Former Petes coaching girls hockey
Peterborough Girls Hockey Association Ice Kats Tournament continues until Sunday at city rinks
Andy Johnson grew up in the high testosterone world of boys hockey playing at the junior and professional levels but today he’s immersed in girls hockey.
Johnson and his wife Elena have three daughters who all play hockey and Andy coaches the peewee Ice Kats team participating in the 38th annual Peterborough Girls Hockey Association Ice Kats Tournament this weekend. There are 90 teams from across Ontario competing in novice to senior in rep and house league divisions Friday through Sunday at all city arenas.
Johnson is not alone.
The PGHA has several former pro and junior players on their rep team benches including Johnson’s former Peterborough Petes teammates Cameron Mann, Mike Martone and Mike Williams who all won an OHL championship together in 1996. Shawn Evans, Jeff Fife, Mark McArthur, Paul McInnes, Chris Moher and Frank Sinacori are some of the other former junior or pro players helping coach Ice Kats squads.
Johnson is in his eighth season coaching girls. His daughter Mia is on the peewee B team, Tessa plays novice and Sophie is on the atom B team.
“Every game is an adventure in girls hockey,” said Johnson, with a laugh, after his team played the Waterloo Ravens to a 0-0 tie in their opening game Friday morning at the Kinsmen Civic Centre. “Every game is something new. It’s a lot of fun, though, teaching the girls. They really don’t know a whole lot about hockey so you start right from basics and help them along.”
It’s a different environment than what he was used to growing up among males. Johnson is a New Brunswick native who married a Peterborough woman and made it his home.
“The girls tend to be a little more sensitive so you have to talk nice to them and instruct them on a nicer level, but the girls work hard and compete hard and they listen. In practice they listen well and they’re smart kids.”
Johnson says it’s neat to see so many of his former teammates coaching in the system.
“We all help each other out. If I’m short an assistant coach I’ll grab Cameron or Martone or whoever to help out. It’s great for the kids to learn from those guys,” he said.
Mann, whose atom AA team is playing at a tournament in Whitby this weekend, is in the same boat with three daughters.
“I don’t know what we did but we’re cursed with females,” said Johnson, with a chuckle. “No, no. it’s funny.”
His team is 7-4 in league play and won a tournament in Cobourg two weeks ago. They reached the semifinals of the PGHA tourney last year.
“We’re really starting to come now and we’re winning lots of hockey games,” Johnson said.
Chloe Cunningham says she enjoys playing for Johnson.
“He is a good coach and he is funny and makes us laugh,” Cunningham said.
Sydney McKeown feels like her team can play better than they did in their opening game.
“I feel like we have a chance to make it to the finals but I don’t really know because I don’t know how other teams are going to be,” McKeown said.
Cunningham said it’s a lot of fun to play a tournament at home.
“There are a lot more people watching and there is a lot more energy in the arena,” she said.
Tournament schedules and scores can be found under the tourney link at www.pgha.net.