Jim Anderson (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
James William Anderson was a Canadian
professional ice hockey
and head coach
. He is perhaps most notable for being the first head coach of the Washington Capitals
. He was born in Pembroke
, Ontario
.
player in the city of Springfield, Jimmy Anderson spent all but a fraction of his 16-year AHL career with the Indians
and Kings.
Anderson made an immediate impact in Springfield, scoring 39 goals and claiming the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding rookie in 1954-55
.
Anderson would become one of the offensive leaders on the Indians' record-setting clubs of the early 1960s as Springfield became the first – and still the only – franchise in league history to capture three consecutive Calder Cup
championships.
In 1960-61
, Anderson earned a Second Team AHL All-Star berth at left wing, posting a career-best 81 points and leading the AHL with 43 goals, his first of five straight 30-goal efforts. More accolades followed in 1963-64
as another 40-goal output resulted in another Second Team All-Star nod and the Willie Marshall Award
as leading goal scorer.
In 1967, the NHL's expansion Los Angeles Kings
took over hockey operations in Springfield. Anderson continued to don his familiar number 10 and recorded the 12th and final 20-goal season of his AHL career in 1967-68
. That year, at age 37, he also finally made his debut in the National Hockey League with Los Angeles.
Anderson closed out his playing career with 426 goals and 821 points in 943 games, good for a place in the AHL's all-time top 10 in all three categories.
In November 2008, Anderson's career was recognized with induction into the fourth class (2009) of the AHL Hall of Fame.
, 1975-76
), and was the first head coach in the history of the NHL's Washington Capitals
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
and head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. He is perhaps most notable for being the first head coach of the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. He was born in Pembroke
Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke is a city in the province of Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Playing career
Anderson is the all-time leader in games, goals and points by an American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
player in the city of Springfield, Jimmy Anderson spent all but a fraction of his 16-year AHL career with the Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
and Kings.
Anderson made an immediate impact in Springfield, scoring 39 goals and claiming the Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL's outstanding rookie in 1954-55
1954–55 AHL season
The 1954–55 AHL season was the 19th season of the American Hockey League. Six teams played 64 games each in the schedule. The "Carl Liscombe Trophy" for the league's top scorer is renamed to the John B. Sollenberger Trophy. The All-Star game is revived, with the AHL All-Stars taking on the...
.
Anderson would become one of the offensive leaders on the Indians' record-setting clubs of the early 1960s as Springfield became the first – and still the only – franchise in league history to capture three consecutive Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
championships.
In 1960-61
1960–61 AHL season
The 1960–61 AHL season was the 25th season of the American Hockey League. Seven teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The All-Star Game was not played, and put on hold until resurrected in the 1994–95 AHL season...
, Anderson earned a Second Team AHL All-Star berth at left wing, posting a career-best 81 points and leading the AHL with 43 goals, his first of five straight 30-goal efforts. More accolades followed in 1963-64
1963–64 AHL season
The 1963–64 AHL season was the 28th season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Quebec Aces finished first overall in the regular season...
as another 40-goal output resulted in another Second Team All-Star nod and the Willie Marshall Award
Willie Marshall Award
The Willie Marshall Award is given to the American Hockey League's leading goal scorer for the regular season. The award was established in the 2003–04 season to honour Willie Marshall, the AHL's all-time leader in goals, assists, points and games played...
as leading goal scorer.
In 1967, the NHL's expansion Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
took over hockey operations in Springfield. Anderson continued to don his familiar number 10 and recorded the 12th and final 20-goal season of his AHL career in 1967-68
1967–68 AHL season
The 1967–68 AHL season was the 32nd season of the American Hockey League. Eight teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The league played a limited interlocking schedule with the Western Hockey League which was a repeat of the experiment two seasons earlier. The Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial...
. That year, at age 37, he also finally made his debut in the National Hockey League with Los Angeles.
Anderson closed out his playing career with 426 goals and 821 points in 943 games, good for a place in the AHL's all-time top 10 in all three categories.
In November 2008, Anderson's career was recognized with induction into the fourth class (2009) of the AHL Hall of Fame.
Coaching career
Anderson served two stints as Springfield's head coach (1969-701969–70 AHL season
The 1969–70 AHL season was the 34th season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Montreal Voyageurs became the second Canadian-based team in the league, and finished first overall in the regular season...
, 1975-76
1975–76 AHL season
The 1975–76 AHL season was the 40th season of the American Hockey League. The league begins to give out three James H. Ellery Memorial Awards to the media, one each for outstanding newspaper, radio and television coverage of the AHL....
), and was the first head coach in the history of the NHL's Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
.