Breakout season for forward Johnson B1
Husky who missed most of last season off to a fast start with 13 points in 12 games
Wyatt Johnson makes a better player than spectator.
Johnson sat and watched for most of last season as injury derailed what was supposed to be a breakout season for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies men’s hockey forward.
While that breakout was delayed, it was certainly not deleted.
Johnson’s return to the lineup this season has been a big plus for Hockey Dogs. It’s a big reason why the team sports a 13-1-0 record and 12-game winning streak.
Saskatchewan, ranked No. 3 in U Sports men’s hockey, will play host to the reigning University Cup champion Alberta Golden Bears, who are ranked No. 2 in the nation with a 11-3-0 record while winning seven straight. Game time is 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Merlis Belsher Place.
“Obviously, we’ve managed to string a few together here and have been playing well through that stretch,” Johnston said prior to practice on Wednesday.
“We have a lot of good players in that room and a lot of good guys. Our depth, in every aspect, has definitely helped. We look to keep it rolling.”
Johnson has been rolling right along with five goals and eight assists for 13 points in 12 games this season. Two of his five goals have been game-winners.
Last season, Johnson had just one goal and two assists in nine games. He missed the entire playoff run.
“It’s awesome to be back healthy and be back with the guys,” admitted the 6-foot, 185-pound Saskatoon product, adding that it was tough last season “missing all the little things, road trips and being with the guys on the bus, things like that.”
U of S head coach Dave Adolph certainly missed not having Johnson, who plays centre, in the lineup.
“We lost Wyatt Johnson about the 15th of October last year and, really, he never played the rest of the season,” said Adolph.
“Right from the day he got clearance to play (this season), he’s been outstanding.”
During the home-opening weekend against the Calgary Dinos, the line of Johnson, Carson Stadnyk and Collin Shirley turned some heads.
“They should have been playing in the American Hockey League — they were that good that night,” noted Adolph.
“Wyatt’s been good. He wins every faceoff. He’s greasy. He loves that muck-it-up game, too.”
Adolph said when Johnson was recruited “I thought he was one of the best 20-year-olds in the Western Hockey League at the time.”
Johnson, who was captain of the Red Deer Rebels, was dealt to the Spokane Chiefs the year the Rebels hosted the Memorial Cup. He got injured and didn’t play the last part of his 20-year-old season.
After what Adolph calls “a respectable first year” in which Johnson was nicked up quite a bit, a promising sophomore season got cut short.
Now, he’s blossoming into the player Adolph coveted.
“He’s a nice player to have back,” said Adolph.
“We’ve been nicked up pretty good, so it’ll be nice to have those three (Johnson, Shirley and Stadnyk) back together. We’re still missing a couple of other kids, but that’s part of the process — depth gets you through.”
When Alberta and Saskatchewan split an earlier series at the start of the season, Johnson wasn’t in the lineup. He didn’t get a chance to play the Bears last season, either.
He hasn’t faced them since his rookie year.
“I obviously know what it’s all about playing them,” said Johnson, who is among the Canada West men’s hockey players being considered to represent the U Sport all-stars during exhibition play against the Team Canada world junior squad over the upcoming Christmas break.
“Having played them (Bears) in the regular season and in the playoffs, I watched all of our games live, so I definitely know what the rivalry is all about and I’ve definitely experienced. I’m looking forward to bringing it in to a new rink here.”
(I was) missing all the little things, road trips and being with the guys on the bus, things like that.