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 Biography


Jim Hinkson played lacrosse for only twelve years – until he was thirty-one years of age – but he felt lucky, because he went to ten national and professional championships and won six.

Besides his involvement in lacrosse, Jim ran one of the most successful basketball programs in Toronto at Stephen Leacock C.I. He coached basketball for thirty-eight years and went to the All-Ontario two times. He has just finished coaching basketball at West Hill C.I. in Toronto for the past nine years.

In the summers, he worked basketball camps at Syracuse University, Michigan University, Penn State University, Olympia Sports Camp in Huntsville, Ontario, All-Pro Basketball Camp at Trent University, and Ridley College in Ontario.

Jim started playing lacrosse at the ripe old age of nineteen years. He played for the famous Oshawa Green Gaels, where he won two Junior “A” Canadian Champions, in 1963 and 1964. After Junior he played Senior “A” in 1965 for the Brooklin Redmen, and ended up playing in the Canadian Finals again, but lost. In 1968, a professional lacrosse league was formed, and he played for the Detroit Olympics and went to the professional championship, but lost to a team from New Westminster. The following year, in 1969, Peterborough picked Jim up and he again ended up playing in the professional championship, but this time his team defeated New Westminster. From 1970 to 1973, Jim played in Windsor, where he won three Canadian Senior Championships. In 1974, Jim played for the Philadelphia Wings, which went on to the NLL Championship, but lost. During the same year, Jim also played for Canada in the World Field Lacrosse Championship in Melbourne, Australia.

Jim has coached at every level in lacrosse from house league to professional. He spent twelve years coaching pro, major, and junior lacrosse. His first professional coaching assignment was with the Philadelphia Wings of the NLL in 1975. After the league disbanded, he went to junior lacrosse in Toronto to coach the Rexdale Warriors Jr. “A” team from 1976 to 1977. Next, he ended up in Whitby, his hometown, and coached the Jr. “A” team there for three years. He went to two Canadian Junior “A” Championships in 1978 and 1980 with the Whitby C.B.C. Builders, winning one. One of his big thrills was coaching the Whitby Midget “B” team to the All-Ontario finals in 1998. Since that time, Jim has coached St. Catharines Major Athletics, Akwesasne Major Thunder, New York Saints of the NLL, Toronto Jr. “A” Beaches, and the New Jersey Storm of the NLL.

 

Jim's Basketball Coaching Career


Jim ran one of the most successful basketball programs in Toronto at Stephen Leacock C.I. He coached basketball for thirty-eight years and went to the All-Ontario two times.
He coached basketball at West Hill C.I. in Toronto for the past nine years.
In the summers, he worked basketball camps at Syracuse University, Michigan University, Penn State University, Olympia Sports Camp in Huntsville, Ontario, All-Pro Basketball Camp at Trent University, and Ridley College in Ontario
.

Jim's Lacrosse Playing Career


He started his lacrosse career getting to the All-Ontario Finals with the Oshawa-Whitby Juvenile Green Gaels (1962).
He won two Junior “A” Canadian Championships with the Oshawa Green Gaels (1963 & 1964).
He played in the Mann Cup, Senior “A” Canadian Finalist, with the Brooklin Redmen (1965).
He played for the Detroit Olympics, National Lacrosse Association Finalists, 1968.
He played for the Peterborough Lakers, Professional Lacrosse Association Champions, 1969.
He was playing-coach for the Windsor Clippers, Senior Canadian Champions, 1970.
He was playing-coach for the Windsor Warlocks, Senior Canadian Champions, 1971.
He played for the Windsor Warlocks, Senior Canadian Champions, 1973.
He played for the Philadelphia Wings, National Lacrosse League Finalists, 1974.
He played for Canada, World Field Lacrosse Championships, Melbourne, Australia, 1974

 

Jim's Lacrosse Coaching Career


Coach of the Akwesasne thunder lacrosse team of the OLA Major lacrosse series, 2005
Coach of St. Catharines Athletics Major Lacrosse Team of the OLA, 2004
Scout for the Vancouver Ravens of the NLL, 2003.
Coach of New Jersey Storm in the NLL, 2002.
Coach of the Toronto Jr. “A” Beaches Lacrosse Team, 2001.
Assistant coach of New York Saints in the NLL, 2000.
Coach of the Toronto Jr. “A” Beaches Lacrosse Team, 2000 (Coach of the Year Award).
Coached St. Catharines Athletics Majors of the OLA, 1999.
Coached Whitby Midget “B’ Lacrosse Team, All-Ontario Finalists, 1998
Coached the Whitby C.B.C. Builders Jr. A Lacrosse Team; Eastern Ontario Semi-Finalists, 1981.
Coached the Whitby C.B.C. Builders Jr. A Lacrosse Team; Canadian Champions, 1980
Coached Whitby C.B.C. Builders: OLA, Jr. A, Canadian Finalists, 1978;
Coached Rexdale Warriors: OLA, Jr. A, 1976 and 1977.
Coached the Philadelphia Wings in the National Lacrosse League, 1975.
Playing-coach of the Windsor Warlocks, Senior Canadian Champions, 1970 and 1971.
Coached the Whitby Lasco Steelers, Junior “B” Canadian Finalists, 1965, at the age of 21