Bryan Adams

Fort St. James is small resource community on the shores of Stuart Lake in northern British Columbia. It is famous for being a national historic site, as it originated as an important trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company in the early 1800s.

There is a billboard on the highway leading to the townsite proclaiming Fort St. James' status as a leader in world class chicken racing. But the town's real sporting heart can be found on the ice and in the stands at the Fort Forum Arena.

The small town produced Brian "Spinner" Spencer and brothers Jim and Larry Playfair with some fanfare. But few outside of the Omenica district of BC know that another NHLer called Fort St. James home.

Bryan Adams - no, not the rock star - played a total of eleven games in the National Hockey League, all with the Atlanta Thrashers at the turn of the century.

Adams left Fort St. James in 1993 to play junior B hockey with the Prince George Spruce Kings. By 1995 Adams had committed to the Michigan State Spartans, where he helped the school win two CCHA championships. He also earned a science degree in Environmental Policy with a minor in Economics.

Despite his successful collegiate career, Adams was never drafted by any team in the National Hockey League. He would sign with the Thrashers upon graduation in 1999.

Adams played four years in the minor leagues, winning an IHL Turner Cup title with Orlando in 2001 and an AHL Calder Cup victory with Chicago in 2002.

Adams would head overseas in 2003, embarking upon a lengthy career in Germany. He retired in 2013 and returned to Lansing, Michigan and became a sales associate for a medical devices company.

Not bad for a kid from a town known for it's chicken racing.