Jim Montgomery was an explosive offensive player for the University of Maine from 1989 to 1993. During his time at Maine, the Black Bears won two Hockey East championships and the 1993 NCAA National Championship, where he captained the team and was named the Frozen Four’s most valuable player. He finished his collegiate career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 301 points. His outstanding performance in his senior season, which included 95 points, earned him First-Team All-American honors and a spot as a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

After his collegiate career, Montgomery, who was never drafted by an NHL team, signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues. He went on to play 12 seasons of professional hockey, including parts of six seasons in the NHL with the Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, and Dallas Stars. He also had a very productive career in the AHL, where he won a Calder Cup in 1998 with the Philadelphia Phantoms. After retiring from playing, Montgomery transitioned into coaching, and in 2023, he won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year with the Boston Bruins.