Hockey tough guy forced to sell Tim Hortons franchise due to health issues

After nine seasons as a hockey enforcer, Meadow Lake native Jon “Nasty” Mirasty saw a future in business, opening the areas first Tim Hortons with his wife Janessa. But health problems connected to his hockey career have forced him to sell.

 “The venture in the business wasn’t beneficial to him nor our family. So in the best interest of his health and what we need to do for the future for him I decided to sell the business,” Janessa said.

Jon and Janessa opened the Tim Hortons in December 2015 and sold it in March 2016 – four months after opening – to focus on Jon’s health needs.

“The everyday stresses of the business exasperated what he has going on health wise and it wasn’t helping him so we had to resort to selling the business.” 

Janessa said they sold the franchise to Kim Lefevre. 

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“I know my husband probably feels like he let down the community, in the sense that he brought it here and he’s local. But you know, no one can take away from the fact he brought it here. It’s just unfortunate with what unfolded with his health that we couldn’t keep it,” Janessa added.

The whole experience was a learning curve for Jon and Janessa and through it all local business owners and residents continue to be supportive of Jon as he battles his health issues by sending cards, flowers and well wishes.

The enforcer skated for nine seasons in seven different leagues including the ECHL, AHL, and KHL where he was known best for his Mohawk style haircut and laughing during his fights. In nine professional seasons of hockey, Mirasty accumulated 2439 penalty minutes. Besides being a hockey fighter, Mirasty also gave mixed martial arts a try. He had two professional bouts, both of them resulting in loss by knockout.

Janessa said the next thing is to focus on Jon’s health. “We aren’t too sure what the future will hold, we are trying to see what will be the best for him health wise.”

They aren’t ruling anything out, including Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease found in people who have taken several blows to the head, mainly professional athletes. However, due to current technology CTE can’t be diagnosed while the patient is living.

cswiderski@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @coltonswiderski