Dowd helped Brick Township High School win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ice hockey title for the 1985–86 season.

[1] In his senior year, he broke the national scholastic scoring record, finishing with a four-year tally of 375 points (189 goals and 186 assists).

After college, Dowd joined New Jersey's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate at the time, the Utica Devils.

With 1:24 left in regulation, he scored the game-winning goal, giving the Devils a 2–0 series lead over the Detroit Red Wings to take back home to New Jersey.

He only played in three games for New York, spending the rest of the 1996–97 season with the International Hockey League (IHL)'s Utah Grizzlies and the AHL's Saint John Flames.

On September 7, 1999, as a group two free agent, he re-signed with Edmonton and played the 1999–2000 season with the Oilers, appearing in an NHL career-high 69 games.

After the season ended with a loss to the Ottawa Senators in the second round of the playoffs, questions arose about the futures of Devils veterans such as Dowd, who was scratched several times in favor of Rod Pelley.

Jim Dowd's Shoot for the Stars Foundation holds an Annual Shore High School All-Star Hockey Game.

The All-Star Games and other events hosted by Shoot for the Stars raise money for local families in need due to illnesses.

[6] In September 2011, Dowd appeared at Mother Teresa Regional School in Atlantic Highlands as part of a fundraiser benefiting the American Red Cross.