Jim Thomson (ice hockey, born 1965)

James B. Thomson
Born	(1965-12-30) December 30, 1965 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Occupation	Professional ice hockey player (retired)
Years active	1985–1994
Known for	NHL right winger for Washington Capitals, Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

James B. Thomson (born December 30, 1965) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey athlete. Selected 185th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1984 NHL entry draft, Thomson's nine-season tenure in the NHL (1985–1994) featured appearances with the Capitals, Hartford Whalers, New Jersey Devils, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Junior

During the 1982–83 campaign, Thomson divided his time between the Markham Waxers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He participated in 35 games for Markham, registering six goals and 13 points, and took part in 14 contests for Toronto without recording any points. After being released by the Marlboros in October 1982, he briefly returned as an injury replacement but did not see ice time. Thomson earned his initial point with Toronto during four postseason games that year.

In the following season (1983–84), Thomson appeared in 60 matches for Toronto, accumulating 10 goals and 28 points despite missing several games due to a groin strain and hip muscle injury. He added one goal across nine playoff appearances. His concluding OHL season (1984–85) marked a personal best with 23 goals and 51 points over 63 games, alongside three goals in five playoff matchups.

Washington Capitals, Hartford Whalers, and New Jersey Devils

Thomson was picked 185th overall by the Washington Capitals during the 1984 NHL entry draft. Upon completing his OHL career, he joined Washington’s AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Whalers, late in the 1984–85 AHL season. Recognized as a gritty right winger with a combative approach, Thomson did not score in four regular-season games while placed on Binghamton’s fourth line but contributed one assist in six playoff contests. In his rookie full season (1985–86), he tallied 15 goals and 24 points across 59 games and amassed 195 penalty minutes (PIM), establishing himself as one of two rookies to regularly feature for Binghamton. His season was interrupted by injuries including a hand injury in January 1986 and a dislocated shoulder sustained during a fight in February. In six playoff games that year, he recorded one goal and two points.

The 1986–87 season saw Thomson score 13 goals and collect 23 points over 57 games while leading the league with 360 PIM. A notable incident occurred when he, alongside teammates and coach Larry Pleau, confronted fans following an altercation involving Shane Churla. Thomson served a three-game suspension after pushing a linesman. Due to injuries depleting Washington’s forward lineup, he was recalled in November and made his NHL debut on November 22 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. After nine goalless games, he returned to Binghamton but was summoned again in late December for a single game before heading back to the AHL. He finished that season having appeared in ten NHL matches without scoring and contributed one assist plus 40 PIM during ten Calder Cup playoff games.

Thomson spent all of the 1987–88 season with Binghamton, managing eight goals and 17 points over just 25 games before undergoing surgery on his hand to repair knuckle injuries caused by fighting. In four playoff appearances, he scored once and totaled three points. Throughout the 1988–89 campaign, he alternated between Washington and their new AHL affiliate, the Baltimore Skipjacks. Thomson netted his first NHL goal on February 15, 1989, against the Chicago Blackhawks, prompting goaltender Alain Chevrier’s removal from the game. That season included an impressive tally of 25 goals and 41 points over 41 games with Baltimore and two goals across 14 NHL outings. On March 6, he was traded to the Hartford Whalers in exchange for defenseman Scot Kleinendorst. Thomson debuted for Hartford on March 18 but went scoreless across five games. He secured a multi-year deal with Hartford that August.

Beginning the 1989–90 season with Hartford’s AHL affiliate Binghamton, Thomson played eight matches before being traded to the New Jersey Devils on October 31 for minor league forward Chris Cichocki. Immediately assigned to New Jersey’s AHL team, the Utica Devils, he posted totals of 20 goals and 43 points over 60 games. Utica qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs where Thomson contributed one goal in four contests. Recalled by New Jersey early February 1990, he made his Devils debut on February 9 during a victory against his former club Washington. He participated in two additional NHL games that season without registering any points.

Los Angeles Kings and expansion era

In July 1990, Thomson joined the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent and was assigned to their AHL team, the New Haven Nighthawks, for the 1990–91 campaign. Over 27 appearances, he tallied 5 goals and totaled 18 points. The Kings recalled him in January 1991, and he made his NHL debut on January 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, helping secure a 5–2 victory. In the following match, Thomson netted his first goal for Los Angeles during a 3–1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. That season, he participated in eight games, registering one goal.

