 2014 World Open, while"
"Bernie Geoffrion Joseph Bernard André Geoffrion (; February 16, 1931 – March 11, 2006), nicknamed Boom Boom, was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. Generally considered as one of the innovators of the slapshot, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 following a 16-year career with the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers of the National Hockey League. In 2017 Geoffrion was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Geoffrion was born in Montreal, Quebec, and began playing in the NHL in 1951. He earned the nickname ""Boom Boom"" for his"
"Yvan Cournoyer Yvan Serge Cournoyer (born November 22, 1943) is a Canadian retired hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens from 1963 to 1979. Cournoyer was born in Drummondville, Quebec. He was nicknamed ""The Roadrunner"" due to his small size and blazing speed, which he credited to longer blades on his skates. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982. In 2017 Cournoyer was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history. Cournoyer's professional hockey career began in 1961 with the Montreal Junior Canadiens of the Ontario Hockey"
"Larry Kwong Lawrence Kwong (born Eng Kai Geong () June 17, 1923 – March 15, 2018) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and businessman. He is known as the first person of Asian ancestry to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), and the first player to break hockey's color barrier. Of Cantonese extraction, he was also the first NHL player from Vernon, British Columbia, and the Okanagan region. Kwong's nicknames included the ""China Clipper"" (a name later used for CFL player Normie Kwong) and ""King Kwong"". Kwong powered the Vernon Hydrophones to the midget hockey championship of BC"
"Alain Robidoux Alain Robidoux (born July 25, 1960) is a Canadian snooker player; he played on the sport's main tour from 1988 to 2005 and continues to play in events in Canada. He was born in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec and joined the pro circuit in the late 1980s, playing as a ""non-tournament"" professional. This entitled Robidoux to be listed on official rankings, although he could not play in most competitions. In 1988, Robidoux amassed enough points in the World Championship qualifiers to finish in the top 128 players, and thus allowing him to join the tour full-time. In September 1988, Robidoux"
"Royal Jubilee Hospital, aged 62. John Bear (snooker player) John Norman Bear (8 August 1944 – 17 March 2007) was a Canadian professional snooker player. Born in Kinistino, Saskatchewan in 1944, Bear spent much of his childhood was spent in Flin Flon where he learned how to play pool as a child and became a hustler. In 1979, he turned professional, entering his first tournament at the 1979 Canadian Open, where he beat Bernie Mikkelsen 5–3 before losing in the second round 7–9 to the young Englishman Joe Johnson. He beat Mikkelsen again in the Canadian Professional Championship of that"
"was ranked No. 64 on the all-time list of New York Rangers in the book ""100 Ranger Greats"" (John Wiley & Sons). John Ross Roach John Ross Roach (June 23, 1900 – July 9, 1973) was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League. His nicknames were ""Little Napoleon"", ""The Housecleaner"", and ""The Port Perry Cucumber"". Roach was born in Port Perry, Ontario. He won a Stanley Cup in 1922. Roach was one of only six goalies in the NHL to captain his team when he was with the Toronto St. Patricks during the 1924–25 season. He"
"an influence on Kennedy, who used a similarly L-shaped stick. Nels Stewart Robert Nelson ""Old Poison"" Stewart (December 29, 1902 – August 21, 1957) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Nels Stewart began play as an amateur at age 18 for the Cleveland Indians of the United States Amateur Hockey Association, leading the league in goals scored in four out of the five seasons he played before"