March 9th saw Cranbrook resident Jim Eagle pass away after a brave battle with cancer. Jim was born in Vancouver, but the family moved to Cranbrook when he was 4 years old.After championship seasons with Cranbrook's Midget & Juvenile teams, Jim caught on with the Oil Kings where he became a steady defenceman for the following 3 years. It culminated with a Memorial Cup championship in the '62-'63 season, his final year of junior eligibility. Next, he took the path to Denver University for 3 years, then on to a 6 year pro hockey career starting with Detroit's Memphis (CHL) and Pittsburgh (AHL) clubs in 1666-67. He finished up with San Diego of the WHL in '70-'71 before turning his interests to the restaurant business, where he enjoyed success for a number of years in the Washington & Oregon regions, while dabbling with horses, which was another of his passions. More recently Jim had moved back to hometown Cranbrook, where as a scout for the Vancouver Canucks, he was a mainstay at the Kootenay Ice games. Your many friends will miss you, Jim.
.jpg)
.JPG)
