Jim Sandlak
Inducted In
2003
Jim Sandlak is a native of Kitchener, Ontario and learned his hockey skills starting at six years of age playing minor hockey. He played with the Bauer Krauts AAA team and was the highest scorer with 70 points, scoring 34 goals with 36 assists.
In 1983 Sandlak was drafted into the Ontario Hockey League as a Midget by the London Knights, scoring 71 goals with 56 assists for three seasons.
He played two years for Canada in the World Junior Championships. In 1985, in the Gold Medal round, Sandlak scored the game-tying goal which gave them the opportunity to go ahead and win the Gold Medal. In 1986 while also representing Canada in the World Junior Championships, Sandlak was voted captain by his teammates and named player of the tournament having scored 7 goals with 7 assists in 7 games. He was then selected for the World Junior All-Star team. Sandlak still holds the World Junior Championship record for the fastest goal in a game – 11 seconds.
In 1985 Sandlak was drafted 1st round, 3rd overall to the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. In 1986 he was the first Vancouver Canuck to win a post season award being named to the NHL All-Star Rookie Team. In his 11 years in the NHL, (9 with Vancouver and 2 with Hartford), he played 706 regular season games as well as five years of playoffs. During these 706 games he earned 229 points on 110 goals with 119 assists.
While in Vancouver, Sandlak was awarded The Alka Seltzer Plus Award for Best plus/minus during a season (1989-1990), and the Vancouver Canucks Bud Light Man of the Year for charitable work (1991).
In the 1997-98 season, Sandlak played hockey in Munich, Germany.
Sandlak remains actively involved in the hockey community by playing charity hockey games with the NHL Oldtimers. He volunteers his time and ability by coaching minor hockey in the London area which is where he makes his home with his wife Susan, and sons Patrick and Carter. Sandlak’s community involvement is not limited to hockey as he continues to be involved in charitable golf tournaments, auctions, speaking engagements and most recently, the colour commentary at the professional hockey level. He continues to give of his time and abilities, both on and off of the ice.