Erie Otters Dominate Saginaw In Inspirational Win For Owner & Governor Jim Waters

On Friday, the Erie Otters organization sadly reported that the team owner Jim Waters passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in his sleep. Jim was 73 years old.

Waters was a well-respected member of the OHL community. In 2006, he retired from a 35-year career in broadcasting with CHUM Ltd.

In March 2001, Jim was honored as the Broadcasting Executive of the Year at Canadian Music Week and was elected into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in 2007.

After retiring from the broadcasting industry, he bought the Erie Otters franchise in 2015. Just two years later, the Otters captured their second J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions in franchise history, led by now notable NHL players Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat, Taylor and Darren Raddysh, Anthony Cirelli, Erik Cernak, and Warren Foegele.

“This is very sad news for so many people across the OHL. Jim was very involved with the Otters franchise. The League would like to send thoughts and condolences to Jim’s wife, Sheila, along with his daughters Maxine and Ellie. He was a brilliant and ambitious man who achieved great things and treated others with a genuine kindness and we’ll miss him very much,” said OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford.

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Additionally to operating as Erie's owner and governor, Waters served on the OHL's Executive Council of the Board of Governors since 2021-22.

“We’re thankful for Jim’s contributions over the course of his ownership tenure, and we’re all very saddened by this loss,” said Tim Lukenda, Chairman of the OHL Board of Governors and Owner of the Soo Greyhounds Hockey Club.

Win For Jim

The Erie Otters hosted the Saginaw Spirit Saturday night where the organization held a moment of silence before the game to honor Jim Waters' legacy.

Pano Fimis set up Sam Alfano who scored just 28 seconds into the game, erupting the home crowd and starting their offensive outburst. All five Erie players on the ice pointed up to the sky to praise Jim as they celebrated the goal.

Callum Hughes (x2), Wesley Royston, and captain Carey Terrance scored later in the period as the Otters got out to an inspirational 5-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

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"Honestly, it's unexplainable. Jim gave so much to us as a team, now this is the least we could do to pay it back to him," said Pano Fimis after the first period.

Alfano completed the hat trick scoring his team-leading 16th and 17th goals of the season. The Otters commandingly take down the reigning Memorial Cup champions by a score of 8-2, dedicating their victory to Jim Waters, who you know would be smiling seeing his team win such a big divisional match.

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