MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a profile of Red Wings 2022 draft (40th overall) pick Dylan James, who will be entering his freshman season with the University of North Dakota, after having won a Clark Cup with the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers this past season:
James tallied 28 goals and 61 points in 62 games, including 13 goals and 25 points over the final 18 games [of the 2021-22 USHL Season]. Limited to seven games the previous season with Okotoks in the Alberta Junior Hockey League due to the pandemic, the Calgary native needed some time to get into a rhythm.
“I think I quarantined for like 50 days at three different times (in 2020-21),” James said. “That was tough, on and off. You didn’t know if you were going to practice that afternoon. Coming to the USHL, I was a little nervous. I hadn’t played in a season. After Christmas I feel like I played my best. I feel like I was getting comfortable with the city, the new teammates and the coaches, what they want out of me. Obviously, getting older you’re getting stronger, so that helped.”
James, 18, attended Red Wings development camp last month at Little Caesars Arena as he prepares for his freshman year at North Dakota.
“I was pretty young when I made that decision,” he said. “I loved the coaching staff. You see their history, winning national championships (eight, behind only Michigan and Denver with nine each). That was a big key in going. Their facility is unreal. I’m just going to go there and try to work really hard. Nothing’s given to you there. I’ll just go there and try to get better every day.”
