Lions hockey alum joins NHL’s Florida Panthers

Jim Hulton (BA ’93), a York University men’s hockey team graduate (1989-1993), has accepted an assistant coaching job with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League.

Jim HultonThe native of Wolfe Island, Ont., who had 13 goals and 30 assists in four years with York and was the captain of the team in his final season, joins one-time university teammate Mike Futa (Los Angeles Kings co-director of amateur scouting) in the NHL ranks.

Right: Jim Hulton

“This is one of those examples of good things happening to good people,” York Lions men’s hockey head coach Bill Maguire said. “Jim has climbed up the ladder – it’s nice to see this happening for him. It couldn’t happen to a better guy.”

Hulton’s 14-year coaching career began in 1994 when he was named an assistant coach with the Kingston Voyageurs of the Ontario Provincial Junior-A League. He went on to land head coaching jobs with the Mississauga IceDogs, Belleville Bulls and Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.

In 2006-07, Hulton returned to the OUA to coach the Royal Military College Paladins before going back to the OHL to become the assistant general manager/co-coach of the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors this past season.

Hulton also led Canada’s under-18 team to a gold medal as head coach at the 2002 Eight Nations Cup in the Czech Republic and twice served as an assistant coach with Canada’s world junior team, winning gold in 2005 in North Dakota.

Submitted to YFile by Mike Koreen, sport & recreation information officer in York’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science, Faculty of Health.