Fans got the Brashear working at Tim Hortons story all wrong!

News broke out on Wednesday morning that Donald Brashear is now working in a Tim Hortons outlet in Quebec City and serving coffee to customers.

It wasn’t long before the former NHL enforcer was recognized by customers, who hared the information on social media. According to the report in the Journal de Québec and TVA Nouvelles, the franchise is owned by another former NHL player, Pierre Sévigny. Sévigny informed the paper that he’d hired Brashear to help out.

“He’s an employee, that’s all. We have just started, he is here to help me,” Sévigny told the Journal. “We’ll take it one day at a time.”

While fans were quickly shocked by the fact that Brashear, a former millionaire player in the National Hockey League, was now working in a popular food chain, Martin Leclerc of Radio-Canada believes they missed the most important part of the story: he got back on his feet and is working hard to get out of trouble. 

Brashear got in hot water this summer as he appeared in court in Quebec City to face charges of mischief and drug possession. He might have made millions of dollars in the NHL, but after his retirement in 2010, he found himself entangled in legal and financial problems.

While he was born in the United States, Brashear grew up in Val-Bélair near Quebec City. He played more than 1,000 games for five NHL teams between 1993 and 2009, most notably the Montreal Canadiens. He scored 85 goals over the course of his career but fans will always remember him for his talents as a fighter in the league.

And now, fans should focus on the fact that Brashear is fighting for a better life. In his article, Leclerc remembers all of the former NHLers who lost theirs to substance abuse and suicide, and applauds Brashear for wanting to get better and live a healthy life. 

Even if it means working at a Tim Hortons. 

"Donald and I play hockey together twice a week. I offered him this job about two weeks ago. Something had to be done to change his routine and, perhaps, to allow him to socialize with other people. I think it takes a lot of humility to do what he does, "Sevigny told Leclerc on Tuesday. 

Brashear works from 5:30 am to 1 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, his shift ends at 10 am because Sévigny wanted him to continue playing hockey with his friends.

That’s what it’s all about: teammates, hard work and the fight to get back on track! Bravo, Donald!