Jim Collins compiled impressive statistics and honors during his four-year ice hockey career at Westfield State. The Owls were a powerhouse in ice hockey in the late 1970s, and Collins was their catalyst, a take-charge player who was well respected by his teammates. The Reading native was a team captain for four years and the only Owl player ever to serve as an alternate captain as a freshman. 

Collins was the team's Most Valuable Player in 1977, 1978 and 1980, and was selected the ECAC Rookie of the Year in 1977. He was a two-time ECAC All-Star and a Mass. State Conference All-Star his senior season in 1980. The Owls qualified for the ECAC Tournament all four years, posting an aggregate record of 75 wins and 27 losses. They won the ECAC Championship in 1978 with a 20-2 record. 

Collins was a deceptive skater with excellent puck control skills and a major scoring threat. He is Westfield State's all-time leading scorer with 262 points in 94 games, and also holds school records for goals (110) and assists (152) in a career, and goals (39), assists (53), and points (81) in a season. He led the ECAC in scoring in 1977 and was the second leading scorer in 1978. 

Collins has been a police officer in Reading since 1986. He is an assistant ice hockey coach at Reading High School and also coaches in the Reading youth hockey league. Collins and his wife, Nancy, have five children: Katie, Sean, Brian, Jaime, and Garrett.