Former Yorkton Terrier Jeremy Johnson is finding life as a Minot State Beaver (ACHA) very much to his liking.
Last season, his first in Minot, all Johnson managed was to lead the Beavers in scoring with 30 goals and 51 points in 33 games.
This season Johnson again leads the Beavers with 24 goals, and 35 points, both team bests at the Christmas break.
It has helped that Johnson has adapted back to school classes better than he had initially anticipated.
鈥淚 was never big into school,鈥� he said, but added 鈥淚t鈥檚 not too challenging. That helps things out a lot.
It makes me able to focus on hockey a lot more.鈥�
Johnson is taking physical education, and he said he seems to be handling that side of college well.
鈥淭he classes are pretty straight forward. There鈥檚 not a whole lot to study,鈥� he said, adding it鈥檚 more about grasping principles and understanding the human body.
It also helps being an athlete, as he has a sort of built in understanding of the body.
It was in fact a case Johnson was not sure he would take the opportunity to attend college.
鈥淢y Dad said if I didn鈥檛 go I鈥檇 never know if I liked it,鈥� said Johnson.
The first year in Minot was enough for Johnson to realize he had made the right choice.
鈥淭he first year I had a blast. I met a lot of great guys,鈥� he said.
As for the hockey, Johnson said there are differences between the SJHL and the American college game.
鈥淭he SJ is a lot more physical,鈥� he said, adding most colleges are not into the physical game, the Beavers being something of an exception with about half the team has played in either the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, or the Manitoba Junior Hockey League.
Another difference is that in college it鈥檚 practice all week, then play a couple of games on the weekend, almost always against the same team.
鈥淐oaches watch video on the teams and then its work on the powerplay or penalty kill. How to be successful against the team you鈥檙e playing,鈥� he said.
As for his immediate success scoring, Johnson said that has always been something which has come rather naturally to him.
鈥淚鈥檝e always had a knack for scoring, for being pretty offensive,鈥� he said.
Johnson said in the less physical college game he has been able to use his speed to create chances.
鈥淚鈥檓 using my speed. In the college game speed is really a huge factor,鈥� he said, adding since he doesn鈥檛 mind being physical, he can create chances either way.
鈥淚 just want to play hard, I want to do the same thing every game, go out there and work hard and do my best.鈥�
As a team the Beavers are 19-7-0-1 and ranked 10th in the nation in ACHA rankings.
鈥淥ur team鈥檚 deep enough,鈥� offered Johnson of the Beavers playoff prospects in March.
That said the playoffs mean a gauntlet of four wins, or go home contest meaning everybody has to be playing their best hockey in those games.
鈥淚t has to be your 100 per cent best games,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥溾�� Everybody knows you鈥檝e got to work hard to win.鈥�
