Through his over 25 years of experience in the world of amateur and professional hockey, Jeff Jackson has acquired extensive knowledge and built invaluable relationships in the hockey world.  His unique background and experience enable him to provide players and their families with practical and insightful advice that will help them to succeed in their hockey and educational careers.

Jeff Jackson was the 5th overall pick by the Brantford Alexanders in the 1982 Ontario Hockey League priority draft.  During his three year OHL career, Jeff was a two time OHL All-Star, was a nominee for the OHL Scholastic Player of the Year award and won a Gold medal as a member of Canada’s National Junior team at the 1985 World junior Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

Mr. Jackson was a second-round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft and began his NHL career with Toronto during the 1984-85 season.  Recognized as a fiercely loyal teammate, he was often described as a swift skating and tenacious forward during his playing career.  Jeff went on to play a total of 269 NHL games for Toronto, New York Rangers, Quebec Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks.

Following his retirement from professional hockey in 1992, Jackson attended law school at the University of Western Ontario.  During that time, Jeff spent parts of two summers at the NHL’s head office in NYC as a legal intern to the Senior VP of Hockey Operations.  Upon graduation from law school, Jeff articled for the law firm of McCarthy Tetrault, was called to the Bar in Ontario and in 1998, joined Heenan Blaikie LLP, one of Canada’s largest national law firms.

During his eight years at Heenan Blaikie, Jackson practiced corporate law and was an integral member of the firm’s Entertainment and Sports law groups. Jeff’s practice included advising companies, financiers, distributors, performers, governmental sports organizations and athletes in the entertainment and sports industries, including representing a number of NHL teams in the preparation and resolution of salary arbitration cases.

In 2006, Mr. Jackson was hired by the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club as the team’s first ever Director of Hockey Administration. In 2007, he was promoted to Assistant General Manager & Director of Hockey Operations. Jackson’s responsibilities with the Maple Leafs included, among other things, player contract negotiations, salary cap planning and management, salary arbitration, player personnel decisions and overseeing the development and management of team operating budgets.   Additionally, Jeff spent considerable time assessing talent in North America and Europe and was involved in all amateur and pro scouting meetings as well as with the implementation and growth of the team’s player development program.

Prior to the 2008 season, Jackson added to his primary role with the Leafs when he was named as the General Manager and Governor of the Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Maple Leafs.  In this role, Jeff oversaw the team’s on-ice performance, monitored the development of the organization’s prospects, attended AHL league meetings and was a member of the AHL’s Competition Committee.

Mr. Jackson currently sits on the Board of Directors of the NHL Alumni Association, is a past Vice President of the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni Association and is a member of the NY Ranger and Quebec Nordique Alumni Associations. He is a member of Respect in Sport’s Advisory Board and has been a guest speaker at Harvard University, Osgoode Hall law school and the NHL Alumni’s Career Transition program.

Jeff Jackson is the principal and founder of Next Level Sports Management.  He currently lives in Burlington, Ontario with his wife Lara and children, Savanna, Liam, Owen and Luke.