Occupation sports journalist Parents Jack Matheson Employer Edmonton Journal | Role Journalist Name Jim Matheson Education University of Manitoba | |
Born April 7, 1949 (age 75) ( 1949-04-07 ) Winnipeg, Manitoba Similar People Robin Brownlee, Jack Matheson, Ryan Rishaug, Elliotte Friedman | ||
James Donald Matheson (born April 7, 1949) is a Canadian sports journalist who has covered the NHL's Edmonton Oilers since their inception into the WHA in 1973 and the NHL in 1979.
Matheson was born on April 7, 1949 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Jack and Peggy Matheson. Matheson had an intention to follow the footsteps of his father, Jack, a long-time sports editor for the Winnipeg Tribune. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in political science, and while in school, worked a part-time night shift with the Tribune. He got his first job upon completing school with the Regina Leader-Post, but moved west to Edmonton, Alberta six months later. Upon moving to Edmonton, Matheson got a job with the Edmonton Journal in 1970. He initially covered local curling and university sports, but quickly switched to hockey, when, in 1973, Edmonton was granted a WHA franchise, the Edmonton Oilers. Matheson became the beat writer for the Oilers then, and continued when the Oilers joined the NHL in 1979. He spent countless hours covering the team and its five Stanley Cups, and completed more than 300 stories per winter. In addition to writing, Matheson also was a part of the CFRN radio broadcasting team that covered the Oilers. After 24 years, he completed his tenure as beat writer for the Oilers in 1997. He now continues to write for the Edmonton Journal covering the NHL and the Oilers.
Matheson resides in Edmonton with his wife, Marni. They have one son, Scott. He was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame as a media honoree and received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award in 2000.