Jim Roberts (ice hockey b. 1956)
Encyclopedia
James Drew Roberts is a retired Canadian
professional ice hockey
player.
) near Flesherton, Ontario
. He attended Grey Highlands Secondary School
and played hockey for local teams until he was old enough to move up to Junior B hockey.
Roberts's junior hockey career started with the 1972–73 Owen Sound Greys
of the Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League
. With the help of Roberts, the Greys won their league championship. The Greys eventually came with in a win of defeating the Toronto Nationals
, which would have given them the chance to win the Sutherland Cup
as provincial champions. The next season saw him move up to the Ottawa 67's
of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League. In three seasons with the 67's, Roberts tabulated 62 goals and 176 points in 188 regular seasons games.
In 1976, after three seasons with the 67's, Roberts was drafted 31st overall by the Minnesota North Stars
in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft
. The same year, Roberts was also drafted 34th overall by the Houston Aeros
in the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft
. Roberts started the 1976–77 season off in the American Hockey League
with the New Haven Nighthawks
, but after ten games was brought up to play with the Stars for the rest of the season. Roberts split the 1977–78 season between the North Stars and the Central Hockey League
's Fort Worth Texans
and split the 1978–79 season between the North Stars and the CHL's Oklahoma City Stars
. At the end of the season, the North Stars left Roberts unprotected and he was picked up by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft
; however, he never played another game in the National Hockey League
. In 106 National Hockey League
games, Roberts scored 17 goals and had 23 assists with 33 penalty minutes, all with the Minnesota North Stars
.
In 1979–80, Roberts jumped from the Tulsa Oilers to the Cincinnati Stingers
of the CHL and Maine Mariners
of the AHL before retiring from professional hockey at the end of the season. Afterwards, he returned to the Flesherton area and played senior hockey for the Ontario Hockey Association
's Durham Huskies
for several years.
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...
player.
Career
Born in Toronto, Roberts grew up in Proton Station, Ontario (now a part of SouthgateSouthgate, Ontario
Southgate is a township in western Ontario, Canada, in the southeast corner of Grey County. Southgate was formed on January 1, 2000, when the Village of Dundalk, the Township of Proton and the Township of Egremont were amalgamated...
) near Flesherton, Ontario
Flesherton, Ontario
Flesherton is a community in the Municipality of Grey Highlands, in Grey County, Ontario, Canada, located at the junction of Highway 10 and Grey County Road 4...
. He attended Grey Highlands Secondary School
Grey Highlands Secondary School
Grey Highlands Secondary School is a Grade 9-12 high school located in Flesherton, Ontario, in rural Grey County. It was built in 1967 as part of a province-wide upgrade of educational facilities. Unlike typical rural high schools of the time that were designed only to graduate matriculation...
and played hockey for local teams until he was old enough to move up to Junior B hockey.
Roberts's junior hockey career started with the 1972–73 Owen Sound Greys
Owen Sound Greys
The Owen Sound Greys are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League...
of the Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League
Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League
The Mid-Ontario Junior B Hockey League was a Junior "B" ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario. They were sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association and Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and competed for the All-Ontario Junior "B" title, the Sutherland Cup.-History:The league was formed...
. With the help of Roberts, the Greys won their league championship. The Greys eventually came with in a win of defeating the Toronto Nationals
Toronto Nationals (1970–1980)
The Toronto Nationals are a pair of defunct Tier II Junior "A" ice hockey teams from Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. They were a part of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League and the Metro Junior B Hockey League.-Jr. A Nationals:...
, which would have given them the chance to win the Sutherland Cup
Sutherland Cup
The Sutherland Cup is the ice hockey Ontario Junior "B" Provincial Championship trophy. The Sutherland Cup is now the championship trophy of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. Until 2007, the Cup served as an interleague provincial championship...
as provincial champions. The next season saw him move up to the Ottawa 67's
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67’s are a junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. They have played in the Ontario Hockey League since 1967, Canada's centennial year. The current coach is Chris Byrne.-History:...
of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League. In three seasons with the 67's, Roberts tabulated 62 goals and 176 points in 188 regular seasons games.
In 1976, after three seasons with the 67's, Roberts was drafted 31st overall by the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
in the 1976 NHL Amateur Draft
1976 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1976 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the NHL office in Montreal, Quebec on June 1, 1976. It is notable as featuring one of the weakest first rounds in draft history, as only two players played more than 450 career NHL games. In 2002, Federko was elected into the Hockey Hall-of-Fame after...
. The same year, Roberts was also drafted 34th overall by the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
in the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft
1976 WHA Amateur Draft
The 1976 WHA Amateur Draft was the fourth draft held by the World Hockey Association.-Selections by Round:Below are listed the selections in the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.-Round 1:1 Blair Chapman - Edmonton Oilers2 Peter Marsh - Cincinnati Stingers...
. Roberts started the 1976–77 season off in the American Hockey League
American 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...
with the New Haven Nighthawks
New Haven Nighthawks
The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings...
, but after ten games was brought up to play with the Stars for the rest of the season. Roberts split the 1977–78 season between the North Stars and the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
's Fort Worth Texans
Fort Worth Texans
The Fort Worth Texans were a professional ice hockey team based in Fort Worth, Texas. They started play in 1967 as the Fort Worth Wings, a minor league affiliate for the Detroit Red Wings. They were part of the Central Hockey League and played their home games at Will Rogers Coliseum...
and split the 1978–79 season between the North Stars and the CHL's Oklahoma City Stars
Oklahoma City Stars
The Oklahoma City Stars were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League from 1978 to 1982. They were affiliated with the Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League....
. At the end of the season, the North Stars left Roberts unprotected and he was picked up by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft
1979 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1979 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 13, 1979. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's new teams for the 1979–80 season: the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets...
; however, he never played another game in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. In 106 National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
games, Roberts scored 17 goals and had 23 assists with 33 penalty minutes, all with the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
.
In 1979–80, Roberts jumped from the Tulsa Oilers to the Cincinnati Stingers
Cincinnati Stingers
The Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.-History:The Stingers franchise was awarded in...
of the CHL and Maine Mariners
Maine Mariners
The Maine Mariners were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Portland, Maine, USA at the Cumberland County Civic Center.-History:...
of the AHL before retiring from professional hockey at the end of the season. Afterwards, he returned to the Flesherton area and played senior hockey for the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
's Durham Huskies
Durham Huskies
----The Durham Huskies are an ice hockey franchise based in the town of Durham, Ontario, Canada. The team is actually a series of teams that have spanned nine decades and through an uncountable series of leagues. The Huskies have existed under of couple short lived monikers before finding their...
for several years.