Ex-Blade Johnston eager to play for U of S
After sitting out a year, defenceman is anxious to prove ‘that I haven’t lost a step’
On this night, Mackenzie Johnston can be found in a tractor. No surprise, really.
He’s moving an auger near his family farm, located about 25 minutes outside of Swift Current, and putting in some long hours before the start of yet another hockey camp, this time with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
The farming life has certainly grown on Johnston, who, despite being raised in the city, is ready to harvest the fruits of his labour.
A year ago, the former Saskatoon Blades defenceman switched schools and switched careers. He found himself at the U of S, where, as a transfer student from Mount Royal University, he needed to sit out a season to regain his U Sports eligibility.
“I was putting in my hours on the farm and it grew on me every year, a little bit more and more,” said Johnston, who spent five seasons in the Western Hockey League. “I realized that this was probably going to be my future. It’s where I want to be.
“I found myself enjoying it, but then I wanted to start learning more about it. I made the switch to the agriculture college at the U of S.”
He’s more than ready to suit up for the Hockey Dogs, who finished second in the country this past season.
He is so close to his chosen farming life that he can smell it nearly every time he heads to Rutherford Rink. It’s the best of both worlds.
“I’m real excited to get back into it,” said Johnston, a six-foot-two, 200-pound blueliner who played four seasons for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets before stints with the Prince Albert Raiders and Saskatoon Blades.
“Sitting out for a year with a team that good ... it’s fun to watch, but, at the same time, it’s tough. You want to be out there helping out. You want to be a part of it. You just want to contribute.”
Johnston spent last season playing senior hockey with the Rosetown Red Wings, which he describes as a lot of fun.
He now joins the Huskies as one of nine defencemen.
“I’ve got to prove to (head coach) Dave (Adolph) and the coaching staff and the teammates that I haven’t lost a step, and, if I did, I want to get it back as soon as I can,” said Johnston.
“It’s proving to Dave and everybody that I can still play at a high level after taking a year off, and then earning my spot. Basically, the same six guys played every game last year. I don’t expect to come in and take a job right away.”
Johnston said he will bring a solid defensive game with a little bit of offence on top.
“They’ve got lots of firepower everywhere, but I also like to contribute a little bit on offence,” he said. “I like to join the rush. I won’t be leading the rush, but I’ve kind of explored the offensive side of the puck a little more (in recent years). I’ve also got to be responsible defensively.”
After wrapping up his WHL career, Johnston was heavily recruited and sought after by Adolph and the Huskies.
He headed for Calgary based on several factors. He has family out there on his mom’s side and knows the city well. Hockey-wise, he knew both Jordan Fransoo and Jesse Forsberg had already committed to the Huskies, whose lineup was going to be tougher to crack.
And, academically, he thought he’d be a business student, not an ag student.
“We didn’t grow up on the farm in Swift Current, so it wasn’t quite second nature to me at that point,” he recalls.
“At Mount Royal, I thought I was going to hop right in and probably play a top-four role, and I thought I did. (You) grow as a player and get used to the league. It’s definitely one step up. You think you’re playing with men when you’re playing in junior but, holy man, it was a pretty big jump, just their strength and even the speed.
“It’s a bummer I had to sit out a year, but it’s part of the process. Both hockey-wise and school-wise, hopefully it’s going to pay off this year.”
It’s proving to Dave and everybody that I can still play at a high level after taking a year off, and then earning my spot.