University of Minnesota Athletics
Jim Jetland: Why I Support the M Club
9/11/2019 11:04:00 AM | Men's Hockey, M Club
Jim Jetland isn't sure that he would be where he is today if it wasn't for the University of Minnesota and Gopher Hockey.
President of Excelsior Brokerage, LLC since 2014, Jetland wasn't convinced college was in his future. But backstopping the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks to four-straight Minnesota state high school hockey tournament appearances and back-to-back titles in 1975 and 1976 changed all that.
"When Herb Brooks called and offered me a scholarship, there wasn't any decision to be made," recalled Jetland, who played for the Gophers from 1978-1982. "I don't know that I would have gone to college if it weren't for that athletic scholarship. I constantly go back to the fact that the University of Minnesota provided me the opportunity to get an education I might not have gotten on my own, and get a degree, which I probably wouldn't have gotten on my own.
"It's why I have always felt a strong obligation to give back to the program and to the University, because I do feel it has had a tremendous impact on my life."
Jetland, 59, doubled down on his athletic opportunities while in Minneapolis, pitching for the Gopher Division I baseball squad as well as backing up the Gopher Hockey team.
He took advantage of the educational opportunities even more.
"From an athletic standpoint, I had a reasonable amount of talent but I didn't have the passion for it, and I think to take it to the next level you have to have the ability as well as the passion," said Jetland, who graduated with a degree in business administration and management. "I think I realized my sophomore or junior year that I was going to move on and do something else in my life, and it was nice to have that as a springboard to whatever I was going to do, but I wasn't one to pursue my athletic dreams past college."
After graduation Jetland worked as a manufacturer rep for Nike and Cooper Hockey equipment, selling products in his athletic wheelhouse to sporting good stores and coaches. Following the birth of his daughter he sought other endeavors with less travel, leading him into commercial real estate in 1985, a career he's been in ever since.
It's an industry that suits athletes due to its competitive nature. The rewards of success and resiliency through failure.
"I think the University and athletics helped me find my way to deal with those failures," said Jetland. "Too many times I think former athletes get hung up on the statistics, playing time, coaches and all of that. It's not about that. It's about the experiences and the relationships you made. It's about learning from your failures. It's life and life is not perfect, nor was my athletic career, but I did learn a lot from it."
Jetland still runs into folks who remember his name and career 40 years later, and he's grateful to have left a lasting impression for fans and players alike. The 'U' certainly left an impression on him.
"Gopher Hockey is such a well-regarded, successful program that has produced so many, not only good hockey players, but good people," he said. "Just to think back close to 100 years (of this program) and to be a small, little part of that is pretty cool. There are very few people who can say that and, to me, those who can should support it.
"It's a tremendous honor to be a part of Gopher Hockey. I still get goosebumps thinking about stepping on to the ice the first night and hearing the crowd and the rouser. It was an honor that I will take to my deathbed, and for the minimal amount of money that it costs to be an M Club member, I don't know why we aren't all M Club members to support a program that has given all of us so much."
To learn more about the M Club and to become a member, please click here.
President of Excelsior Brokerage, LLC since 2014, Jetland wasn't convinced college was in his future. But backstopping the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks to four-straight Minnesota state high school hockey tournament appearances and back-to-back titles in 1975 and 1976 changed all that.
"When Herb Brooks called and offered me a scholarship, there wasn't any decision to be made," recalled Jetland, who played for the Gophers from 1978-1982. "I don't know that I would have gone to college if it weren't for that athletic scholarship. I constantly go back to the fact that the University of Minnesota provided me the opportunity to get an education I might not have gotten on my own, and get a degree, which I probably wouldn't have gotten on my own.
"It's why I have always felt a strong obligation to give back to the program and to the University, because I do feel it has had a tremendous impact on my life."
Jetland, 59, doubled down on his athletic opportunities while in Minneapolis, pitching for the Gopher Division I baseball squad as well as backing up the Gopher Hockey team.
He took advantage of the educational opportunities even more.
"From an athletic standpoint, I had a reasonable amount of talent but I didn't have the passion for it, and I think to take it to the next level you have to have the ability as well as the passion," said Jetland, who graduated with a degree in business administration and management. "I think I realized my sophomore or junior year that I was going to move on and do something else in my life, and it was nice to have that as a springboard to whatever I was going to do, but I wasn't one to pursue my athletic dreams past college."
After graduation Jetland worked as a manufacturer rep for Nike and Cooper Hockey equipment, selling products in his athletic wheelhouse to sporting good stores and coaches. Following the birth of his daughter he sought other endeavors with less travel, leading him into commercial real estate in 1985, a career he's been in ever since.
It's an industry that suits athletes due to its competitive nature. The rewards of success and resiliency through failure.
"I think the University and athletics helped me find my way to deal with those failures," said Jetland. "Too many times I think former athletes get hung up on the statistics, playing time, coaches and all of that. It's not about that. It's about the experiences and the relationships you made. It's about learning from your failures. It's life and life is not perfect, nor was my athletic career, but I did learn a lot from it."
Jetland still runs into folks who remember his name and career 40 years later, and he's grateful to have left a lasting impression for fans and players alike. The 'U' certainly left an impression on him.
"Gopher Hockey is such a well-regarded, successful program that has produced so many, not only good hockey players, but good people," he said. "Just to think back close to 100 years (of this program) and to be a small, little part of that is pretty cool. There are very few people who can say that and, to me, those who can should support it.
"It's a tremendous honor to be a part of Gopher Hockey. I still get goosebumps thinking about stepping on to the ice the first night and hearing the crowd and the rouser. It was an honor that I will take to my deathbed, and for the minimal amount of money that it costs to be an M Club member, I don't know why we aren't all M Club members to support a program that has given all of us so much."
To learn more about the M Club and to become a member, please click here.
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