Alumni Update: Jim Dobson
By: Lauren Pullen
He made his debut at the Memorial Coliseum in 1978 and had a successful run during his two years with Portland. To this day he ranks 26th on the team’s all-time scoring list with 211 points, 22nd in goals with 104, sixth for most goals scored in a season with 66 in 1979-80, and he once tallied five goals in a game. Know who the former Hawk is yet?
This player was Jim “The Dobber” Dobson.
During his time in Portland from 1978-80, Dobson scored 104 goals and tallied 107 assists for 211 points in 143 games. But even with all of his records and his incredible stat line his greatest memory from playing in Portland was all the support he received from the fans, which is a big reason why he moved back to Portland after retiring from hockey in 1988.
“The fans in the Memorial Coliseum were always loud and supportive and it certainly didn’t hurt that we had good hockey teams both years I played here,” said Dobson. “The most memorable thing about playing there was the support we received from the fans; not only at the games, but just around the town. If someone knew we played for the Winterhawks we were treated like royalty.”
After being drafted by the Minnesota North Stars in 1979, Dobson was still playing for Portland when he was called up to play in his first National Hockey League contest. That game against the New York Rangers would be the first of 12 he’d play in the NHL with Minnesota, the Colorado Rockies and the Quebec Nordiques.
“It was a dream come true,” said Dobson. “I didn’t have a stellar NHL career because of injuries and probably being with the wrong team at the wrong time, but I was fortunate enough to play a few games in the NHL and to get a taste of it. That’s not something that every player as the opportunity to do.”
There’s one aspect of hockey life he doesn’t miss: bus trips, specifically, the time when they drove from Brandon, Manitoba to Portland without stopping to stay at a hotel. That’s 23 hours on the bus and 1,430 miles to get back home.
“I absolutely do not miss those trips,” said Jim laughing. “It was a grind back in our day. I remember one time where we had a 15-day road trip where we played 11 games in 15 days or 10 games in 14 days. It was brutal. Guys were hurt and guys were sick, it was a grind.”
After retiring, Dobson was offered an assistant coaching job; the catch was it was with the archrival Seattle. He took the job in December 1987 and by the time February rolled around he was promoted to the head coaching position.
Before Dobson had set foot in Seattle, fans had already decided they were not going to give the former Winterhawk a warm welcoming, but by the end of the season, they were petitioning for him to return for another season.
“I got that job because the GM, Sheldon Ferguson, knew me because he used to be a scout for the NHL’s Quebec Nordiques,” said Dobson. “I played in the Quebec organization for a couple of years and Sheldon called me up out of the blue and asked if I would like to be the assistant coach. Believe me I was not very well received by the Thunderbird fans when I went up there. I took a lot of verbal abuse being an ex-Winterhawk coaching the T-Birds, but by the end of that year, they were passing around a petition in the stands to make sure I came back as the coach for the following year.”
Since leaving hockey, Dobson started a family and now has twin daughters, Rochelle and Janelle, who are both attending the University of Oregon. He has also been a realtor in the Portland area for the past 20 years and loves every minute of it.
“I am the father of identical twin daughters who are now 20-years-old,”said Dobson. “Being a father, I got to spend a lot of time with my children raising them and that was a lot of fun. I am also a realtor and that has been good. What a great job; selling reality in a city you absolutely adore.”
However, even after hanging up his skates 30 years ago, Jim has not entirely given up the sport he grew up loving. Beginning this season, Jim will be the color commentator for all of the televised Winterhawks games on Comcast Channel 15, beginning Saturday with the Dash For Cash game against Seattle.
“I am really excited to do that,” he said. “They offered me the opportunity to do the games and of course I jumped at it. My passion is hockey. I love hockey.”
With the years of being out on the ice behind him, Jim often looks back with a few teammates he still keeps in touch with and reminisces about the good old days where they were treated like royalty for playing the sport they love.
“We were blessed because we had great teams, so obviously when you win, your memories are a lot better,” said Jim. “It was probably the two best years of my life. We had two fantastic hockey teams, our record was terrific and the team was great. All my teammates were dedicated and focused and our fans treated us like gold. We had so much fun on and off the ice. I miss it. I think about it all the time.”
Finally, to all of the fans who always supported Dobber and cheered him on while he spent time in Portland, he has one final message:
“I would love to say thank you to each and every one of the fans who supported me when I was a player here,” he said. “The thrill of being able to play in front of such supportive fans, I will never forget it. I wish I could go around and shake everyone’s hand and say thank you very much for creating probably the best two years of my life. It was a beautiful time.”
Are you a former Winterhawk who’d like to get back in touch with the team? We’re building our Alumni Association and want to hear from you. Contact Andrea Blaesing at [email protected] to find out how you can get involved.
