A native of Fayetteville, New York, James has built a strong foundation in hockey, transitioning from a dedicated goalie to a knowledgeable coach. His career began in Morrisville, New York, where he spent much of his playing time with the Center State Stampede. James attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School, where he played for the varsity team, honing his skills as a goaltender. In addition to high school hockey, he played for several youth teams in the Syracuse area, including the Onondaga Thunder, Lysander Lightning, Syracuse Blazers, and Skaneateles Lakers.

James continued his passion for hockey while attending Le Moyne College from 2018 to 2022, where he played on the Le Moyne Club Hockey team. During his college years, he began to transition into coaching, sharing his knowledge with the next generation of players. He worked as a coach at the Joe Palmer Goalie Systems hockey camp, focusing on developing goaltenders.

After college, James continued to expand his coaching expertise by working with Sport International Hockey Academy during the summer and volunteering as a goalie coach for his former high school team, the Fayetteville-Manlius Hornets.

Currently, James serves as the Associate Head Coach for the Utica Jr. Comets 18U AAA team, where he continues to share his love for the sport and helps develop the next wave of talented players. His comprehensive background in goaltending and player development makes him a valuable asset to the program and the players he mentors.