U17: Jack Johnson QA
One of the top defensive prospects for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, 17-year-old Jack Johnson is impressing scouts with his two-way skills and remarkable off-ice maturity. The Fairbault, Minnesota, native spent last season playing with Shattuck-St. Mary’s where he recorded 42 points in 48 games. Along with best friend Sidney Crosby, Johnson helped lead the team to a 47-10-1 record. From a hockey playing family, Jack’s father of the same name spent time with both the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. The younger Johnson hopes to follow in his old man’s footsteps and do him one better by enjoying a long, successful NHL career. Johnson took part in the World Under-17 Challenge in St. John’s, Newfoundland, this past December and January while finding the time to talk to McKeen’s following Team USA’s loss to Team Quebec in the bronze medal game.
McKeens: The beginning is as good a place as any to start, so how did you start playing hockey? Who played a part in getting you involved?
Advertisement
Jack Johnson: Well my dad got me started in playing hockey, I played my first game on my fifth birthday. My first team was Honeybaked in mite, then I played a couple years of AAA, then I played on a Compuware team, and finished up my career in Michigan with the Little Caesars. Then I started bantam hockey for Shattuck-St. Mary’s… played two years for the bantam team there with coach (Jean-Paul) Parise and then my sophomore year on the prep team with coach (Tom) Ward.
McKeens: You mentioned you spent some time with Honeybaked, an organization some other members of Team USA have played on at one point. One was Jimmy Fraser, another was Nathan Gerbe… did you ever play with any of those guys before this season?
Jack Johnson: I only played with Jimmy on Compuware, but I played with all three of them on a Canadian spring team.
McKeens: Shattuck-St. Mary’s has an increasingly reknowned hockey program, can you comment on your experiences there and how it helped you develop as a player?
Jack Johnson: I don’t think I would be the hockey player I am today if I didn’t go there. I think that was the best move I ever made to go to Shattuck, and it helped me tremendously. Development was awesome… out on the ice every day and I don’t think there is a better place to be in amateur hockey.
McKeens: You lost only a handful of games there last season playing with another well known 16-year-old, Sidney Crosby. I know you became good friends, so what was it like to play with him and what did he mean to Shattuck?
Jack Johnson: He’s one of my best friends and as much of a great player he is, he’s not talked about enough about how great of a kid he is. He’s awesome.
McKeens: So a good presence in the dressing room as well as the ice?
Jack Johnson: Yeah!
McKeens: Could you speculate as to how last year would have been different without him?
Jack Johnson: (laughs) Well obviously we wouldn’t have been as good of a team, but we still would have had a great team for sure.
McKeens: So how did you become involved with the Team USA Under-17 Team? What was the process?
Jack Johnson: I got selected by a camp in St. Cloud, and about a day or so after the camp I was contacted by coach Quinn and I was offered a spot on the team… and I accepted right away knowing that there’s not a bigger honor in the world than representing your country.
McKeens: Are you happy with your decision and the way the season has gone so far?
Jack Johnson: Yeah, we’re a hard working team and everything… and every day I am on the ice with the best hockey players in the country. We develop just as much in practice going against each other as we do in everything else. So, the tournament here… it was fun, it was a blast and a great experience. It was an honor to play Canada against such a great tradition in hockey and everything, they have a great program and we gave it our best shot and things didn’t work out so… (stops)
McKeens: You’re at an age now where you can decide whether you’re going to stay home and play university or come to Canada to play junior. Are you leaning toward either one, and for what reason?
Jack Johnson: Unfortunately I can’t talk about that right now*
McKeens: So, back to the Under-17’s, what’s the overall experience been like here in Newfoundland for Team USA?
Jack Johnson: I think just being in an international situation in another country is awesome. You’re kind of against all odds here in Canada, playing against Canada… and I don’t think there’s a better hockey situation in the world. Newfoundland’s been great, and the whole experience has been awesome.
McKeens: What has the tournament been like as far as what it has done to help you develop as a player?
Jack Johnson: It helps you mentally prepare and everything… and normally players aren’t in this big of a situation with the crowd and opposing teams. It’s just… it helps you develop mentally and mature.
McKeens: You mentioned the fact Team USA has played a lot together, and has been together for several months. Do you think this gives you an advantage over the other teams in this type of tournament setting?
Jack Johnson: I am sure it does because we all know each other, we’re best friends and everything. Everyone kinda has a role now… I am sure it plays a huge advantage but it’s all done on the ice, and whether we do it… we have to do it.
McKeens: As you said, things didn’t work out as expected… could you make a few comments as to where things went wrong, or where Team USA came up short?
Jack Johnson: We needed to start off at the drop of the puck. We played a solid second and third period… it was just our third period we didn’t come out right out of the gate. We played a great game in the second and third but the Quebec team is awesome. They worked hard and they had a great club over there.
McKeens: Is being named player of the game any consolation?
Jack Johnson: No, player of the game is second as far as a medal.
McKeens: Maybe you could comment a bit on your strengths. What does Jack Johnson do best?
Jack Johnson: I try to be dynamic and try to do anything. I try to think of myself as a physical player, and if you need a big hit or an offensive opportunity I try to create it. I try to play both ends.
McKeens: And in practice, what are you working on to improve?
Jack Johnson: Skill involvement. You can never handle the puck well enough, you can always improve. If you can’t handle the puck and everything you’re kind of useless.
* Scouts, agents, and universities are only permitted to talk to the player's parents and coaches at these events. At the end of this season they will be signing letters of intent, saying where they will go, and the players rarely answer questions about it beforehand when asked. If they do answer, and then change their minds, it reflects poorly on the player. Therefore, they prefer to wait until season's end.