Former Minnesota State Mankato hockey player Tim Jackman is changing careers. After 14 years of professional hockey, Jackman is headed back to college to finish his bachelor’s degree.
Jackman played 12 of those 14 seasons in the National Hockey League, with six different teams. He played most recently with the Anaheim Ducks. In 483 NHL games, Jackman scored 32 goals and 75 points and was a minus-66. Jackman was a role player that was known for his grit and recorded an impressive 806 penalty minutes. Statistically, Jackman’s best season in the NHL was during the 2010-11 campaign, when he played in 82 games, scoring 10 goals and 23 points.
Prior to playing professionally, Jackman spent two seasons (2000-01 and 2001-02) with the aforementioned Mavericks, playing in 73 games, scoring 25 goals and 53 points.
After 14 years of professional hockey, Jackman decided it was time to hang up the skates and grab a computer and whistle. While he’s attending classes at MSUM, he will also help the Mavericks as an assistant coach.
“Last year I got to training camp, and my back was killing me,” Jackman told Shane Frederick of the Mankato Free Press. “I decided to grind it out and try to play through it. I got sent to the minors in San Diego and played 20 games there before having back surgery.”
Mavericks head coach Mike Hastings is excited about having Jackman as a member of the coaching staff.
“I’m so excited about this on so many levels,” Hastings said. “Most important is that he’s family. He’s going to make us better because of his experience and because he knows what it takes to get to the next level.”
