An Okotokian forward is moving from one of Canada’s newest powers in Junior A to one of the pillar franchises at the level.
The Brooks Bandits, ranked the No. 1 Junior A club in Canada, shipped 18-year-old local Sam Johnson to the Merritt Centennials, the longest continually run franchise in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), on Nov. 28 in exchange for Brandon Bruce.
“That morning I went into the coach’s office and got the news,” Johnson said. “It was kind of a surprise. It’s tough to leave a team that’s winning so much, having so much success and me being there for a year and a bit now I have a lot of close friends there. It’s part of the game you’ve just got to move on and try to duplicate that with your new team.”
Saying goodbye to his now former teammates in Brooks was a tough pill to swallow for Johnson given the remarkable success of the franchise of late. The Bandits won their first Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) championship in 2011-12 and tied the league record with 20 consecutive wins to open the 2012-13 campaign.
“There were a lot of mixed emotions there,” Johnson said of being traded. “I’m obviously leaving the number one team in the country.”
Johnson was used sparingly during the Bandits’ post-season run as a 17-year-old rookie last season. He dressed for 39 regular season games, but Johnson saw just two contests during Brooks’ dominant AJHL playoff run and trip to the Doyle Cup finals against the Penticton Vees.
“Everyone wants to be in the lineup every night and the more you play the more comfortable you’re going to feel in all situations,” Johnson said. “My rookie year my role was pretty limited, but you can’t really argue with a championship team.”
Johnson saw his playing time increase this season under Brooks head coach Ryan Papaioannou. The forward dressed in 20 of the team’s first 26 games, registering four goals and five points. However, ascending the Bandits’ depth chart that includes six players in the top 15 in league scoring is a bit like trying to skate through slush.
“This year I was getting more ice time, but with a fresh start it’s still nice to know that you can move up,” he said. “After everything has sunk in you kind of step back and realize you’re going to a place with a lot of history.”
The BCHL team looks poised to add to its storied franchise history this season.
The Centennials, founded in Merritt for the 1973-74 campaign, sit second to the defending national champion Vees in the Interior division with a mark of 13-9-1.
Johnson, who laced up his skates for Merritt for the first time on Friday, said he is anxious to make the most of his opportunity in British Columbia.
“I just want to come here and help this team win and be a part of the puzzle,” Johnson said.
“Being here for a couple days now there are a lot of good guys in the room. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Prior to making the leap to Junior, the 18-year-old played a starring role for the Okotoks Bantam AAA Oilers and later with the Midget AAA UFA Bisons. Johnson, an alternate captain with the Strathmore Midget team, potted 23 goals and 39 points in 34 games for the Bisons in 2010-11.
It’s that type of promise which caught the attention of Centennials head coach and general manager Luke Pierce.
"We are excited to add a player like Sam who showed tremendous offensive potential at the Midget level," Pierce said in a Centennials press release. "He's been on arguably the best team in Canada for the past season and a half and we feel maybe hasn't been given the opportunity to show his best."
For more information on the Merritt Centennials go to www.merrittcentennials.com.
