Jim Kelley

Jim Kelley
Black and white photo of a middle-aged man with gray hair and beard, wearing a dress shirt and necktie
Born
James Thomas Kelley Jr.

(1949-10-26)October 26, 1949
DiedNovember 30, 2010(2010-11-30) (aged 61)
Buffalo, New York
Occupationjournalist
Years active1981–2010
EmployerThe Buffalo News
AwardsElmer Ferguson Memorial Award (2004)

James Thomas Kelley Jr. (October 26, 1949[1] – November 30, 2010) was a professional sports news columnist from South Buffalo.[2] His 30-year career focused primarily on the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, and the greater Buffalo area. He started covering the Sabres in 1981 for The Buffalo News, and also went on to cover the Stanley Cup Finals for 23 straight years. He pursued other media besides newspaper writing. He originated the weekly "Hockey Night in Buffalo", as well as "Sharpshooters" on WNSA with partner Mike Robitaille. From time to time he continued to contribute various hockey articles to ESPN.com and FOXSports.com. His experience and knowledge of hockey led The Hockey News to proclaim him in 2002–03 as one of the "100 People of Power and Influence in Hockey."[3]

Kelley served as president of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from 1993 to 1999.[4] He was a regular co-host on Prime Time Sports, a columnist for Sports Illustrated,[5] and wrote a hockey column for Sportsnet.ca; he continued writing columns for Sportsnet up until his death, with his final column being published the day of his death.

  1. ^ Obits at Dignity Memorial
  2. ^ Gleason, Bucky (November 30, 2011) Late Kelley honored for doing it his way. The Buffalo News. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  3. ^ "Jim Kelley - Hockey Hall of Fame Writer". The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  4. ^ "About the PHWA". Professional Hockey Writers' Association. 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Kelley, Jim (6 December 2007). "Tough Times: Bertuzzi hit claim a PR nightmare; union changes tune". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on December 8, 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2010.