Jim Dowd (ice hockey)

Jim Dowd
Jim Dowd
Born	James Thomas Dowd; December 25, 1968 (age 57); Brick Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Professional ice hockey player (retired)
Years active	1991–2009
Known for	NHL career spanning 17 seasons, Stanley Cup champion (1995)

James Thomas Dowd (born December 25, 1968) is a retired American professional ice hockey center who competed in the NHL across 17 seasons, representing ten different franchises. He secured the Stanley Cup in 1995 with his hometown team, the New Jersey Devils, becoming only the second player from a New Jersey high school to reach the NHL level. Dowd frequently appears as a guest on NHL Live.

Early life, high school and college

During the 1985–86 season, Dowd led Brick Township High School to capture the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ice hockey championship. In his final year of high school, he established a national scholastic scoring record by amassing 375 points—comprising 189 goals and 186 assists—over his four-year tenure.

Chosen 149th overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, Dowd enrolled at Lake Superior State University. Throughout his four seasons competing in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) with the Lakers, he was a standout offensive contributor and received numerous accolades: NCAA West Second All-American and CCHA Second All-Star Team honors in 1990; NCAA West First All-American and CCHA First All-Star Team selections in 1991; and was named CCHA "Player of the Year" in 1991. Additionally, he played a key role in Lake Superior State’s 1988 NCAA Championship triumph.

New Jersey Devils and the Stanley Cup

Following his collegiate career, Dowd joined New Jersey's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Devils, marking him as the first native of New Jersey to skate for the New Jersey Devils upon making his NHL debut during the 1991 season. He spent much of the 1991–92 and 1992 campaigns primarily in the AHL, with occasional call-ups to the NHL. As a leading scorer for the AHL's Albany River Rats in 1993, Dowd recorded five goals and ten assists over 15 NHL regular-season games, along with two goals and six assists during 19 playoff contests. The lockout-shortened 1994–95 NHL season was further impacted by a shoulder injury requiring surgery, causing him to miss 35 games. A pinnacle moment in his career occurred in Game 2 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals when he netted the decisive goal that gave the Devils a commanding 2–0 series advantage en route to their inaugural Stanley Cup title. Dowd thus became both the first New Jersey-born player to compete for and win the Stanley Cup with his home-state team.

Late 1990s

Shortly after winning the Stanley Cup, on December 19, 1995, Dowd was traded alongside a second-round pick in the 1997 draft to the Hartford Whalers in exchange for Jocelyn Lemieux and a second-round pick in 1998. That same day, Hartford dealt him together with František Kučera and the draft pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Jeff Brown and a fifth-round selection. During his tenure with Vancouver, Dowd appeared in 38 regular-season games and participated in one playoff contest.

On September 30, 1996, Dowd was claimed by the New York Islanders during the NHL Waiver Draft. He featured in only three games for New York while spending most of that season playing for the IHL's Utah Grizzlies and AHL's Saint John Flames.

Dowd signed as a free agent with the Calgary Flames on July 10, 1997. He played 48 games at Calgary’s NHL level and logged an additional 35 regular-season matches plus 19 playoff appearances with their AHL affiliate, Saint John Flames, during that season.

On June 27, 1998, Dowd was traded to expansion franchise Nashville Predators for future considerations but was moved again on October 1 without having played a game. Alongside Mikhail Shtalenkov, he was sent to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Éric Fichaud, Drake Berehowsky, and Greg de Vries. In Edmonton during the 1998 season, Dowd played one NHL game while spending most of his time with their AHL affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs. As a group two unrestricted free agent, he re-signed with Edmonton on September 7, 1999, going on to appear in an NHL career-high total of 69 games during that season.

2000s

On June 23, 2000, Dowd was selected by the Minnesota Wild during the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft. After nearly four seasons with Minnesota, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on March 4, 2004, in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Amid the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Dowd signed with Germany's Hamburg Freezers. Once the lockout ended, he joined the Chicago Blackhawks on August 5, 2005.

Dowd was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on March 9, 2006, for a fourth-round draft choice in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Following that season, he entered free agency once more.

On November 2, 2006, after Dan LaCouture cleared waivers, the New Jersey Devils signed Dowd to a one-year deal at the NHL minimum salary of $450,000. With John Madden holding jersey #11, Dowd wore #12 and managed to score four goals, including his first multi-goal game against the Florida Panthers.

After the Devils' playoff defeat by the Ottawa Senators, Dowd was frequently scratched in favor of Rod Pelley, casting doubt on his future with New Jersey. On September 11, he revealed that GM Lou Lamoriello and the Devils would not extend him a contract. Subsequently, Dowd attended the Philadelphia Flyers training camp on a try-out basis, earned a roster spot, and became an important penalty killer and defensive center during , netting his first goal for the Flyers against his previous team. He attempted another tryout with Philadelphia in 2008 but was released after preseason to allow more development time for rookies such as Danny Syvret and Darroll Powe. On April 7, 2009, Dowd declared his retirement from professional hockey.

Off the ice

Jim Dowd established the Shoot for the Stars Foundation, which hosts an Annual Shore High School All-Star Hockey Game along with other events to raise funds supporting families in need due to illnesses. Additionally, he coaches ice hockey for the Red Bank Generals, a travel team based in New Jersey.

Following his playing career, Dowd was inducted into the NJSIAA Hall of Fame in 2009 and later honored by Lake Superior State with a Hall of Fame induction in 2010.

In September 2011, Dowd took part in a fundraising event at Mother Teresa Regional School in Atlantic Highlands, aiding the American Red Cross by engaging students through presentations and autograph signings.

Career statistics

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1983–84	Brick Township High School	HS-NJ	20	19	30	49	—	—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Brick Township High School	HS-NJ	24	58	55	113	—	—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Brick Township High School	HS-NJ	24	57	41	98	—	—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Brick Township High School	HS-NJ	—	62	53	115	—	—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Lake Superior State University	CCHA	45	18	27	45	16	—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Lake Superior State University	CCHA	46	24	35	59	40	—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Lake Superior State University	CCHA	46	25	67	92	30	—	—	—	—

AHL totals			324	98	194	292	305	44	10	30	40	32
NHL totals			728	71	168	239	390	99	9	17	26	50

Awards and honors

Distinction	Year
All-CCHA Second Team	1989–90
AHCA West Second-Team All-American	1989–90
All-CCHA First Team	1990–91
AHCA West First-Team All-American	1990–91
NHL Stanley Cup champion	1994–95

External links

Jim Dowd profile at databasehockey.com