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The best feature is the “heated seats, because it's minus 40 here,” says the father of four, who lives with his second wife in Calgary.

The boxy design is a love-it or hate-it style. “People say it looks like a hearse, but it's a fun car. It's really functional for our family – that's what I love the most.

“It has a lot of get-up-and-go.” And the cops don't cut him any slack for speeding. “Oh no! They double the fines. That's a feather in their cap. ‘Yeah, I pulled Theo Fleury over,'” laughs the 5-foot-6 hockey star. He was one of the smallest players in the league, but a fierce and aggressive competitor who also played with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Colorado Avalanche and the New York Rangers.

When it came to getting his driver's licence, it took a few tries. “I didn't take driver's ed classes. I'm self-taught. It took me three times to get my licence in some big beast of a car.

“I changed lanes through an intersection the first time, the second time I failed the parallel parking. I ended up taking [the car of one of my teammates in Moose Jaw]. He had a Honda Civic <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/my-car/fleury-loyal-to-the-detroit-three/article1420020/##> and that's how I got my licence with that little golf cart of a car.”

He waited several years to buy his first car – a white Chevy Chevette for $3,000. “I was playing junior hockey and I got a job at the golf course cutting grass that year. I think my payment was 120 bucks a month.

“It was great. One night we were out gallivanting with a bunch of my teammates. We put eight guys in that thing – it was hilarious! It was like those guys in the circus who pile up into the Volkswagen,” he laughs.

“I signed my first contract and I bought a Toyota Supra. I drove that thing for a couple of months and thought I need to be more practical so I traded it in for a truck – a Chevy S-10 long box. There wasn't a back seat in it, but it was a great vehicle. I loved it.”

Fleury has driven across North America, but his favourite road is in Santa Fe, N.M., where he lived briefly.

“I was driving down the I-25 and I was watching the sunset and the colours in the sky were magical – pink, blue, orange – it was spectacular. We were up in the mountains there as well – it was pretty cool,” says the 41-year-old.

“My worst memory is probably driving home for Christmas and it's minus 60 out … I just hope the car doesn't break down. I had a brand-new Escalade, but you always worry about hitting a ditch or hitting some black ice and ending up in the ditch and it's minus 60.”

On the road, he only listens to country music. “I have Sirius radio so there are about 10 country stations I go in between. It's in my iPod, too. I love the old stuff – Buck Owens, Johnny Cash, George Strait.”

When it comes to cars, Fleury always buys, never leases. “I like to buy vehicles outright. “It saves me the hassles of making a payment every month, plus as soon as you drive it off the lot, it's worth nothing.”

He usually changes cars every three years – with the exception of his other vehicle, a 2004 Cadillac Escalade EXT truck. “I've had my Escalade for quite a long time. But I love that car – that's another car that's a great ride and it's fun, too.”

Fleury is loyal to the Detroit Three. He also owns a 2007 Dodge Magnum. “Those guys have been through some tough times. I want to support North America.”