Garrett James, a member of the Huron Perth Lakers Minor Midget team, recently returned with an Olympic bronze medal from the first Youth Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria with a 7-5 victory over U.S.A. Over 1000 athletes represented 70 countries at the Games including a variety of sports, including skiing (Nordic, alpine, cross-country ski-cross), biathlon, curling, speed skating, figure skating, luge, bobsled and ice hockey.
Garrett called it "a trip of a life time"" and his greatest hockey experience to date. “It’s indescribable, the feeling of putting on the Team Canada jersey,” James said. “It’s a great honor and an unbelievable thrill to have played for my country.”
The team went 3-1 in round robin play with victories over Austria, USA and Finland with the only lose coming at the hands of a talented Russian team. In the semi finals Team Canada were up against Finland. The team lost to the eventual gold medalists 2-1 setting up the bronze medal match-up against the USA.
When James wasn’t playing he was practicing or doing team building activities. “I’m grateful to everyone who made this experience possible. Austria was amazing, Innsbruck incredibly beautiful and I had some great cultural experiences. The team had a blast together and we’ll all remember it forever.”