Roberts_Panel_FNL Design & layout by Quench Design & Communications Inc. | Port Hope | www.quenchme.ca Jimmy Roberts National Hockey League When James Wilfred "Jimmy" Roberts returned to Port Hope in 2010 to be added to the High School's Wall of Honour, he reminisced all the way back to Grade 4. It was then, at Dr. L.B. Powers Public School, that his teacher asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up. Even back then young Jimmy knew - "I want to play in the National Hockey League!" And play he did, for 15 seasons. Roberts played his Junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes, where he was coached by Scotty Bowman, his future coach in Montreal. The scouts liked what they saw, a hard working defenceman and a team player, and in 1959 he signed a pro contract with the Montreal Canadiens' minor league team, the Royals. By 1965 he was full time with the Canadiens and garnered two Stanley Cup rings before being claimed by the St. Louis Blues as their first selection in the expansion draft. He played solidly for the Blues for five seasons, being named the team captain. Reacquired by the Canadiens in 1971, Roberts resumed his defensive responsibilities, smothering opposing forwards with his energetic and e�ective play. After earning three more rings with the "Habs", he spent his last NHL season back in St. Louis, before retiring as a player after the 1977-78 season. Not prepared to leave hockey, Roberts became interim coach of the Bu�alo Sabres under his old mentor Scotty Bowman. After coaching the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League to back-to- back Calder Cup championships in 1990 and 1991 he was named head coach of the Hartford Whalers. His final assignment was as assistant coach with the St. Louis parent club between 1996-2000. Jimmy Roberts died on October 23, 2015. On the 27th the St. Louis Blues announced that, for the home stand, they were going to honour Jimmy by wearing helmet decals that read "JR" in the lower left corner. 1006 NHL Games and 5 Stanley Cups - What a Record! "The Hall of Honour was created a few years ago... to provide current students with role models and to connect the current school commu- nity with the past. Having Jimmy here today certainly accomplishes our goals. His level of discipline and work ethic is the type of thing we like to honour." Jim Spencer, History Teacher at Port Hope High Jimmy Roberts with John Sherwin & Ross Quigley