From beach to the Blades, Bermuda-born James enjoying ride in Saskatoon

Located 650 miles off the east coast of North Carolina lies Bermuda.

The tiny tropical island sits in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and spans about 40 kilometers long.

The home of Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey is known for its pink sand beaches, gorgeous reefs, and beautiful weather.

It is also the home of Western Hockey League rookie and Saskatoon Blades forward Willy James.

“I was born there (Bermuda), and I lived there for about eight years,” said James.

The 17-year-old forward says his family is originally from Ontario, but a job for a computer programming company brought the James clan to the remote paradise.

“The weather was always great there,” said James, “You got to fish a bit more, and the ocean was always pretty.”

Hockey wasn’t on the 6-foot forward’s radar growing up as he played one of the island’s most popular sports, cricket.

Little did James know, a shift back to the north would lead him to playing in the best major junior hockey league in Canada.

“My dad still works for a computer programming company down there,” said James, “My mom had a job there, but she found a better one in Calgary. So we ended up moving to Calgary and my dad is still working online for that company.”

James and his family moved from ideal weather year-round to the harsher winters experienced in Calgary, Alta. It was the first time James’ had seen snow in his life.

“I jumped in it right away,” said James, “I didn’t know what it was. Then I was freezing cold for the next week. It was a bit of a change.”

Most kids that make it to a high level of hockey skate from the time they can walk. James says his first time in skates was on the outdoor rink in Calgary when he was eight years old.

“It was from my friends,” said James on his passion for hockey, “They would always go to the ODR, and I never really knew what it was. I just started going there every day and pretty much fell in love with it.”

The Saskatoon Blades host the Regina Pats at Sask Tel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, October 07, 2023

James grew up playing minor hockey like any other Canadian kid.

The potential was there, but the 2006-born player was never drafted in the WHL Prospects Draft.

After an impressive start to the 2022-23 season, the Blades listed James.

“It was my coach from last year who put a lot of trust in me,” said James, “I would say last year is where I really believed in myself and kept it going.”

James recorded 11 goals and 38 points in 28 games that year with the Calgary Buffaloes U18 AAA squad of the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL).

After six goals and seven points in seven playoff games, the Blades signed James to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement on Mar. 28th, 2023.

James’ family returned to Bermuda last summer, but the right-handed shot says he stayed back in order to train and try to crack the Blades roster for the 2023-24 campaign.

Passing up on a relaxing vacation paid off as the Bermuda native is a mainstay on the top team in the Canadian Hockey League this season.

“We’re a winning team, and it’s a really fun place to play. We always get fun out of everything we do, and I’m just really enjoying it here,” said James.

Not every player gets to experience the joys of a championship-ambitious team during their time in the WHL, and James knows he’s fortunate to learn from veteran and NHL-drafted talent in his first year.

The Saskatoon Blades vs. the Calgary Hitmen at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, December 10, 2023

“It’s a set me up for success,” said James, “There’s so much I’m learning, especially from those top-end guys like Tanner Molendyk, Fraser Minten, Brandon Lisowsky, and so many guys that have valuable things I can learn from.”

From starting hockey behind most of his peers at this level to going undrafted, James has made the most out of every opportunity he has got.

“I never thought I would make it this far, and I feel like I still have more to go, so I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

James hasn’t been in Bermuda since when he left to move to Canada. He hopes to go back this offseason but has bringing a championship to Saskatoon as the top thing on his mind right now.

“I miss it (Bermuda), but I’m obviously loving where I am now,” said James.