Thomson was picked by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1991 NHL expansion draft but was traded back to the Kings along with defenseman Charlie Huddy, forward Randy Gilhen, and a draft selection in exchange for forward Todd Elik at the 1991 NHL entry draft. Throughout the 1991–92 season, Thomson appeared in 45 games for Los Angeles, scoring once and collecting three points, frequently paired with Jay Miller and Randy Gilhen. After sustaining a hyperextended elbow in November, he missed four contests before returning to play. Following Gilhen’s December trade, John McIntyre took his place on Thomson’s line. A heel injury in February resulted in Thomson being sent to the Kings’ IHL affiliate, the Phoenix Roadrunners, where he scored once in two games.

Thomson was again available in the 1992 NHL expansion draft and was selected by the Ottawa Senators. By this stage, his slower skating and role as an enforcer made him surplus to requirements behind Mike Peluso. He debuted on October 12 and played on Ottawa's checking line alongside Laurie Boschman and Darcy Loewen. During his stint with Ottawa, he recorded one assist before being traded back to Los Angeles on December 19, 1992, together with forward Marc Fortier for forward Bob Kudelksi and prospect Shawn McCosh. Thomson was reassigned to Phoenix in February 1993 but recalled in April to take part in the Kings’ journey to the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs. He appeared in one playoff game during the Clarence Campbell Conference Final but did not play afterward; Los Angeles ultimately fell to the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Final.

In the 1993 NHL expansion draft, Thomson was selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He made his debut on October 10, 1993, but suffered a left shoulder sprain early in that game which caused him to miss subsequent matches. Listed as day-to-day, he played six games during the 1993–94 season before undergoing shoulder surgery in late December. Over his NHL tenure, Thomson participated in 115 regular-season games, scoring four goals and adding three assists for seven points while accruing 416 penalty minutes.

Personal life

Following his retirement from professional hockey, Thomson became owner of the Junior "A" team known as the Aurora Tigers. He also pursues motivational speaking engagements throughout North America via his organization, Jim Thomson's Dreams Do Come True. Additionally, Thomson holds roles as an ambassador, speaker, and advisory board member for Your Life Counts.

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1980–81	Markham Waxers	OPJHL		3	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Devon Dynamiters	AAHA		55	60	56	116	72		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Markham Waxers	OJHL		35	6	7	13	81		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Toronto Marlboros	OHL		14	0	0	0	9		4	0	1	1	0
1983–84	Toronto Marlboros	OHL		60	10	18	28	68		9	1	0	1	26
1984–85	Toronto Marlboros	OHL		63	23	28	51	122		5	3	1	4	25
1984–85	Binghamton Whalers	AHL		4	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
1985–85	Binghamton Whalers	AHL		59	15	9	24	195		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Washington Capitals	NHL		10	0	0	0	35		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	Binghamton Whalers	AHL		57	13	10	23	360		10	0	1	1	40
1987–88	Binghamton Whalers	AHL		25	8	9	17	64		4	1	2	3	7
1988–89	Washington Capitals	NHL		14	2	0	2	53
1988–89 NHL season	Hartford Whalers	NHL		5	0	0	0	14
1988–89 AHL season	Baltimore Skipjacks	AHL		41	25	16	41	129
1989–90 NHL season	New Jersey Devils	NHL		3	0	0	0	31
1989–90 AHL season	Binghamton Whalers	AHL		8	1	2	3	30
1989–90 AHL season	Utica Devils	AHL		60	20	23	43	124
1990–91 NHL season	New Jersey Devils	NHL		8	1	0	1	19
1990–91 AHL season	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL		27	5	8	13	121
1991–92 NHL season	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		45	1	2	3	162
1991–92 IHL season	Phoenix Roadrunners	IHL		2	1	0	1	0
1992–93 NHL season	Ottawa Senators	NHL		15	0	1	1	41
1992–93 NHL season	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		9	0	0	0	56
1992–93 IHL season	Phoenix Roadrunners	IHL		14	4	5	9	44
1993–94 NHL season	Mighty Ducks of Anaheim	NHL		6	0	0	0	5
NHL totals				115	4	3	7	416		1	0	0	0	0

External links

• Player profile at hockeydraftcentral.com