The University of Michigan has secured 4.5 star Kent Johnson for the 2020-2021 season. Our scouts have noticed Kent for his distinguished Hockey IQ. While he may not be the biggest player on the ice, the 2002 is impactful, whether his ability to finish or make his teammates better.
Starting his career at the age of 4, playing in Port Moody Timbits hockey, he currently is playing in the BCHL for the Trail Smoke Eaters:
“My transition to the BCHL has been good, I knew I had to have a big summer of training to be ready to have a great start to the season, which I feel I did. Playing for the Trail Smoke Eaters is amazing, the town support and fans are second to none and they have everything I could ask for in terms of player development.” Finding success as a young player, “No real secret to it at all for me, just a lot of practice and a lot of great people supporting me through this journey.”
Taking us through his decision to become a Wolverine:
“After my first few games this year I narrowed it down to a list of 10 schools I wanted to talk to. A couple months later went on fly downs to North Dakota and Michigan, and planned on doing a couple more but didn’t, as I knew I had two unbelievable schools. Then it came down to Michigan checking all the boxes for me in terms and hockey development and academics.”
Like lots of Canadian players, Kent had a decision to make between NCAA hockey or the CHL:
“Since I was younger, due to my older brother, I had been exposed to NCAA [hockey] and I just thought it would be so cool to play college hockey. With a late birthday and being a somewhat late bloomer this route is a great fit for me.”
He tells us how he plans to prepare for the next level:
“I just want to keep getting a little better everyday so I can be ready to be an impact player when I step into Michigan’s lineup. I plan to come back to Trail next year and try to bring a championship to this town and be a big part of that.”
A big part of NCAA hockey is academic, we asked him what he planned to study while at Michigan:
“I’m thinking about studying sports management and I think after my playing career, I’m probably going to stay in the game. I just can’t imagine myself not going to the rink everyday, an NCAA assistant coach is definitely a job that I could see myself doing.”
Kent has had a great season with the Trail Smoke Eaters, tallying 46 points in 57 games as a 2002. Netting 20 goals and earning 26 assists.
