5 things you might not know about Ben Lovejoy

The Stars' newest defenseman is definitely intriguing.
Ben Lovejoy was acquired from the New Jersey Devils on Saturday for Connor Carrick and a third-round draft pick. The 35-year-old is a stay-at-home defenseman who is also a penalty killing specialist. His nickname "The Reverend Lovejoy" comes from "The Simpsons" TV show and he already has committed to donating his brain for CTE research, becoming the first active NHL player to do so.
Here are five things you might not know about Ben Lovejoy:

1. His nickname is 'The Reverend'

Lovejoy was nicknamed after the character Reverend Lovejoy on "The Simpsons." He even uses it for his Twitter account, which he hasn't updated in almost two years.

Here's what he told The Hockey Writers in New Jersey: "I've sort of abandoned the Twitter account; (smiles) I have better things to do now. But everybody, when I first arrived here, asked me what they called me (as far as a nickname) and I was sort of dumbfounded and said, 'Oh I don't know.' And then (Kyle) Palmieri came back from the World Cup and started calling me Rev again - and I said, 'Oh yeah that's what people call me!' I was a Simpsons fan growing up, but I probably haven't watched the show in 10 or 15 years. It was easy…once I became a pro hockey player that sort of became my nickname and I don't mind it. Every once in a while I'll get a guy who will ask me if I'm super-religious and if that's why they call me Rev. (grinning)."

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2. He's a defensive defenseman

Lovejoy has 20 goals among 99 points in 524 NHL games, so he's not going to set any scoring records. However, in his past three seasons with the Devils, he was second to Andy Greene in blocked shots (313 in 190 games) and in shorthanded time on ice (3:19 per game).
He's a solid, third-pairing defenseman and an adroit penalty killer. He also played much of last season with left-handed rookie Will Butcher, so the right-handed veteran might be a candidate to play beside Stars rookie Miro Heiskanen.

3. He's a Stanley Cup champion

Lovejoy was a regular on the Pittsburgh Penguins defense, playing all 24 games in 2016 en route to the Stanley Cup championship.
The New Hampshire native brought the Cup to Dartmouth College, where he attended college, and to the area he still calls home.
"We have a crazy life. We've lived in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., we've lived in Pittsburgh, Pa., we've lived in Newport Beach, Calif., we've been back to Pittsburgh, we're heading to New Jersey, we've spent summers in both Philadelphia and at my parents' house in Orford," Lovejoy
told the Valley News
. "But we wanted and needed a place to call home. We spend three or four summer months here. This is always our home base."
Watch: Youtube Video
Lovejoy has played in 65 Stanley Cup playoff games, which is now second to Jason Spezza on the Stars, who has 69 in his career.

4. He suffered a gruesome and publicized face injury

Lovejoy was on the Penguins when they were being filmed for HBO's 24/7 as a part of the preview to the Winter Classic. He had a game where he scored a goal, had a fight and was hit in the face with a puck. The repair and consequent swelling of his face became a bit of YouTube lore.
Watch: Youtube Video

5. He will donate his brain to science

Lovejoy does not have a history of concussions, but became the first active NHL player to pledge that he will donate his brain to science when he dies.
Lovejoy is
partnering with the Concussion Legacy Foundation
and is hoping his move will inspire other NHL players and athletes to do the same.
"I hope I live until I'm 90-plus years old and concussion issues and CTE are cured long before my brain is looked at by the doctors," Lovejoy said. "I am lucky. I have had very little head trauma throughout my career. But I have had teammates, both high profile stars and minor role players, who have struggled with concussions.
"By pledging to donate my brain, I hope it helps the team at Concussion Legacy Foundation and their collaborators at Boston University and the VA continue their work to cure concussions and CTE."
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.