James Gray '20 Recruiting Profile

My season with the North York Rangers finished sooner than hoped, however, on a personally high note.   Having played consistently throughout the season with my record for the regular season at  25-9-2 with a  GAA of 1.96 and SV% of 0.931  as well in the playoffs with a 1.91 GAA and a .934 SV% I was chosen for the 2021/2022 OJHL Team Southeast All-Star Celebration (01/2022) and received the Top Goaltender Award for the lowest GAA  as well as tying for first in wins and SV%.  Also in April I was awarded the 2021/2022 First Team All-Stars Award as well as the OJHL Goaltender of the Year Award voted on by league general managers and  a panel of media members. Personally I believe I gave my team a chance to win this season and credit my family,  my team mates,  my coaches and the culture of the North York Rangers organization for my success. I am also honoured to be chosen as a finalist for the CJHL Top Goaltender Award and honoured to be committed to the St. Cloud State University Huskies for the 2022/2023 season. 

In my rookie season with North York (OJHL) I went 8-12-3 in the regular season with a 3.65 GAA ,  0.897 SVP and 3 shutouts. I was limited in my games played due to concussion and a hip injury which kept me out a total of six weeks.  It was a year of dealing with adversity, maturing, exercising composure, and coming out stronger then before. The strong culture and family nature in North York was a great place for me to learn the ways of junior hockey. Going into playoffs I ended the regular season on a 5 game winning streak, I kept that pace going into the playoffs against the number 1 seeded Jr. Canadiens. We completed the upset in 5 games, in my 3 games I went 3-0 with a 2.13 GAA and a 0.938 SVP.

Having had an exceptional Midget year (2018/2019) playing with the GTHL Toronto Young Nationals (53-12-9)winning the Telus Cup(MVP), OHF’s (MVP), Scotiabank GTHL Playoffs, GTHL Midget AAA All Star game selection and winning the Sudbury Nickel Tournament (MVP), I was honoured to have been drafted 1st round, 2nd overall in the U18 Priority Selection Draft and offered a position with the Flint Firebirds as well as having my helmet and picture holding the Telus Cup as part of the North American Championship exhibit in the Hockey Hall of Fame (Toronto). In Minor Midget I played with the Toronto Young Nationals and was selected to play in the OHL Gold Cup.

Graduating from SMCS in 2019 , an accelerated honours student (St Thomas More Society Award) with a 3.92 GPA I played Junior Hockey, Junior Lacrosse and Varsity Lacrosse. Outside of school I played Elite Club Level lacrosse (long pole) for one of Canada’s top programs, EDGE and ran a summer lacrosse program for inner city kids in Regent Park.  Having trained with and worked as a goalie instructor for Piero Greco (NY Islanders) and Kain Tisi (Pittsburgh Penguins/Kitchener Rangers) I am currently a hockey instructor at Blyth Academy.  Piero, Kain and Andy Chiodo (Pittsburgh Goaltending Coach) have been instrumental in my development and mental approach to my game.

Dedication and commitment to my family, to my academics, to my sports teams and to giving back to those less fortunate are part of my foundation as are strong morals and an unrelenting work ethic.  Who you are matters, both on and off the ice.