Jim Roberts (ice hockey, born 1940) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jim Roberts |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Roberts with the St. Louis Blues
|
|||
| Born | April 9, 1940 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
||
| Died | October 23, 2015 (aged 75) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence/Right Wing | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Montreal Canadiens St. Louis Blues |
||
| Playing career | 1958–1978 | ||
James Wilfred Roberts (born April 9, 1940 – died October 23, 2015), known as Jim Roberts, was a Canadian ice hockey player. He played as a defenceman and a forward. Jim Roberts was famous for winning many Stanley Cups during his time in the NHL.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Hockey
Jim Roberts was born in Toronto, Canada. He started playing junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes. His coach there was Scotty Bowman, who would later become a famous coach for the Montreal Canadiens. In 1959, Roberts signed with the Canadiens and began his professional career with their minor league team, the Montreal Royals.
An Amazing Hockey Career
Jim Roberts first played in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1964 season. He quickly became a key player and helped the Canadiens win two Stanley Cups.
In 1967, a new team called the St. Louis Blues picked him as their very first player in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He played strongly for the Blues for five seasons. In 1971, he was even named the team captain.
Later, he was traded back to the Montreal Canadiens. There, he helped them win three more Stanley Cups! Roberts returned to the Blues for one last season in 1978 before he retired from playing.
He was known for his excellent defensive skills. He often played as a "shadow," meaning he would stick close to the other team's best scorers to stop them.
Roberts played in 1,006 NHL games. He scored 126 goals and made 194 assists, totaling 320 points. He was also chosen to play in three All-Star Games in 1965, 1969, and 1970. His name, "Jimmy Roberts," is engraved on the Stanley Cup five times: in 1965, 1966, 1973, 1976, and 1977, all with the Montreal Canadiens.
Life After Playing: Coaching
After retiring as a player, Jim Roberts became a coach. He worked as an interim coach for the Buffalo Sabres for a short time. He then coached the Springfield Indians in the American Hockey League. He led them to win two Calder Cup championships in a row, in 1990 and 1991.
After this success, he became the head coach of the Hartford Whalers. He also coached and was the general manager for the Worcester IceCats. Later, he returned to the St. Louis Blues as an assistant coach from 1996 to 2000. He even had a short time as their interim head coach in 1997.
Personal Life and Legacy
Jim Roberts passed away on October 23, 2015, after a battle with cancer. Just a few days later, on October 27, 2015, the St. Louis Blues honored him. Their team members wore special helmet decals that said "JR" to remember him.
See also
- List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
