Jim Shields

Inducted into the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame: June 15th, 2012

Jim played hockey from an early age. In 1944, at the age of 18 he was selected to attend the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp and was offered a tryout with the Tulsa Oilers. Making the team, an injury cut the season short and he returned to Brockville to resume his junior career. He would play for the Smiths Falls Rideaus in an intermediate league and then with the Brockville Magedomas in the Ontario New York Senior League.

It was in 1962/63 when there was talk of forming a junior team in Brockville and it was at the shield’s home where the Brockville Braves were born. Jim was the coach of the Braves in their inaugural season as well as the second year. He was also the first general manager. He was hired as a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks for the Ottawa Valley in the 1965-67 era. Jim was also an excellent softball and baseball player.