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Posted Nov. 6, 2002
By Annie Fowler
Herald staff writer
When Bob Tory selected Trevor Johnson in the sixth round of the 1997 bantam draft for the Kootenay Ice, the general manager gave a young defenseman a shot at playing in one of the top junior hockey leagues.
Five years later Johnson, 20, is trying to help Tory - now the Tri-City Americans GM - get a struggling club back on course.
"Bob is the reason I'm in this league," said Johnson, who spent 312 years with Kootenay before being traded to Seattle last season. "If I can help him out with this team, I'll give him all I can."
The Trail, British Columbia, native has played hockey since he was 5, and he won provincial championships as a younger player and the Western Hockey League's President's Cup with the Ice.
"I've never really been on a losing team," Johnson said.
Kootenay - which was the Edmonton Ice until the team moved to Cranbrook in 1998 - did not make the WHL playoffs in 1997-98. But they made steady improvement the next season in Johnson's rookie campaign, winning 13 more games and advancing to the playoffs.
During the 1999-2000 season, the Ice finished 44-17, then beat Red Deer, Saskatoon and Calgary in the playoffs before beating Spokane 4-2 for the President's Cup. Johnson recorded 31 points and 100 penalty minutes.
When Johnson was in Seattle last season, the Thunderbirds finished last in the U.S. Division, but they upset division champion Portland in the first round of the playoffs as he scored the game-winning goal in the seventh game.
"In Kootenay we always had success," Johnson said. "Seattle was struggling when I got there just like (the Americans) are now. In Seattle we turned it around and beat Portland in a big playoff series. (Tri-Cities) is not the bottom, not at all. This is an opportunity to show my stuff."
In five games with the Americans, Johnson has one goal and six assists as the Americans have gone 1-3-0-1. In that streak, Tri-Cities lost in overtime to Kelowna, ranked No. 4 in the WHL.
"There is no question that we have great players on this team," Johnson said. "We just have to be able to turn it around and not slip down."
Tory said he would have liked to have brought Johnson to the Tri-Cities last season, but the price was too high. This season, Johnson got caught in an overage situation in Seattle and was put on waivers.
"He's helped in scoring, leadership and on the blue line," Tory said. "The number of shots he has had on net is an indication of his desire to succeed."
In the two weeks Johnson has been with the Americans, he has impressed the management and coaches so much that he was awarded an alternate captain's letter before their road game in Portland. He also wore an 'A' in Seattle.
"He went into Seattle and helped turn them around and he expressed interest to Bob in being a team leader," said Americans coach Shaun Clouston. "(Assistant coach) Jim (Hiller) and I didn't need long to evaluate that he could be a leader on this team, and he's made a big impact on the ice, as well. He's changed the power play around and is good on the transition play."
Johnson had ties to the Americans before he stepped on the ice in red, white and blue on Oct. 27.
His father, Gary, now a fire chief in Trail, played for the Calgary Centennials from 1970 to '73. Four franchise moves later, the Centennials became the Americans in 1988.
When Johnson isn't on the ice, he enjoys trout fishing on the Canadian headwaters of the Columbia River and keeps up with happenings on The Young and the Restless.
"I enjoy being out there," Johnson said of fishing. "The whole world goes away. I haven't been since I've been here, but I'd like to go."
Right now, are more pressing issues, such as maintaining the Americans' intensity level of the past three games.
"I think things are turning around," Johnson said. "It's a little disappointing that there aren't more people at the games, but I think our fans have been pretty good since I've been here. A lot of other cities, like in Canada, wouldn't have the crowds we have if the team isn't winning. Here, they are sticking with us."
Notes:When the Americans (2-11-0-2) play host to Portland tonight, the Winter Hawks will be without top scorer Craig Valette, who was suspended for one game by the WHL for his knee-to-knee hit on Johnson on Friday in Portland. ... The WHL Player of the Week is Kootenay forward Nigel Dawes. He recorded five goals in three road games. ... The Nashville Predators returned Scottie Upshall to the Kamloops Blazers.
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