Johnson joining Gaiters
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Kamryn did an excellent job accepting her role as a more defensive defenseman/penalty-killing defenseman in her first two seasons.”
Johnson, who was named an assistant captain this season, was out to an outstanding start to the 2020-21 campaign with two goals and two assists in five games before the season was put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She has become more of an offensive threat in her third year. She has more confidence handling the puck, jumping into the play and looking for loose pucks in the offensive zone. She has evolved into a very good leader in her third year and has become more consistent with both her work ethic and execution. She has taken the step that she can be heavily leaned on to play in all situations throughout a game. Her understanding of the game, reading situations, and making composed plays under pressure has really grown as a 17 year-old,” said Pavely.
“My first two seasons I was a pretty defensive defenseman, that was kind of the way I had always been,” said Johnson. “I knew I needed to grow out of that in a way and I needed to work on my offensive game. That was something Terry really wanted me to work on as well. Working all summer I was trying to work on my stickhandling, my confidence with the puck, and I was able to come out this year ready to do that and step into a bigger role just because it was my last year, I’m a grade 12 and I was ready to help the team offensively too. Just getting more chances on the power play is something that is really key too. When we practice that it helps offensively, making passes and quick decisions.”
Johnson said she has had plenty of help reaching this point in her career.
“It’s definitely a big thing to do with Terry and Chris [Kirwan] and all the coaches that I have had in the past, even before Wildcats, just kind of guiding me on my way and pushing me to be better.”
Johnson said her parents have made a significant contribution as well.
“My parents have always wanted this for me. They knew that if it was something I wanted they wanted it too. Extra skates in the summer, anything that they could do to try and get me farther towards my goal, workouts in the summer that they helped me to do, drove me to places. I played spring hockey out of Regina for four or five years and they were driving almost every weekend in the spring to Regina for me to practice. I’ve been to Winnipeg for spring hockey, just a lot of things like that.”
The Wildcats haven’t been able to play a game since November 22, but they are still on the ice hoping to be ready for whatever may happen this season.
“We came back [after Christmas] and everyone was ready to be on the ice again. It was really exciting to see all the girls again… The girls know right now it’s just taking it day-by-day. We don’t know when we’re going to be able to play or we don’t know if we could get shut down, so everyone gives it like it’s their last go. They’re always working hard and just happy to be on the ice. Kids in Alberta haven’t been out on the ice since I think November, so we’re lucky to be skating.”