Coaching Staff

James was born in Skokie shortly afterward and moved to Streamwood, IL., where he resided for over 18 years. James and his brother John, a goalie, drafted into the NHL by the Edmonton Oilers in 1996, played most of their youth hockey growing up in this area. James started playing hockey with the Schaumburg Kings at 11 years old out of the Santa's Village Polar Dome in East Dundee. He quickly learned the game and moved up the hockey chain playing his Bantam years for the Chicago Young Americans AAA program, including state championships for both years. James also played Tier II Midget Minor AA with the Northwest Chargers, winning another state championship and playing Nationals. He finished his last year returning to Tier I of Midget Major Hockey playing with Team Illinois AAA hockey club. During his midget years playing hockey, he has had the honor to climb the highest level of midget hockey and represent Illinois amongst a select few to make the tryout camps for the US National Team for U16 and U18. James was recruited to play in the Metro Junior A Hockey League for the Thorndale Islanders in Toronto, Canada.