By: Andrew Lindroth | Follow me on Twitter! @andrewlindrothh
Art Jackson was born on December 15th, 1915, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Growing up, Jackson played hockey at the local rinks around his hometown in Toronto until he began his journey in juniors as a 16-year-old forward for the Toronto Marlboros (OHA-Jr.) and St.Michael’s Majors (OHA-Jr.) from 1931-1934. After scoring an astounding 23 goals and 36 points in only 12 games during his final year in the OHA-Jr. League, he earned his first National Hockey League contract, signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1934.
Jackson was immediately called up for his first piece of the NHL action, suiting up for 20 games but produced only four points, leading to his demotion to the International Hockey League. He was assigned to Toronto’s minor-pro affiliate, the Syracuse Stars (IHL), and finished the remainder of the 1934-1935 season as a point-per-game player, scoring 25 points in 24 games.
After his impressive stint with Syracuse, he earned another opportunity playing with the Maple Leafs and solidified a full-time position into the line-up the following season.
Jackson went on to play 48 games the 1935-1936 season, contributing five goals and 20 points. Although Jackson wasn’t setting the world on fire, Toronto still saw him as a potential top-nine forward and started him in the line-up the following season. His third NHL season only lasted 14 games, scoring only two goals during that time before being sent back down to play for the Syracuse Stars for the remainder of the season. On September 23rd, 1937, Toronto cashed in on the young forward and traded him to the Boston Bruins to exchange cash and future considerations.
In his first year as a Bruin, Jackson appeared in all 48 regular-season games and put up 12 points. Right before the start of the 1938-1939 season, Boston decides to loan Jackson to the New York Americans for the season in exchange for Leroy Goldsworthy. Jackson used this time to improve his game and prove to the Boston Bruins organization that he is worthy of a top-nine forward spot and ended up having a career-high year. During the 1938-1939 season, the 5’8, 165-pound forward produced 12 goals and 26 points and led the league among all players with two short-handed goals. The following season, Jackson was released from his loan and joined the Bruins once again.
Jackson went on to play as a Bruin from 1939-1944 and helped lead the team to a Stanley Cup victory in 1941 after sweeping the Detroit Red Wings in four games. The Stanley Cup champion had fantastic success during his last few seasons with the Bruins and led the team to yet another Stanley Cup showdown in 1943, but the result being reversed this time, with Detroit sweeping the Bruins in four games.
That playoff run, Jackson led the league in scoring with six goals and nine points in nine games. His time in Boston came to an end in December of 1944 when the team traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for $7,500 cash and future considerations. During his seven-year journey with Boston, Jackson appeared in 308 games and finished with 94-134-228 numbers and a Stanley Cup ring.
Jackson was a seemingly-perfect trade piece to pick up before the 1945 playoffs, with the 29-year-old forward potting nine goals and 22 points in 32 games. The Maple Leafs were a dominant force in the league that year and battled their way to the Stanley Cup finals. Although Jackson failed to register a single point in nine playoff games, he still helped lead his team to a Stanley Cup victory over the Red Wings in a brutal seven-game series, marking the forward as a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
Unfortunately, after winning his second Stanley Cup, Jackson decided to retire from the NHL at 30-years-old. Shortly after retiring, he moved to St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, where he became hockey coach in the OHA league for years.
Throughout his 11-year tenure in the NHL, Jackson recorded 123-179-302 numbers in 470 career games and finished as a two-time Stanley Cup champion with two different teams. Art Jackson passed away on May 15th, 1971, at the age of 55.
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