Jim Slater (ice hockey)
A durable and respected center who anchored a franchise for over a decade with his relentless checking and faceoff mastery.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: December 9·Millennials
Biography
Jim Slater carved out a quietly essential NHL career not with flashy scoring, but with a blue-collar commitment to the game's gritty details. Born in Michigan, he was a first-round pick by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2002, a selection that signaled their belief in his two-way potential. For 12 seasons, all with the same organization as it relocated to become the Winnipeg Jets, Slater was a fixture on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle. He never put up big offensive numbers, but coaches trusted him to match up against opponents' top lines and win critical defensive-zone draws. His tenure made him a bridge between the Thrashers era and the new Jets identity, respected by teammates for his work ethic and consistency until his retirement in 2018.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jim was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected 30th overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
- Played his entire 12-season NHL career (584 games) with the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets franchise.
- Served as an alternate captain for the Winnipeg Jets during the 2013-14 season.
- Led the NHL in faceoff win percentage (58.8%) during the 2011-12 season.
Did You Know?
His father, Bill Slater, played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers.
He played college hockey at Michigan State University, winning a CCHA championship in 2001.
He scored his first NHL goal in his debut game on October 5, 2005, against the Florida Panthers.
He was known for wearing jersey number 19 throughout his NHL career.
“My job was to win face-offs, kill penalties, and do whatever it took for the team.”
