Jim Slater was a key forward for the Michigan State Spartans from 2001 to 2005. During his junior season in 2003-2004, he was a prolific scorer and served as team captain. That year, he had 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points, which led his team in scoring and earned him a Top 10 nomination for the Hobey Baker Award. His outstanding play also resulted in him being named a Second-Team All-American and a First-Team All-CCHA selection. Over his four years at MSU, he played 157 games and is 23rd on the Spartans’ career scoring list with 172 points.

After his collegiate career, Slater was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers and played professionally for over a decade. He spent 10 seasons with the Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organization, playing in 584 NHL games. Known as a strong two-way center and face-off specialist, he was a reliable and hardworking player. Following his NHL career, he played four seasons in the Swiss National League, serving as a captain for one of his teams. After retiring as a player, Slater returned to the game as a coach, and he is currently a Player Development Coach for the Washington Capitals.