Jim Jackson

James Kenneth Jackson (born February 1, 1960) is a former professional ice hockey right winger and current head coach of the Markham Thunder of the Canadian Women's Hockey League. He played for the Calgary Flames and the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.

"Jackson was a multi-award winning player in minor hockey.Drafted by the Oshawa Generals, Jim played 4 years of Junior Hockey with the Generals and the Niagara Falls Flyers.The Eastern Hockey League Richmond Rifles were Jim's first pro-team in 1980.The next season, Jim made the 2nd All-Star Team while playing for the Muskegon Mohawks of the International Hockey League. The next 3 seasons were spent with the National Hockey League Calgary Flames, as well as teams in Colorado and Moncton.In 1985, the Buffalo Sabres assigned Jim to the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League. The Americans were league champions in 1986-87, winning the Calder Cup. In 112 National Hockey games, Jim scored 17 goals and 47 points.With Rochester, he scored 93 goals and 205 assists in 360 games."

Resettling in numerous new cities during his hockey career did not prevent Jim from becoming involved in the local charitable and community events.Known as "J.J." while playing in Rochester, N.Y. with the Rochester Americans, Jackson quickly became a fan favourite noted for his skill in blocking shots on the penalty kill.

Jackson was born to Ralph (Curly) Kenneth Jackson and Joan Thérèse Melvina Jackson (née Cardinal) in Oshawa, Ontario. A welcome addition to his family, he was the third child of the Jackson's eventual four children. Curious, bright and physically active as a toddler, Jim learned to skate early in life. Each Autumn, his father constructed a wooden frame in preparation for packing and flooding their large backyard rink. Encouraged by his parents and their love of hockey, Jim was a mere two years old when he first hit the ice. He quickly found his comfort level and, by the age of four, he was playing alongside his older brother against the neighbourhood boys, battling through games as their favourite NHL player. In early spring, when warm weather broke the ice, road hockey became their passion.

Hockey played a major role in life at the Jackson home. Family and friends would faithfully gather for Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night. It was an animated, fun-filled evening with a few drinks, lively bantering, play analysis, player critiquing, plenty of snacks and a pot collected from 10 cent bets on the outcome of the game. Within this family dynamic young Jim became, not only an avid hockey fan but, a staunch Toronto Maple Leafs fan. Eddie Shack, Red Kelly and Tim Horton, hockey greats of the 1960s, were among Jackson's idols. Jim would also find inspiration in a young defencemen living just around the corner from him. Bobby Orr, the future Boston Bruins star, was boarding with an Oshawa familywhile he played for the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA).

As a youth, Jackson played in the 1972 and 1973 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Oshawa.

Calder Cup Champion Rochester Americans 1986-87

Rochester Americans Hockey Hall of Fame inducted 2001

Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame inducted 2002

• EHL Second All-Star Team (1981) Signed as a free agent by Buffalo, September 26, 1985.
• IHL Second All-Star Team (1982) Signed as a free agent by Calgary, October 8, 1982.

Career Statistics Source: Hockey Hall of Fame