The Guidance I Wish I Had
My name is James Duerr, and I am currently a Division I hockey player at Bentley University. I grew up outside Chicago, Illinois, and started playing hockey at age five. I began my youth career with the Chicago Hawks before making the jump to AAA hockey with the Chicago Fury at age ten. After that, I spent four years with the Chicago Mission and two years at Shattuck-St. Mary's during my sophomore and junior years of high school. I returned home for my senior season to play for the Chicago Mission U18 team.
After high school, I earned a spot on the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL out of main camp despite going undrafted. I spent two seasons in Green Bay before playing two years at UMass Amherst then I transferred to Bentley University, where I play today.
"My path to Division I hockey wasn't a traditional one. I was never the best player growing up, I wasn't drafted into the USHL, and I didn't receive a Division I offer until after high school. Those experiences taught me the value of perseverance, patience, and hard work. That's why I started AdvantEdge Hockey."
My goal is to help players navigate the ups and downs of hockey while providing the guidance and perspective I wish I had when I was younger.
