In his rookie Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) season last year, Dylan Johnston only put up five points in 36 games.
But with increased ice time and a larger role on the team in 2011-12, the Airdrie Thunder forward from Crossfield has already posted 22 points, including 11 goals, in 34 games.
He also leads the team with three shorthanded goals.
ìLast year was a bit of a disappointment for everything ñ my performance and our season ñ but this year, it seems to be coming around,î said Johnston, 19. ìI feel as if Iím playing my best hockey. Iím going to the net, crashing and banging ñ thatís my game. Itís been a good confidence booster and now Iím starting to believe in myself.î
ìHeís been on a bit of a roll the last bit and heís got a little more ice because of it,î said Thunder head coach Mike Carlsen. ìHe kills penalties, brings a lot of effort and heart and hard work. Thatís his game.î
As of Rocky View Weekly press time, Airdrie was sitting in a three-way tie for third place in the HJHLís North Division. The Thunder had 39 points, as did the Mountainview Colts and the Blackfalds Wranglers.
The playoff format this season will see the No. 4 and No. 5 teams in the division play a one-game showdown to become the official No. 4 seed. But Johnston, who played with Crossfield Minor Hockey right through Midget, said the Thunder is starting to gel at the right time.
ìEverything is looking up and itís positive in the room,î he said. ìWeíre starting to play better as a team. The eight-game unbeaten streak was all about us buying into Mikeís systems. When we start playing our best hockey, weíre pretty much unstoppable.î
Despite being only a second-year player, Johnston said the Thunderís coaching carousel of the past 14 months, where Darryl Einarson, Art Krusel, current assistant coach Gareth Barley and Carlsen have all been behind the bench, hasnít affected him or the team as much as one would think.
ìThe coaching changes donít really bother us because weíre a pretty tight group,î he said. ìWeíre all good friends and mostly grew up together.î
Johnston, who works construction with his roommate and teammate Kristian Petit, also has two years of HJHL eligibility left and said he hopes 2012 isnít his last year suiting up for the Thunder.
ìIím definitely interested in coming back next year and building on that,î he said.
