Keanu Reeves Signs Contract With Professional Hockey Team

World-renowned Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves, known (among many others) for his iconic roles in The Matrix and John Wick franchises, has signed an honorary one-day contract with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Windsor Spitfires, the team announced on August 22.

This unique move comes decades after Reeves, now 59, passed up a potential career in hockey to pursue acting—a decision that ultimately led him to international stardom. Can't blame him!

Although the OHL is typically reserved for players aged 16 to 21, Reeves was granted special permission to sign with the Spitfires for a day, fulfilling a long-lost dream.

Reeves, who was born in Beirut (Lebanon) but grew up in Toronto after his family immigrated to Canada in 1970, was an aspiring goaltender during his youth. He was even offered a tryout by the Spitfires as a teenager but chose the path of acting instead after suffering an injury.

Interestingly, Reeves would later play the role of a goaltender in his first feature film, Youngblood , released in 1986.

Reeves' career in Hollywood took off in 1999 with his role as Neo in The Matrix , a sci-fi blockbuster that made him a household name. His success continued with three additional sequels in the franchise, and his portrayal of the deadly assassin John Wick further solidified his status as one of the most iconic action stars of the modern era.

Following the announcement, Reeves spent time signing items during his time under contract with the Spitfires which will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Windsor branch.

Spitfires General Manager Bill Bowler spoke about the historical signing on Thursday, via CHL.ca .

“It’s a big day for our organization,” Bowler said. “We are so proud to finally have Keanu on our squad. If he’s half the goalie he was in Youngblood we should do well this season.

"We are big supporters of the CMHA and hope the auction for this extremely rare jersey will help such an important cause in our community.”

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