Jim Slater is a former professional ice hockey player who played as a center in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on December 9, 1982, in Petoskey, Michigan, and grew up in Lapeer, Michigan. Slater began his hockey career playing for the Michigan State Spartans in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) during the 2000-2001 season.
After playing for the Spartans for two seasons, Slater was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut for the Thrashers during the 2005-2006 season and played for the team until the franchise moved to Winnipeg in 2011. During his time with the Thrashers/Jets, Slater was known for his physical play, penalty killing, and faceoff skills.
In 2014, Slater signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets, but he was limited to just 27 games due to injury. After the 2014-2015 season, Slater became an unrestricted free agent and signed a one-year contract with the Swiss team, the Geneva-Servette HC. He played for the team during the 2015-2016 season before retiring from professional hockey.
Throughout his NHL career, Slater played in 584 games, scoring 69 goals and 74 assists for a total of 143 points. He was also known for his defensive play, recording a career plus-minus rating of +7. Slater was a reliable penalty killer and faceoff specialist, winning 51.4% of his faceoffs during his career.
Off the ice, Slater was known for his leadership and community involvement. He was a finalist for the NHL's King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2013, which recognizes a player's leadership qualities on and off the ice. Slater was also involved in various charitable organizations, including the Atlanta Thrashers Foundation and the Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation.
In conclusion, Jim Slater had a successful career as a professional ice hockey player, playing for over a decade in the NHL. He was known for his physical play, penalty killing, and faceoff skills, as well as his leadership and community involvement off the ice. Although he retired from professional hockey in 2016, Slater's contributions to the sport and his community will not be forgotten.
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